Infiniti na Europa em 2008

[Vencar]

Ainda não se vendem, tudo indica que será para o ano.
Os que encontraste em cascais, são do evento Nissan 360.
Vai ao tópico do ''hoje eu vi'', que podes ver lá alguns que eu apanhei por Cascais.

Cool, é por isso que estavam "perto" um do outro.

[ks34]

Infiniti EX37

What is it?

The EX37 is tipped to be the new Infiniti marque’s biggest-selling model in Europe. It’s a ‘crossover’, mid-way in concept between BMW’s X3 and the 3-Series Touring, with power coming from a 3.7-litre 316bhp petrol V6.
The Infiniti brand is meant to be about luxury, and all models are packed with gadgets. The EX still manages some particularly impressive standard equipment, including a seven-speed automatic gearbox that has been engineered specifically for European consumers and unique self-healing ‘scratch shield’ paint.
The options list includes a system of four parking cameras to provide a bird’s eye view of the car, radar cruise control and a crash detection system which judges when a collision is unavoidable and intervenes to reduce the effects by about 20 per cent.
>> See more pics of the Infiniti EX37
What’s it like?

From the first time you drive it, the EX is a cheerful, likeable car that comes across instantly as good value for its price — provided in these straitened times you still see a role for 3.7 litre petrol-propelled SUVs.
On the road, the 3.7-litre V6 engine’s 316bhp gives the EX37 a sporty character despite its kerbweight of nearly 1900 kilograms. The 0-62 mph acceleration time is just 6.4 seconds, and top speed is within an whisker of 150 mph.
The gearbox gives the car a powerful step-off when launching from standstill. And the engine’s wide powerband (thanks to variable inlet timing and lift) gives strong mid-range acceleration. On the move the EX37 feels supple, well-damped and stable. The ride is pleasantly comfortable, and cruising refinement is good.
Unlike the G37 saloon and coupe, the EX37 does without gearbox shift paddles, but the transmission always seems to have an ideal ratio available and manual control can still be taken by moving the selector to a push/pull channel.
Despite its size, the EX corners with a neutral precision and precise steering makes it easy to drive hard. It’s a well-made and rapid crossover with plenty of practical appeal – and its kudos will grow as people become more used to the Infiniti brand.
Should I buy one?

Infiniti’s Nissan origins mean the EX37 has credibility, even if the marque itself has very little name appeal at present. Prices are competitive, quality is good and – against its opponents – the EX has gadgets and performance to burn.
Taken all round, the EX looks like a more desirable and better equipped prospect than its obvious premium-badged rivals. It leaves you with a simple choice: flashy badge or value and equipment. I’d go for the latter.

[PedroROF]

Muito fixe Ks34, resta saber o que vai sair do novo Lexus Rx...
E preços/motores mais a ver com a nossa realidade.

[ks34]

Infiniti G37S

What is it?

This is the closet thing to an Infiniti performance car that we’ll have from the UK launch of the brand. It’s a low and reasonably lean front engine, rear-drive 2+2 coupe, powered by the impressively versatile 3.7-litre V6 that is also used in the G37 saloon and EX37 crossover.
Infiniti claims the G37S coupe is a natural competitor for the BMW 330i coupe, which has a similar price.
Infiniti’s gameplan counters the current lack of image for its new-to-Europe brand by offering more power – and an impressive array of standard kit. Japanese-built Infinitis already sell well elsewhere in the world, including both the US and Russia.
What’s it like?

Keen drivers will gravitate to the performance package of the G37S which gets stiffer suspension rates, bigger brakes, a clever active rear-steer system that sharpens both low-speed response high-speed stability, plus a viscous coupling limited slip differential.
>>See more pictures of the Infiniti G37S Coupe
>>Read our first drive of the new Infiniti EX37


‘S’ spec also brings comfortable and supportive sports seats with adjustable side bolsters.
The G37 Coupe styling has strong echoes of the saloon, and looks faintly like a bigger version of the Nissan 370Z – but it shares no panels with either. Aesthetically it’s modern, balanced, purposeful – and Japanese (an important Infiniti brand ‘cornerstone).
The squat coupe proportions mean that front seat occupants sit considerably lower than they do in the saloon, which encroaches on rear seat space: it’s a classic 2+2 rather than a true four-seater.
On the road, the G37S comes across as a very good driving machine, almost in the BMW mould and arguably even better put together.
But nothing about its strong performance (155 mph top speed, 5.8 seconds 0-62 mph) undermines its practicality. The strong, zesty V6 is as happy trundling at 1500rpm as it is attacking the 7600rpm redline.
The short-throw gearshift delivers transmission ratios which perfectly suit a life on Europe’s give-and-take road, the brakes are strong but the pedal isn’t especially heavy. The ride is firm, but the Coupe is very sweetly damped, so it stays flat over the most disturbing ruts.
The innovative rear-steer system also works impressively well. Nissan-Infiniti claims that it has over two decades of expertise with similar systems – originally fitted to the Skyline – and the experience shows.
The system makes the steering feel higher geared at low speed, by adding opposing lock, but stabilised in long, high-speed bends where it steers in the same direction as the front wheels.
The best thing about this Infiniti is the uncorrupted nature of its rear-drive responses. It’s a car you can settle into for a long, quick drive.
Turn the radio off, listen to the engine, concentrate on making small, well-timed control inputs, and you’ll be effortlessly fast.
Should I buy one?

