£27,950 Is The Price Of Change In

GENEVA - June 26, 2013: The premium car that changes the philosophy of design, luxury and technology in the mid-size saloon class will cost from £27,950. It is available for ordering now with first deliveries expected in September this year.

"The new Infiniti Q50 challenges the predictable looks and familiar technology of the segment," said Fintan Knight, Vice President of Infiniti Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We are calling time on tradition. In particular our ‘direct response’ technologies deliver the most advanced performance and handling combination in the sector.”

The Infiniti Q50 3.5-litre, 364PS Direct Response Hybrid surges from 0-62mph in only 5.3 seconds and returns 155g/km of CO2. It delivers this performance thanks to the direct application of electric boost to the drivetrain via an innovative twin clutch system. “We believe this is the future of performance drivetrains,” added Fintan Knight. “The Q50 Hybrid offers truly inspired performance and great efficiency.” The Q50 Hybrid starts from £40,000.

Complementing the Q50 Hybrid is the first four-cylinder-powered Infiniti ever offered. The Q50 2.2 diesel starts from £27,950 and has all the performance (170PS, 400Nm of torque), low emissions (115g/km CO2) and features that buyers in the class demand.

In a departure from the familiar design themes of the segment, where nine out of 10 cars hail from Germany, the Infiniti Q50 stands out for being fresh and distinctive. The design language is of powerful proportions, high tension surfaces and seductively dynamic lines. “The Q50 design is instinctive, modern and powerful, and much closer to natural forms than other cars in this segment,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti’s Executive Director of Design.

The new Infiniti Q50 also offers a distinctive new take on the technology front. The combination of fast-responding Direct Adaptive Steering – the world’s first automotive steer-by-wire system – and Direct Response Hybrid powertrain results in the most advanced dynamic package available in the segment. Both rear-wheel drive and intelligent all-wheel drive are available within the Q50 range. The interplay of handling technologies has been influenced by Formula One World Champion and Infiniti Director of Performance, Sebastian Vettel.

The Infiniti Q50 takes premium cars beyond the emotional driving experience by embedding applications such as Facebook directly into the vehicle. “The Infiniti InTouch™ platform, which offers apps like Facebook and Twitter, gives customers the freedom they want,” said Fintan Knight.

Knight added: "The Infiniti Q50 is all about taking on good but very familiar cars by breaking free of traditional constraints and injecting a fresh approach to design, luxury and technology.

"At Infiniti we are not interested in maintaining the status quo, and we don't believe buyers are any more either."

In entry form, the Infiniti Q50 2.2d priced from £27,950 comes very well equipped in the expected Infiniti fashion. Standard features include Infiniti InTouch™ customisable digital environment with dual touch-screens; Infiniti Drive Mode Selector; engine stop-start; rear-view camera; Active Noise Control; Active Trace Control; dual-zone climate control; 17-inch alloy wheels; Scratch Shield paint; split folding rear-seat backrests and ski hatch; multifunction steering wheel; voice recognition system; and Bluetooth mobile connectivity and audio streaming.

The Q50 line-up will include grades, packages and options to appeal to the widest possible range of both private and fleet buyers. Full details of the Q50 line-up and a complete price list will be confirmed from 1 July.