The 2014 Infiniti Q50 premium sports-sedan debuted at the Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS) this morning as the first model with their new Q badge. Beginning with 2014 Infiniti models, all sedans, coupes and convertibles will bear a Q while all crossovers and SUVs will get a QX. This harkens back to the their flagship product of 1989, the Q45.
The styling is beautiful with a fluid design combined with their signature grille and a longer, wider and lower stance than the G sedan which it replaces. The interior is somewhat unchanged except for the new InTouch system that features two displays that use touch and hand-gesture control. The dual screens mean you don’t lose your map when you’re adjusting the radio, something that never fails to happen exactly when you most need to see the next turn in the road.
There’s also a new iKey ability which lets you customize as many as 96 different settings that will be immediately recognized depending on which one of four keys is used. The iKey will allow instant customization of your driving experience.
The 2014 Infiniti Q50 gets a 3.7-liter V6 engine with 328 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque and will also be available as a hybrid model. The hybrid has a 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V6 rated at 296 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque and a 50 KW, 67 hp electric motor with 199 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid gets you 354 horsepower so acceleration and power won’t feel compromised.
Regardless of the engine choice, you’ll get a seven-speed automatic with rev matching and standard rear-wheel drive with an all-wheel drive option. There will be other powertrains added as the year goes on, but these will be for global markets and details have yet to be released.
There are also two new features available on the 2014 Infiniti Q50 that are designed to give drivers an enhanced driving experience. The Direct Adaptive Steering is an electric power steering system with wheels that can be controlled independently and four different driver-chosen modes. There’s also Active Lane Control which is designed to help a driver use fewer steering inputs in conditions like crosswinds and more easily keep the vehicle in its lane.
Expect to see the 2014 Infiniti Q50 hitting showroom floors with the 3.7-liter V6 and 3.5-liter Hybrid this summer.
Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. When not drooling over cars, Nicole writes for Wired’s GeekMom.
