News: Will the new Q60 coupé make drivers take notice of Infiniti?

FOR MOST drivers, “Infiniti” probably brings to mind a catchphrase from their children’s collection of Toy Story movies. For Nissan, Infiniti is an upmarket offshoot that badly needs to catch the attention of Audi, BMW and Mercedes drivers. Could the next Q60 coupé be the turning point for the little-known brand?

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To be revealed at the Detroit motor show (January 17-25), the new version of the Q60 is billed as a concept car, but something very similar is likely to go into production in 2016, at which point it will replace the current model and offer drivers an alternative to the Audi TT and BMW 4-series.

In concept form, at least, the new Q60 looks significantly more desirable. Infiniti says it offers “a no-compromise fusion of looks and speed” but doesn’t elaborate any further on the car’s technical aspects.

What we do know is that it’s a 2+2, which means it has a pair of small seats in the back of the cabin, and is likely to feature a choice of turbocharged diesel and petrol engines, as well as a hybrid-powered variant.

It’s all a far cry from the high-octane, high-speed world of Formula One. Infiniti is a sponsor of the Red Bull Racing team, but so far having the four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel as a brand ambassador hasn’t helped it much – it sold fewer than 800 cars in Britain in 2014.