Consumer Reports Rates Fiat 500L, Nissan Versa Note and Infiniti Q50

One has to be careful when watching many car video reviews to not lose their own views and opinions, and oust them in favor of what somebody else said. It’s so obvious sometimes that reviewers peek over the fence and end up all pointing out the same qualities and flaws over and over again, until you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s the way things are, full stop.

However, I’ve noticed that with Consumer Reports reviews, a new perspective is brought forth, on cars we already knew, by highlighting qualities or flaws that may have been (repeatedly) overlooked by others.

It may be down to the way they test the cars, or just their attitude towards them, but for instance, their freshly-uploaded quick takes for the Fiat 500L, Nissan Versa Note and Infiniti Q50 stand separately from the mainstream. According to them, the Note leaves the impression of being the best all-round car of the trio, despite at first glance seeming to be the least desirable…

The Infiniti is penalized for its vague steering that can get an optional steer-by-wire system, which makes things even worse in that respect. The Fiat wins points on style and space, but its automatic gearbox is dimwitted and the limited choice of engines (only one available) further hurts what is otherwise an enticing package for families.

Check out the videos for all three cars, below.

By Andrei Nedelea

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Hyundai Genesis and Nissan and Infiniti SUVs Recalled Over Unrelated Brake Problems

While unrelated between them, Hyundai's and Nissan / Infiniti's latest recall actions both concern issues with the braking system.

In the case of the Japanese carmaker, the group is recalling 151,695 examples of certain model year 2013-2014 Nissan Pathfinders built from April 18, 2012, through September 20, 2013; model year 2013 Infiniti JX35 crossovers manufactured from September 15, 2011, through January 16, 2013; and model year 2014 Infiniti QX60s made from January 17, 2013, through September 20, 2013

"In the affected vehicles, during light braking on rough roads, the antilock brake system (ABS) brake pressure output software may lead to an increase in stopping distance," Nissan told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To fix the issue, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will simply reprogram the ABS, free of charge, of course, with customers to be informed about the service schedule in the coming weeks.

Hyundai on its behalf has posted a recall that affects 27,500 Genesis sedans from the 2009 through 2012 model years over faulty brakes, which have led to 23 complaints and one accident report on NHTSA's website.

The Korean brand said that there are "potential durability issues" with the brake system's Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit, and that the latest recall is a follow-up to the one made last March as it didn't include all vehicles affected.

"Hyundai previously initiated a service campaign in March of 2013 to replace the brake fluid in the subject vehicle population," the automaker said in a statement sent to USA Today.

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Infiniti Targets UK Business Users with New Q50 Diesel Executive Editions

Much like any other premium manufacturer in the UK market, Infiniti too wants a piece of the pie that is business users. To make their lives easier, the Japanese carmaker has released a pair of designated editions of the new Q50 sedan named the Executive and Premium Executive.

Both come with a frugal 2.2-liter turbo diesel that produces 168bhp (170PS) and 400Nm of peak torque for a zero to sixty (96km/h) in 8.5 seconds and a combined cycle fuel economy of 64.2mpg UK (53.5 mpg US or 4.4l/100km) for the manual model and 58.9mpg UK (49.0 mpg US or 4.8l/100km) for the automatic.

Pricing starts from £29,870 with a monthly contract hire leasing rate of £299.99 plus VAT (3+35 rentals, non maintenance, 10,000 miles a year), with the higher specified Premium Executive that includes satellite navigation, heated and powered leather seats with memory and I-Key, beginning from £33,470 or with contract hire at £336.99 per month.

According to Infiniti, "The Q50’s 114g/km CO2 rating (manual transmission) also delivers highly competitive benefit-in-kind tax bills for drivers. A 20 per cent taxpayer in 2013/14 will face a benefit-in-kind tax bill of just £83.45 a month (40 per cent taxpayer: £166.90) for the manual. Even in year three (2015/16) this rises to only £99.56 (£199.13)."

Infiniti’s Answer to the Panamera May See 2017 – 2018 Launch, Emerg-E Also in the Cards

The humpbacked Panamera sells well because it’s a Porsche and does all of the technical stuff so brilliantly that you end up overlooking the bulbous yet shapeless rear end – you said the facelift didn’t cure its image problem. Now, Infiniti is looking to grab a small slice of its pie with a different yet competing model that could see the production line around 2017 to 2018.

