2010 Q45???

[Solini]

I was at Infiniti today and one of the sellsman was telling me that the Q shall make a return in 2010, probably late 2009. But starting wondering 1) did anyone else hear about this? 2) He mentioned that Nissan has nothing to compete with the Lexus, BMW, Audi, hell all car makers large sedans and started wondering if they can't compete now who's to say when they do reveal this car that it will be current to what other companies are going to do next. I mean let's be honest for them to make an impact they can't build a car to compete with the cars that are out there today they have to make a car capable to match what these companies are going to do in the future. Sounds like a tough spot to be in, I just hope they pull it off. 450 hp anyone? Possible hybrid?

[zionprophecy]

yea after reading that i was thinking the same thing. At least presently for large sedans theres really no massively impacting addition they can pull off except a fast engine thats a hybrid...well it seems thats the way companies are leaning, more fuel efficient (not a bad thing haha), enviroment-friendly vehicles.....None of this bad though, just at least now theres nothing thats coming out or seems possible in the near future that will pull any of the companies ahead of the competition. Im probably wrong but i dunno haha

[Skibane]

Nobody blows upwards of 55 grand to worry about fuel efficiency (or at least the vehicle's original owner doesn't! ).

Personally, if I was dropping that kind of money, I'd want something that was considerably faster, quieter and more comfortable than anything else in the same price range. Screw the reclining rear seats, 14 speakers, 8-speed transmissions and all the other marketing gimmicks - Just give me a vehicle that blows the doors off everything else within $30K of it, in near-total silence and comfort.

[maxnix]

Just give me a vehicle that blows the doors off everything else within $30K of it, in near-total silence and comfort.

Ah, so you want a stock G50!

[Jesda]

Nissan had a Q concept car that they quickly buried. 2010 would be just in time for the 20th anniversary.

[konatown]

I've read a few sources that rumor at a 2009 model at the end of next year.

I hope Nissan can produce a new 4.5 V8 that can power other vehicles to compete with the new Lexus/Toyota 5.0litre 480HP V8 for the new SC model and the further off Supra.

[Solini]

The more I think of it doesn't a Q50 sound better?

[lakeq45]

I disagree that NO ONE that spends 50K on a car thinks about MPG. It is most likely not there first thought, but that doesn't mean it isn't a factor. I mean seriously. What does it matter if your everyday drive goes from 0-60 in 4.5 secs or 4.9 sec or 6.0 sec for that matter. If you could give me a car that was as comfortable as the Q, hell even the Y33, but got significantly better mileage...I'm there. As someone stated...there is no splash to be made coming out with yet another 450+ hp lux that is, gasp, .2 sec faster than the competition to 60. BUT, come out with a full size lux, that gets 0-60 faster than average, but gets in the 30-40 MPG range and you have headlines.

Saying that "the market doesn't want it, so we aren't going to build it" is what made GM the number 2 automaker in the world. IMO. They completely gave the hybrid market to Toyota and Honda and it is the same thinking that will kill Infinit et all if they make the same mistake. The 50k plus market cares less about fuel efficiency, but NO ONE can ignore fuel costs forever. $3/gal maybe....$4/gal...what's that you say...$5/gal...what do you mean my fuel bill is more than my lease payment....

[Jesda]

Hybrids count for 1% of car sales. The market still doesn't want it.

Maybe by the end of the decade though.

[lakeq45]

Yes, but what percentage of mind share do they have? We were speaking of ways to make a splash/differentiate a new Q from every other lux out there. 400+ hp makes me yawn. I would love to drive one, but not necessarily own one. My daily drive is an Insight with 0-60 of around 11 secs with a full battery charge and I am yet to find an on ramp that I can't achieve highway speeds before I get to the end of it.

I love my Q, but I will trade it in on the first car that comes close to the lux level with good mileage. I won't blink, I won't cry. It will just be the way things are. I drove GM products for years. Found them to be a good value, but I waited 6 years for them to release anything even CLOSE to the Insight before I bought mine used and now I will probably never go back.

While I will admit that driving an Insight is a major choice and not for everyone, driving a 2nd gen Prius or for a family Accord/Camry for not. If the big 3 put their marketing muscle behind something in this vein they would probably sell it. 25 years ago, an SUV was something that red-necks and farmers drove (what passed for an SUV back then anyway). Markets can be changed/created (and yes, I know that there are dozens of other examples of where it didn't work)

Hybrids are 1% of the market. Ok....what percentage are 400+ hp $50k+ luxury cars? And I wonder which one is growing faster.
Modified by lakeq45 at 2:11 PM 5/7/2007

[Skibane]

What does it matter if your everyday drive goes from 0-60 in 4.5 secs or 4.9 sec or 6.0 sec for that matter.

As someone stated...there is no splash to be made coming out with yet another 450+ hp lux that is, gasp, .2 sec faster than the competition to 60.

0-60 isn't the only definition of "fast". Just several tens of second improvement in 0-60 time can translate into MANY seconds of 60-100 time (let alone 100-150 time! )

The Q is a highway crusier - not an economy commuter car - and should be the fastest, most comfortable way of touring on the planet.

Traditionally, Nissan builds engines with more performance than the competition. The engine in their flagship car should be no exception.

[Jesda]

Hybrids are 1% of the market. Ok....what percentage are 400+ hp $50k+ luxury cars? And I wonder which one is growing faster.

