Infiniti goes one step beyond, to premium saloon

Infiniti has had some delightfully quirky models in South Africa but now the company, which had its birth in Nissan nearly 30 years ago, has brought the Q50 premium saloon to this country in a bid to sell more cars and create a bigger presence for the brand against tough opposition.

What is it?

The Q50 is an exquisite four-door saloon with impressive hi-tech features. It plans to make a dent in the segment dominated by the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. For now, the range consists of a 2.2-litre diesel and 3.5-litre hybrid (3.5-litre petrol combined with electric motor). Sales are projected at 30 a month and are expected to double when a 2-litre petrol-engine model arrives in three months' time.

How does it look?

The Q50 has attractive, coupé-like lines and outshines most rivals in terms of appearance. Infiniti spokesmen describe their cars as "expressive, sensual products that provoke a visceral reaction", and say the company has entered a global expansion phrase, with the number of sales and of models due to increase dramatically in the near future.

But it's not just about looks: performance plays a prominent part in the Q50's appeal, which leads us to the next point ...

What's it like to drive?

The Q50S hybrid, with its combination of electric motor and 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, is a treat, especially when you press it hard. The brutal, effortless and instantaneous acceleration initially catches you by surprise and continues to delight thereafter. This is not just a big, sporty petrol engine, but one that is boosted by the huge-torque characteristic of electric motors. It's called Direct Response power and is described as "the new turbocharger".

Instead of using an electric motor simply to boost fuel economy, Infiniti has done this with an eye to performance.

The Q50S is a hit in this regard. And there is an economy benefit. When you're coasting at highway speeds, the electric motor sometimes takes over completely from the petrol engine - and it is odd to watch the rev counter fall to zero when this happens. The car can also drive at slow speeds on electric power only.

The diesel model - powered by Infiniti's first four-cylinder oil-burner - performs well and, like the hybrid, has excellent handling. The diesels come with six-speed manual gearboxes or seven-speed autos (on Premium and Sport models).

In the limited time allowed to drive them, the diesel and the hybrid impressed as comfortable, quiet and powerful cars, with great roadholding.

Driving enthusiastically, we consumed 8.6l/100km on the diesel and between 10 and 11l/100km on the hybrid. But this would probably improve under normal driving conditions.

Any special features?

The rear-wheel drive systems make their sporty intentions clear (there will be an all-wheel drive on the hybrid).

The "drive-by-wire" steering on the higher-end models uses computer technology to link the steering wheel and front wheels. This allows for a lot of tweaking, including reducing feedback on bad roads so the steering stays rock-steady in the driver's hands, instead of being jiggled around.

It also has active lane control, which helps drivers stay in their lanes, using a windscreen camera to follow the lines on the road.

The hybrid comes standard with sports suspension, regenerative braking and sports brakes. Also standard on the hybrid, and the diesel Sport, are: tyre-pressure monitoring with individual display; power and heated door mirrors with folding and reversing synchronisation; intelligent key with smart access and advanced features including programming for different drivers; welcome lighting; powered adjustment for rake and reach on the steering column, powered front-seat adjustment with memory and powered lumbar support for the driver.

Should you buy one?

The Infiniti, particularly the Q50S, is going to be an enthusiast's car, attracting fans with its combination of great performance and handling, and a lot of top-end, hi-tech features. People who buy these cars won't be concerned that Infiniti is still an emerging brand with a correspondingly low number of dealers. The cars are backed by three-year warranties with five-year/100000km maintenance plans.