Car & Driver Sub 5-second Q50S?
i thought i would pass along some positive news out of the Q50(S) camp for a change. i have been as critical as anyone about my lack of enthusiasm for the new G. i've been given a few non-S models as loaners while in for warranty work at the dealer and have been unimpressed each time.
while flipping through my latest C&D yesterday i noticed a quick review of the Q50S with a special lightweight OEM wheel/tire combo. and, more importantly, a delete on the "drive by wire" steering. so the tested car was relatively base for the S models, no tech or luxury package since those are tied to the steering option. the fancy forged (blue?) OEM wheels were a $4300 option but save 8lbs each corner. they look like Rays, and come wrapped in some wide sticky summer compound 245/19F 265/19R. the Q looked decent with that wide tire setup. can't say i'm feeling the blue tint on the otherwise gorgeous wheels.
test numbers were:
0-60: 4.9s
1/4 mile: 13.5s @ 104mph
Braking 70-0: 156'
lateral: 0.95g
some impressive numbers, although the $50k+ pricetag with few options does sting a bit. doesn't change my mind on the Q50S at all since the 6MT was dropped and i'm looking for other powertrain advancements, but it was still an interesting read. in general C&D seemed to praise the package as tested.
i usually take these test numbers with a grain of salt since few of us would actually be able to achieve those acceleration results. but the numbers are still useful to gauge cars against one another for their potential. the car mags thrash on the cars and launch them like an owner would not, unless you lease perhaps (reason #29 not to buy an ex-lease). i remember an S2000 test years ago where they saw mid-5 second 0-60 - launching from insane rpms. at least they acknowledged that an owner would see closer to the ~7 second range.
i searched for an online link to the article but couldn't find one...sorry.
while flipping through my latest C&D yesterday i noticed a quick review of the Q50S with a special lightweight OEM wheel/tire combo. and, more importantly, a delete on the "drive by wire" steering. so the tested car was relatively base for the S models, no tech or luxury package since those are tied to the steering option. the fancy forged (blue?) OEM wheels were a $4300 option but save 8lbs each corner. they look like Rays, and come wrapped in some wide sticky summer compound 245/19F 265/19R. the Q looked decent with that wide tire setup. can't say i'm feeling the blue tint on the otherwise gorgeous wheels.
test numbers were:
0-60: 4.9s
1/4 mile: 13.5s @ 104mph
Braking 70-0: 156'
lateral: 0.95g
some impressive numbers, although the $50k+ pricetag with few options does sting a bit. doesn't change my mind on the Q50S at all since the 6MT was dropped and i'm looking for other powertrain advancements, but it was still an interesting read. in general C&D seemed to praise the package as tested.
i usually take these test numbers with a grain of salt since few of us would actually be able to achieve those acceleration results. but the numbers are still useful to gauge cars against one another for their potential. the car mags thrash on the cars and launch them like an owner would not, unless you lease perhaps (reason #29 not to buy an ex-lease). i remember an S2000 test years ago where they saw mid-5 second 0-60 - launching from insane rpms. at least they acknowledged that an owner would see closer to the ~7 second range.
i searched for an online link to the article but couldn't find one...sorry.
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i also can't find the fancy wheel/tire option package on Infiniti's website.
I saw this in the back of my car an driver also in one of thos e "short takes". even though the 0-60 has improved the 0-100 is still the same as last 10 G37S sedan with 6mt in the mag review.
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Sadly, it is just the way the market is moving. The F30 3 series hasn't gotten the glowing reviews the previous generation E90 did.
Habemus Papem! 2013 BMW 335i M Sport vs. 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6, 2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport Comparison Tests - Page 3 - Car and Driver
Is it possible that the BMW has the worst steering here? With the F30, BMW wavered. This is the first 3-series that feels less thoroughly engineered than its competition.
Compared with the other two cars here, the BMW feels immense and slow-witted. Its steering also seems comparatively lazy, too light and vague on-center; and what little feel there is to begin with disappears entirely in fast transitions.
and the new "4"
2014 Audi S5 vs. 2014 BMW 435i Comparison Tests - Page 2 - Car and Driver
The BMW’s numbness saps driver confidence, as the car doesn’t provide enough information to form a complete picture of what’s happening at the tires.
I don't know if it's just mass appeal vs catering to the small % of the market that wants a more focused car, or the switch to electric steering for fuel economy, but it's not just the Q that disappoints in the sport sedan segment. At least BWM still offers a 6MT
Habemus Papem! 2013 BMW 335i M Sport vs. 2013 Cadillac ATS 3.6, 2014 Lexus IS350 F Sport Comparison Tests - Page 3 - Car and Driver
Is it possible that the BMW has the worst steering here? With the F30, BMW wavered. This is the first 3-series that feels less thoroughly engineered than its competition.
Compared with the other two cars here, the BMW feels immense and slow-witted. Its steering also seems comparatively lazy, too light and vague on-center; and what little feel there is to begin with disappears entirely in fast transitions.
and the new "4"
2014 Audi S5 vs. 2014 BMW 435i Comparison Tests - Page 2 - Car and Driver
The BMW’s numbness saps driver confidence, as the car doesn’t provide enough information to form a complete picture of what’s happening at the tires.
I don't know if it's just mass appeal vs catering to the small % of the market that wants a more focused car, or the switch to electric steering for fuel economy, but it's not just the Q that disappoints in the sport sedan segment. At least BWM still offers a 6MT
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Seems like the final assessment is spot-on.
The successor to the original G35 really isn’t one. The Q50 is much more about luxury and tech than driving pleasure. Systems administrators are welcome, but drivers should hang onto their old Gs and save on the extra copper.
The successor to the original G35 really isn’t one. The Q50 is much more about luxury and tech than driving pleasure. Systems administrators are welcome, but drivers should hang onto their old Gs and save on the extra copper.
The straight line acceleration numbers are on par with the G37 as well as the 335i
I think the issue is the electric steering that has taken all the life out of what was previously a great system, a bunch of electronic nannies, a "meh" suspension, the discontinuation of the 6MT, and a MSRP creeping past $50K
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Where is the DI? The small turbo? Etc. Etc. No progress. At least they apparently remembered the best part of the car, the steering, and brought it back. And the tech crap inside? No more expensive than the 2010 navi system at release. Electronics moves at warp speed compared to cars. So we are not really getting any value there...just giving us the 2014 equivalent of the 2010 system. (Think iPhone 3 price vs. iPhone 5s price.)
And by the way, the dollar is up against the Yen vs 2009 by a tiny bit, and it really has only moved a few percent over the last five years. Not enough to justify such a massive price increase.
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The straight line acceleration numbers are on par with the G37 as well as the 335i
I think the issue is the electric steering that has taken all the life out of what was previously a great system, a bunch of electronic nannies, a "meh" suspension, the discontinuation of the 6MT, and a MSRP creeping past $50K
I think the issue is the electric steering that has taken all the life out of what was previously a great system, a bunch of electronic nannies, a "meh" suspension, the discontinuation of the 6MT, and a MSRP creeping past $50K
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one way to relate this article to our G37s is to see the difference between the standard S sedan and the sticky-tire S sedan. with sticky summer compound they saw noticeable improvements in braking and lateral acceleration. since the Q50S and G37S suspensions are essentially unchanged it is fair to say that all us G37S guys who upgrade to summer compounds will net similar results. this gives some backup to our butt dynos for all the guys who extol the virtues of summer tires. they really do make a big difference. looking at the numbers, our cars are right up there with the top sport sedan performers in every way. there's our tire-pumping thought for the day...
