Dead: Infiniti Q70 Killed Off As Crossovers Reign Supreme

Don't worry, Infiniti still has one sedan (the Q50) left

Dead: Infiniti Q70 Killed Off As Crossovers Reign Supreme

Another sedan goes quietly into that good night. The Infiniti Q70 had become a rare sight on U.S. roads, so it’s little surprise that Infiniti decided to drop the model. An Infiniti spokesperson confirmed the sedan’s demise to Motor Authority on Thursday. As crossovers continue to gain traction in the marketplace, the brand will shift away from sedans.

Dead: Infiniti Q70 Killed Off As Crossovers Reign Supreme

Infiniti’s largest sedan’s legacy stretches all the way back to 1989, when it launched the M series, alongside the original Q45 sedan. Over the years, the M platform into a mid-size sedan that would eventually become a competitor to BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as its Japanese rivals from Lexus and Acura. In 2013, when Infiniti re-aligned all its model names, the M sedan became the Q70, while the long-wheelbase version became the Q70L.

The Q70 hasn’t changed much in the past several years, and it’s no longer competitive against its main rivals. So far this year, only 2,196 have bought the Infiniti through September, which constitutes a massive 36.8 percent drop from last year’s sales. On that basis, it’s not surprising that the Q70 won’t live on into the new model year.

Dead: Infiniti Q70 Killed Off As Crossovers Reign Supreme

What will we get instead?

Apart from the fact that luxury sedans are losing stream, we will see some changes from Infiniti in the coming years. At any rate, the company needs to make some changes, if its sales figures are any indication. However, there is a new electrified platform coming, which should liven things up a bit.

That said, the Infiniti Q70 and Q70L aren’t terrible cars. Keep in mind, these flagships do have the option of a 420 horsepower 5.6-liter V8 engine and all-wheel drive.

Infiniti is also working on a QX55 crossover, which should be revealed sometime next summer. With the QX50, QX60 and QX80, another crossover should round out the brand’s lineup pretty thoroughly. And if you are truly upset at the Q70’s passing, there is still the smaller Q50 sedan and Q60 coupe to choose from.

As an (admittedly odd) send-off, check out the long-wheelbase Q70L against the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat below: