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.

 

Saw the article as well, and the wheel pkg does look very nice (funny that the article stated "strange blue cast"). I actually like the blue tint, at least on the white Q in the article. As far as acceleration, should be the same as a G w/ lighter wheels and better rubber. I think the last G tested was 5.1 to 60.

 

I wonder how much the rims weight, that's a quick time!

 

^^ one of the car mags saw 5.0 seconds flat with the '09 G37S. not sure if that was 6MT or 7AT, so i suppose 4.9 is reasonable with light wheels and wider, sticky rubber.

they had the Q50S listed at 3730lbs, which is close to the G37S IIRC.

as for exact weight of the new combo; the tires probably save 2-3 lbs and the wheels account for the other 5-6 lbs. if we knew the Q50S wheel weight a simple back-calculation would net the new weight.

 

It says they shave 8 lbs per wheel from the regular 19" wheels, so assuming the 19s are in the 27lb range they should be 18-20 lb wheels.

 

Thats a good estimate....as the OEM 2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe wheels were 19 pounds. 1 pound per inch

 

I saw that too. Surpried it isnt posted on line....

I wish my S had came with a more aggressive wheel and tire package. The coupe 19s would have been nice.

 

Fronts weighed 19lbs, rears were 21lbs. Does anyone have the weights for the regular q50 rims?

 

nice times

 

I want to see hybrid times.

 

Google

2014 Infiniti Q50S Hybrid Test – Review – Car and Driver

 

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.

 

LOL Oops. Didn't know they finally tested one.

 

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

 

The blue tint was...interesting.

And those are the Rays from the 370Z Sport Pkg - no?