The all-new 2017 Infiniti Q60 has landed at this year’s Detroit Auto Show.
The Q60 was previewed by a thinly-veiled concept presented at last year’s edition of the event. As expected, the coupe has changed little in its transition from a concept to a production car. Aimed directly at the BMW 4 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, the Q60 adopts a muscular look that blends head-turning styling cues including a wide, double-arched grille positioned low on the front fascia with discreet aerodynamic features such as a hood sculpted to reduce drag and active grille shutters. Interestingly, Infiniti points out the headlights are designed to mimic the look of human eyelids.
The Japanese car maker went to great lengths to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) in the cabin. All Q60 models regardless of trim level come standard with active noise cancellation technology, wheel spokes that dampen vibrations, and stiff cross-members. Noise is further covered up by a 13-speaker sound system developed by Bose specifically for Infiniti’s new coupe.
The Q60 packs the latest generation of Infiniti’s InTuition infotainment system. Displayed on a high-resolution screen, InTuition lets the driver enter an address into the navigation system, make phone calls thanks to Bluetooth technology, turn on the A/C or the heater, and even adjust the position of the front seats. The screen also displays images transmitted by the available 360-degree camera.
Like the recently-unveiled 2016 Q50, the Q60 packs a serious punch thanks to a brand new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine tuned to develop 400 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 350 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 to 5,200 rpm in its most powerful configuration. Buyers who don’t need 400 ponies under the skinny pedal can order the Q60 with a de-tuned version of the V6 that makes 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. Finally, base models use a 2.0-liter turbo four that delivers 208 hp and 258 lb-ft. of torque.
All engines are bolted to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive comes standard, while a rear-biased all-wheel drive system is offered at an extra cost.
V6-powered variants of the Q60 benefit from Infiniti’s Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) system. In addition to providing the driver with a host of customization options (including up to six driving modes), DAS makes up to 1,000 steering adjustments per second to ensure the coupe is easy to maneuver at low speeds and more engaging to drive on twisty roads. Infiniti promises its digital steering technology goes a long way in reducing driver fatigue, too.
The Infiniti Q60 will arrive in showrooms later this year as a 2017 model. Infiniti hasn’t revealed how much its flagship coupe will cost.
