Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
But wait. Remember there’s good news too. That four packs 258 lb-ft of peak torque from just 1,500 rpm and achieves 10.6 L/100km city and 8.4 highway compared to the old 3.7’s 12.5 and 8.7 rating, while better yet a completely new 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 strikes back in two states of trim, the first using less fuel than the outgoing model at 12.3 city and 8.5 highway while making a competitive 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and the second only increasing highway mileage to 9.1 while dishing out 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, which when hooked up to my most recent Q50 tester was enough to get my heart racing faster
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Could this be the son of Eau Rouge? Whether or not that sizzling hot concept gets built is now mostly water under the bridge (Spa-Francorchamps fans need only comment) thanks to this Red Sport 400, a subtler yet still alluring road car that even gets the blood flowing before climbing inside. It starts off with a Q50 that’s already sensational in base trim yet much more menacing with its new frowning front fascia replete with glossy black bezels around its DRLs and LED fogs, gorgeous
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Have you ever experienced 400 horsepower before, let alone all that performance in a D-segment compact? OK, at 1,839 kilos (4,054 lbs) the Q50 Red Sport 400 isn’t exactly the trimmest in its premium class, but its twin-turbo V6 makes light duty of any excess baggage literally and metaphorically; you’ll forget all your cares within 4.8 seconds to 100km/h. That’s bloody quick, by the way, but it wouldn’t go anywhere without Infiniti’s ultra-engaging solid-magnesium paddle-shift actuated seven-speed autobox with navigation synchronized adaptive shift
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Those aforementioned M, AMG, RS, F and V super sedans might as well honk and give the royal salute to constabulary as they blast past, the powers that control the
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
The
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
I should also mention the Red Sport’s standard list that includes auto on/off LED headlights, LED taillights, a powered moonroof, remote start, proximity access with pushbutton ignition, auto-dimming interior and side mirrors with reverse tilt-down, a universal garage door opener, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone auto HVAC, two-way driver-side seat, powered tilt and telescopic steering wheel and mirror memory, a heatable steering wheel and seats, 14-speaker Bose audio with satellite
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
It all comes in an interior that’s a cut above most rivals, at least in some respects. Infiniti’s switchgear has always been second to none and the Q50 doesn’t disappoint, while soft touch synthetics even go so far to cover the glove box, albeit not the lower doors like some others in this class. Other than a sunglasses holder that doesn’t properly hold sunglasses, I suppose my only disappointment would be the somewhat shapeless steering wheel that wasn’t sporty enough for such a blisteringly quick car, especially strange when considering Infiniti’s mainstream volume brand, Nissan, fastens a thick flat-bottomed wheel with thumb spats to its Maxima SR that would look right at home in a 370Z Nismo.
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Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
As with all Q50s, roominess is good front to back, the rear seats in this Red Sport particularly nice thanks to
Photo: Karen Tuggay, Canadian Auto Press |
Truly, the new Q50 Red Sport 400 loses nothing on the way from mere luxury to peak performance, but it’s an ultra-quick four-door designed for a more mature adrenaline junkie, the type of well-established luxury buyer that doesn’t want to attract too much attention when testing the limit of (hu)man and machine. That it starts at only $54,600 plus freight and dealer fees, which is about $20k less than any of those previously noted competitors you might want to compare it to, is most impressive.
It looks like Infiniti has gone and blown the sport sedan value equation wide open again.
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