LONDON – Although Infiniti SA is launching its line-up of cars next week, we had a brief exposure to four of its products on UK roads. Interestingly, Infiniti will be launching its whole range in South Africa, a bold move by this manufacturer. During an afternoon’s driving, I spent some time in two saloons and its entry-level SUV.
EX30d AT
There’s no mistaking any of the Infiniti models for anything else on the road. It is mainly the headlight and grille design that make them stand out of the crowd and the soft curves front to back. Although the EX might sit at the entry-level side of Infiniti’s SUV line-up (it competes with the Audi Q3/Q5 and BMW X1/X3), it blends in well with the rest of its family members.
The test unit we drove, as with the M saloon below, was equipped with the company’s 3,0-litre turbodiesel delivering 175 kW at 3 750 r/min and 550 N.m at 1 750 r/min. This powertrain hustles the SUV at a fairly decent pace while a light throttle application is all you need to overtake slower traffic. The noise from the diesel engine is limited and it is only at low speeds or when you use the entire rev range that you can hear some clatter.
Being a compact SUV, it obviously feels more nimble than the bigger FX crossover, especially through the roundabouts that are scattered throughout the UK. The all-wheel-drive system should also cater for buyers that might want to venture off-road from time to time, something we didn’t test during this drive.
A spokesperson for Infiniti South Africa confirmed that two trim levels would be available for the EX.
M35h AT
This hybrid saloon will be a direct competitor to the recently launched Lexus GS450h, as well as the BMW ActiveHybrid 5. It uses a 3,5-litre V6 petrol engine (225 kW/350 N.m) combined with an electric motor (50 kW/270 N.m). Fortunately, it doesn’t feature a CVT gearbox, but a more conventional seven-speed transmission, the same unit that is offered with the M30d AT (see below).
I only drove the M35h on highways, which was fortuitous because it highlighted the car’s supremely relaxed nature. As with the GS and BMW, engine power is cut if you coast or when you get off the throttle. At very low speeds or from standstill, the batteries will power the car for a few seconds depending on the amount of throttle applied. If you press the throttle past a certain point, the engine will eventually kick in.
Once on the highway, I had time to assess the interior. The perforated leather seats are comfortable and even look the part with neat stitching, while both front pews have a heating and cooling function. The dash and facia are likely to attract the most attention. The gloss wood veneer flows from the information screen down and then almost vertically towards the transmission tunnel.
The cabin’s rounded design is repeated on the M saloon’s body. Starting at the nose and ending at the tail, there are no hard edges or sharp lines, in total contrast with Lexus’s aggressively styled GS.
M30d AT
Although the hybrid offers more power than this turbodiesel, it was the latter I enjoyed more from a driver’s point of view. Interestingly, Infiniti quotes curb weight figures of 1 830 kg for the M35h and 1 845 kg for the M30d. But, the turbodiesel was the one that felt more alive. With 550 N.m at your disposal, acceleration from low down the rev range is linear up to around 4 500 r/min when the gearbox picks the next gear. As with the hybrid, the engine is connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission, and shifts up and down are smooth. As with most cars today, the driver is offered the option of choosing between eco, standard and sport modes. This obviously changes some of the car’s on-road behaviour. The ride is decent, and the suspension absorbs bumps well.
Summary
It is hard to say how South Africans will react to the Infiniti range. A comparison with the Lexus range is inevitable; Infiniti too needs to position itself as an alternative to the German Three rather than copying them. It helps that the Infinitis we experienced had far more inviting interiors than some of the Germans, and the spec levels are likely to surpass them, too.
Full pricing, trim levels, model and engine options will be revealed next week at the South African launch. A spokesperson for Infiniti South Africa confirmed that certain engine derivatives would arrive only in September.
Look out for an Infiniti FX30d S driving impression next week.
Specifications*
Model: Infiniti EX30d AT
Engine: 3,0-litre turbodiesel
Power: 175 kW at 3 750 r/min
Torque: 550 N.m at 1 750 r/min
0-100 km/h: 7,9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 8,5 L/100 km
CO2: 224 g/km
Top speed: 221 km/h
Price: TBC
Model: Infiniti M35h AT
Engine: 3,5-litre petrol hybrid
Power: 225 kW at 6 800 r/min
Torque: 350 N.m at 5 000 r/min
Electric motor: 50 kW at 1 770 r/min
Electric motor: 270 N.m at 1 770 r/min
0-100 km/h: 5,5 seconds
Fuel consumption: 7,0 L/100 km
CO2: 162 g/km
Top speed: 250 km/h
Price: TBC
Model: Infiniti M30d AT
Engine: 3,0-litre turbodisel
Power: 175 kW at 3 750 r/min
Torque: 500 N.m at 1 750 r/min
0-100 km/h: 6,9 seconds
Fuel consumption: 7,5 L/100 km
CO2: 199 g/km
Top speed: 250 km/h
Price: TBC
*Claimed by manufacturer.