It’s a tough call, recommending such a car over a product as well proven and deeply impressive as a BMW or Mercedes coupe.
But if you can afford to be an early investigator of Infiniti residuals, the G37S Coupe makes a fresh, imaginative choice. The driving characteristics certainly won’t cause you any disappointment.

[ks34]

Infiniti – the new Lexus?

At the long-awaited launch for the four Infiniti models that Nissan’s premium sub-brand intends to sell in the UK, straight-talking MD Jim Wright dryly observed that he “could have chosen a better week” for his important event.
The truth is he probably couldn’t have done; the whole thing is a result of several years of careful planning, and these dates were set in stone many months ago. But the comment carries an inference that occurs to most people in a market like this: can Infiniti make it? We’ve already seen Lexus take well over a decade to secure a decent foothold in Europe. Yet I’ve a feeling Infiniti will make it and I’ve got three reasons.
First, Infiniti is not starting from scratch. The products are mature and are mostly in their second generation. There’s already a thriving 150,000-a-year business in the USA. The cars have well-proven levels of quality and reliability.
Second, the whole thing is based on offering unprecedented levels of customer service, the one advantage (besides irresistible styling) which can reliably get under a buyer’s guard.
Finally – and most importantly - the targets are realistic. A marque that has gone from zero to 10,000 sales in Russia in only two years, is predicting 25,000 sales in Western Europe in five years. That looks prudent and conservative.
However, the biggest reason I’ve got for predicting ultimate success for Infiniti is the quality of the cars. Lexus models were always admired for their quality and luxury, but no-one considered them as good driving propositions.
I can report that Infiniti’s range has far more emotional content, they’re instantly enjoyable to be in. The sportiest of them all, the G37S coupe, isn’t so far short of the BMW 330i coupe that Infiniti’s marketeers want us to compare it to. Good looks, lots of performance and lots of equipment – a decent proposition to base a brand on.
This is not to say Infiniti dealers are going to have an easy time of it. They will have to battle to get noticed, and fight even harder to move metal in this slowing market. But if they can get people to experience the cars, my feeling is that they will sell themselves.

O grande problema da Infiniti é a imagem de marca. Os seus produtos por norma aliam qualidade a um carácter desportivo. Numa fase inicial faltam motorizações diesel, mas tenho ideia que estavam a desenvolver motores diesel em parceria com a Renault. A partir de 2010 também vão ter uma gama de híbridos.

The Infiniti prototype uses a 3.5 litre V6 Infiniti M35 with a parallel hybrid system, which aims to be more efficient than the layout used in the Lexis hybrids and is meant to offer more responsive performance.
Key differences compared with a Lexus include the use of one electric motor rather than two. It also has a pair of dry clutches instead of the planetary gearset that permanently links the Lexus's two motor-generators to its petrol engine. The advantage is that the electric engine can drive without a physical connection to the petrol engine, reducing driveline drag.
It also allows the car to be propelled at a steady-state motorway cruise by the electric motor only, further improving efficiency, while under hard acceleration the petrol and electric motors combine, via the second clutch, to enhance the car's performance.
This new rear-drive Infiniti hybrid - the first of its kind - also uses next-generation lithium-ion batteries, technology that both GM and Toyota have conceded is problematic to develop. Nissan has teamed up with Japanese electronics giant NEC and says it's solved the cooling and recharging problems that are said to plague the longer-lasting, more efficient lithium-ion batteries.

[ks34]

Infiniti opens first UK showroom

The UK is getting ready to go 'to Infiniti and beyond' as Nissan's luxury car brand opens its first showroom in the UK.

The Japanese firm has revealed that Reading, just 10 minutes from the M4, will become the site for the UK's first Infiniti dealership. With specially commisioned paintings on the walls, high definition televisions and specially designed sofas and chairs the newcomers are looking to make a striking first impression to help draw people away from rivals like BMW and Audi.

Hitting the shiny, new showroom floor will be a complete line up of new Infiniti models including Saloon, Coupe and Convertible versions of the G37 as well as the EX and FX crossover vehicles.

Driving away in an Infiniti gives you access to your very own Customer Account Manager who will arrange a free collection and delivery service (within 150miles) when your car is due to be serviced as well as a mobility package that gives you roadside assistance at any time, even if you're not driving the Infiniti.

The Reading showroom will open on the 12th September with new centres opening in Glasgow, Birmingham and London next year.

[Prof Bitaites]

Em Luanda o que não faltam são FX 35 e 50...