Here is the article, tell us what you think. Exhaust Notes - MSN Autos

 

Not surprised, I think most of us that have seen the car in person and have driven the Q would agree. They didn't test the IS350 so it's not an accurate comparison, the 350s have been getting better reviews than the Q, but the 1S250 isn't in the same performance point as the Q so it really shouldn't have entered the discussion
Infiniti really had a chance to invigorate the brand and at least initially it seems they have fired a lot of blanks

 

And the Q50 isn't as much fun to drive as ours....what exactly were they thinking?

 

Im pretty sure Infiniti found their tech focus was misstep. I'm guessing the poor reviews and soft sales numbers may be an early indicator. Given the sudden influx of Infiniti surveys I've been emailed in the past two weeks, I would say they may be going back to the drawing board.

 

They were thinking they could sell more cars if they built a generic looking sedan loaded with pointless technology and powered by an aging drivetrain. Maybe they're right... time will tell.

Having driven the Q50S, I can say both of these things with confidence:

1. It's a fine car.
2. Mine is better.

 

mercedes cla

 

They made a serious mis-step IMO. They had to know people who buy these cars are looking for a drivers car not an electronic chauffeur. They need to come with a twin turbo v6 with some serious power or a better way to put it down because I want to compete with Audi S4 and the 335, not the 328 or the A4.

 

For the average buyer that's not really interested in sportiness but want the the looks I'm sure over-all for that role it's a better car than the previous generation. But it's no longer in the same ballpark with the BMW's.

The should let Nissan fill those voids with the Maxima and the Altima. My wife like the Q better than our G. I don't. My G is paid for and I have no plan to upgrade.

 

People who do not car about performance and want a bland good looking car will opt for the KIA or Mazda 6. They look excellent and are a lot cheaper.

 

At this point Infiniti needs a game changer. The next IPL needs a major step-up! I test drove two Q50's. One AWD premium and one Q50s. Was majorly disappointed with both. While the tech features are new and ahead of the curve.. That doesn't do it for me. The car felt sluggish and lacks excitement. Reminded me of a V6 Camry with cool technology.

 

Also, for some reason every review car has had the steer by wire system which everyone complains about. They should start sending review units without that crap. They really do need a watered down version of the gtr motor. Caddy, bmw, Mercedes are all going with turbo v6 motors. The S4 being the exception with a supercharged v6. They have the ability to make something great and are choosing not to. Why?

 

IMO, steer by wire is the first step to Skynet. First they control our driving, next......the world.

 

It's good to look at and that's really all it brings to the table. I'm more than happy with my G.

 

I personally think that they are sitting on a game changer and don't realize it. They have essentially created a high performance mid-size sedan that can hit sixty in roughly 5 seconds and get better than 30mpg on the highway. In addition, they are associated with a brand that is indicative of long term reliability.

Their marketing is just all wrong. Wrong to the point of they could become an MBA course on what not to do when you introduce messaging to extend an established product.

The commercials I see for the Q seem to focus either too much on technology/safety or are just plain odd with supermodels driving through the city.

Why not present the facts? 0-60 in 5.2 seconds, 31mpg city, based on a platform with over 10 years of proven reliability, consumers reports best buy 7 years in a row, etc, etc.

Sell the car as a midlife crisis that is secretively very practical as well (think Audi,the commercial where a Mom drops her kid off at horseback riding lessons in the country then tears off in a rooster tail).

As it stands now, it seems that their marketing is either tailored towards 20 somethings (most are not in the market for 40K+ sedans, regardless of how cheap a lease can be had) or older folks with more disposable income that are enamored by gadgets, but care little if the car is FWD or RWD and could care less how fast it gets to 60 (this crowd is very practical and stingy with their money and often drive value brands, such as Hyundai).

The marketing team at Infiniti need to sit down with a note pad and watch a BWM commercial or two.

"We only build one thing, the ultimate driving machine"

That statement says so much and consumes just 9 words. Every time I see one of their commercials, I ask myself, why don't I own one of these?

Maybe Infiniti can use the opportunity to answer that very question.

 

Bastards!