UK magazine Autocar says it won’t be officially aimed as a direct rival, and even the Infiniti CEO, Johann de Nysschen, is fully aware that they would be going nowhere if they aimed straight for taking down the established colossi, without building up a solid range (and stable, positive world-wide reputation) first.

The Japanese brand’s plan is to have a uniquely styled machine that’s “appealing and different,” yet it will also have to make its flagship status in the range clear. A Daimler-sourced platform is quite probable.

Another top-end vehicle that might be produced is a mid-engined hybrid supercar inspired by the Emerg-E Concept that was shown in a working form following the release of a static concept However, Nissan and Infiniti CEO Andy Palmer told the publication that it has not yet received the green light.

“We don’t want to get too far from the centre of gravity of the brand,” said Palmer. “We have the [mid-engined] halo car in the plan, but it is not signed off yet. Sales of saloons such as the Q50 and SUVs like the QX60 will have to be going well, and then I can go to our approval committee.”

The Mercedes-Benz SLK and BMW Z4 roadster are also apparently models currently on the minds of Infiniti execs, but their interpretation of a rival will have to wait until after 2020, when the current product offensive that includes the Panamera rival ends.

The report also mentions another model that could make it into series production before 2020, a new seven-seater SUV –  I just hope they get the aesthetics on that one, because their current three-row offering I think is down there with the SsangYong Rodius in terms of visual appeal (that would be the Infiniti JX).

By Andrei Nedelea

Note: Infiniti Emerg-E Concept pictured in the gallery

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Nissan to Launch Infiniti Brand in Japan with the Q50 - The End of Skyline Range?

Launched in 1989 as a competitor for Toyota’s luxury division Lexus in the United States, Nissan’s Infiniti brand has been expanding worldwide in recent years, focusing especially on Europe. Now it looks like Infiniti will debut in Japan as well, as Nissan wants to capitalize on demand for luxury cars in its home market.

According to a report from Japanese business daily Nikkei quoted by Reuters, Nissan will launch the redesigned Skyline luxury sports sedan under the Infiniti brand as early as this winter. The Skyline is sold as the Infiniti Q50 in the United States and Europe. Nissan hasn’t yet communicated the price of the Q50 in Japan, but the report said the sedan will be built in a plant in Tochigi Prefecture. In the U.S., the Infiniti Q50 starts from $36,700.

The fate of the Nissan Skyline range remains unknown, but it doesn't make much sense for the Japanese company to offer the same exact vehicles under different brands in the same market.

According to Nikkei, Nissan will sell Infiniti models at existing Nissan dealerships and has no plans to set up an exclusive sales network for now. If sales are good, Nissan may consider expanding the Infiniti lineup in the country.

Infiniti vehicles are mostly produced in Japan and exported overseas. The brand made up less than 1 percent of Nissan’s operating profit in the last two years as the strong Japanese Yen dented affected its exports. However, Infiniti is expected to meet its own operating profit margin target this fiscal year, thanks to a weaker yen and low depreciation charge.

Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen said he expected the brand to meet its target for an operating profit margin of 6-7 percent in the fiscal year ending in March 2014.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Infiniti Boss Explains "Q" Naming Strategy, Says Something About a 550hp+ V6 Turbo Version of M…

In an open letter addressed to fans and which was also distributed to the press, Johan de Nysschen, president of Infiniti, is explaining the reasons why the automaker has decided to change its nomenclature.
As a reminder, beginning with the 2014 model year and the G series sedan's replacement that is due to be revealed in Detroit next month, all Infiniti models will feature a Q in their name, with sedans, coupes and convertibles carrying the "Q" badge, and crossovers and SUVs gaining the "QX" designation, followed by two digits defining the model series.

Infiniti to Build New Compact Model at Nissan's UK Plant

A few months after Infiniti backed out of a plan to have Magna Steyr contract-manufacture its first ever premium compact model in Austria, the Japanese automaker said on Wednesday it has decided to build the car in the UK.
Production will take place at Nissan's Sunderland manufacturing facility and is scheduled to begin in 2015. Infiniti said it will be the first new car brand to be manufactured in the UK on this scale in 23 years.