Surprised nobody has brought up the Taurus SHO in all these comparisons.

Anyway. Numbers on paper are all well and good. Car x weighs x lbs. more/less than car y. Car y has x HP/TQ than car z. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. In the end, everyone likes something different. Test driving is the only way to really find out how the Q50 will compare to the competition.

 

You have one of the best grasps on subtle humor, bar none.

Better be careful, "we" might turn into "they".

 

Why skimp. Jack it up to Rolls territory! Everyone would want one then!

 

Guy, I'm not worried about that at all. I call my car a G, not an Infiniti. More to the point, it was the overall design, power & handling, RWD and 6MT that brought me to this car. All the fancy gadgetry is interesting, but really of little value to me.

Except the heated seats. I love having a warm toochis.

 

I'm very skeptical about the "improved gas mileage" with the same 3.7L motor. Infiniti claimed increased gas mileage when the 3.5 was updated to the 3.7, but I actually got worse mileage. My 2008 G35 6MT was averaging ~23.5mpg combined, and now my 2012 G37 6MT is averaging ~21.5 combined. I'm pretty sure I was much more aggressive driver being 26 and single than now at 31 and married with a baby.

 

Oh hey, the configuration website just came online: http://www.infinitiusa.com/all-new-q50/build/

And it seems the AWD Q50 does indeed come with a BBK. Nice! 19" rims, too, although the RWD/Sport version is no longer staggered. That's interesting.

A fully optioned, AWD Hybrid is $54,300.

 

^ thanks for the link.

still no cooled seats! doh! i swore my next car would have cooled seats...and 6MT...and RWD...and 4-door sedan layout. my options are becoming extinct.

 

I think that's about what we paid for the Audi A6 3.0T quattro with premium plus. Maybe even a couple grand less.

 

You're welcome, man.

As much as my initial reaction to this car was mostly negative, it's starting to make a better second (third?) impression on me. Still, no 6MT no want, but I'm very curious to see it in the showroom.

 

^ yeah, i saw it up close at the Vancouver auto show last week. although they had it behind ropes so i couldn't see inside. the car was the light blue that most of the photos have shown. looks like my blue slate is gone from the option sheet.

the car looked sexy, for sure. the front end looks high-maintenance - as in watch for scrapes/chips/parking lot curbs. i think the car has the potential to look awesome with minor exterior mods, as most enthusiasts will likely do.

if i was to forego my penchant for stick-shift, i would have to wait for the upcoming powertrain revisions on the Q50 to see what's what. i really don't understand why Nissan didn't role those out with the Q50 launch...

 

They just didn't have the powertrain stuff ready... They're still working on the new 8-speed automatic, integrating the Mercedes engine, etc. Nissan wasn't really executing on a new powertrain for the G37/Q50 for a long time...

In general, it seems like the Japanese have been falling behind in powertrain technologies, not just compared to the Germans, but the US as well.

 

You have to take into consideration the struggle the Japanese were facing with the exchange rate of the Yen to Dollar, natural disasters, etc. The Yen being strong hurt all of them. the M is really a product of that if you compare it's features to the Fuga, a lot was lost in translation to the US Infiniti M, features wise, yet an increase in price over the last gen M. The same thing with Lexus, which also has carried over engines. Especially with their luxury cars being built in Japan. Just look at the major drop in price the LEAF had once they started building it here in the states! CRAZY!

Also I think they are trying not to jump on a trend and riding it out to see if it all sticks, and if it does, I bet there will be an influx of new powertrains from the Japanese in the next few years.

 

Provided you get the M with the technology package. It ain't cheap.

 

Ends up the "Free iPad Mini" is in the form of a $350 Apple gift card. lol

 

Anyone know when Q50 is hitting the local dealers?