A hybrid luxury car is useless. The LS460h achieves almost the same real-world performance, fuel economy, and comfort as its non-hybrid sibling, but at a higher price with a smaller trunk.

[konatown]

For those that don't understand:

The extra weight. I work for the only Lexus dealer and I can fully tell you that the RX400h, GS450h, and LS460h are a waste of money compared to the convential versions of the vehicle. All you'll ever truly notice is the emblem on the back.

[widebodyq]

Im looking foward to this. remember in 02 when the Q was so far advanced compared to all the competition? First with voice command, birds eye 3-d dvd based navigation, most powerful xenon projectors in the world (at the time), rear view camera, reclining back seats, power rear shade, intelligent cruise control etc. If the current JDM Nissian president is any indication on what nissian is capable of then we are in good shape

[Jesda]

The problem is, with the 02 Q Nissan relied almost entirely on gadgets to sell the car.

Jaguar already had voice recognition in the S-type.Cadillac had night vision (recently resurrected by the new S-class).BMW had reclining rear seats in 1995 and MB even earlier.

Technology is easy, as it eventually gets cheaper and finds its way into cheaper cars as time goes by. What makes a luxury vehicle timeless and desirable is the look, feel, drive, and quality. Gadgets should be secondary to all of that.

[MinisterofDOOM]

They completely gave the hybrid market to Toyota and Honda

You're absolutely right.They did it intentionally. They didn't want to expend money and manpower on hybrids when those resources could have been much better dedicated elsewhere--preferably on something that actually turns a worthwhile profit. The Altima hybrid uses Toyota technology. Only recently has the company started looking at developing their own proprietary hybrid tech.Ghosn doesn't like hybrids--one of the few things about which I still find myself agreeing with him. (I can't reword that to make sense for the life of me...hopefully you get the picture...)

[StarPD]

The more I think of it doesn't a Q50 sound better?

I agree wholeheartedly. I'd like to see the new Q as a Q50, or better yet, a Q55 with around 400 HP and a big flat torque curve. Direct injection would improve both performance and mileage. Reducing weight with more aluminum conponents would also help mileage, performance, ride and handling. A ittle more attention to aerodynamics would also help performance, mileage and handling.

A GOOD 6 speed transmission with closely spaced ratios, and OD 5 & 6 would improve mileag eand engine life, manumatic of course.

I'd like to see 3 models, base, sport, and premium, with limited options for each model. Keep adjustable rear seats, intelligent cruise control, auto headlamps, rain sensing wipers, Nav, and backup camera for the premium version. Keep most of the other current features, adding of course, automatic door locks for base and sport models.

Picture an aerodynamic 6 speed 5.5 liter 400 HP Q that weighs 3800 lbs with around a 2" wider track, ride/handling comparable to a BMW 5 Series, and 21/27 mpg, quieter than curent Qs and more responsive, yet with a smooth but controlled ride.

Keep base and sport models under $60k, with premium model around $68k. Last, market it alongside an even better (smoother/quieter)G37 and 3600 lb M45 with even better performance and handling than the Q, with an aggressive long-term advertising campaign.

Nissan CAN do it. Only the will remains to accomplish something like this.JMHO and YMMV.

[szh]

No, no, no, guys!!

We need a "Z60".

With a 6.0 liter V-12.

I have been asking for this since 1997 ... about time that Infiniti made something like that!

Z

[Jesda]

No, no, no, guys!!

We need a "Z60".

With a 6.0 liter V-12.

I have been asking for this since 1997 ... about time that Infiniti made something like that!

Z

You mean a luxury sports car? I'd be all for it. Infiniti is long overdue for a Cadillac V-series and MB AMG competitors.

[Solini]

You mean a luxury sports car? I'd be all for it. Infiniti is long overdue for a Cadillac V-series and MB AMG competitors.

Yes, I couldn't agree more. I'm trying to think of what luxury car doesn't have the own version of tuners, Cadillac V-Series, BMW M, Audi S, MB AMG...

[DrewQ45]

Hybrids count for 1% of car sales. The market still doesn't want it.

Maybe by the end of the decade though.

Yeah, but hybrid cars ARE around 1% of all vehicles manufactured. Put a hybrid in everything and no one can avoid it.

[Q45tech]

I can't wait for the moans from 2008 EPA MPG changes......minus 2-3 mpg

In the 2008 model year, the new methods would be used to determine the estimates. In 2011, a provision would take effect that would require manufacturers to perform additional cold temperature, air conditioning and/or high speed/rapid acceleration driving tests for some vehicles that may be more sensitive to these conditions. The additional testing would ensure that the fuel economy of those vehicles is more precisely captured. EPA is proposing to delay this additional testing until 2011 in order to provide enough time for manufacturers to plan for the added testing responsibilities. Nevertheless, beginning in 2008, the fuel economy for those sensitive vehicles would still reflect enough of the above effects such that consumers can make good comparison.

To avoid people rushing to used cars, there are proposals to extend the gas guzzler taxes to the used car market so everytime you buy you get to pay again and again.

The governments version of electroshock batton on gas guzzlers.

[Skibane]

To avoid people rushing to used cars, there are proposals to extend the gas guzzler taxes to the used car market so everytime you buy you get to pay again and again.

And I'll give you ONE guess as to which side of the congressional aisle these proposals are coming from...

[lakeq45]

Came across this while perusing the Skyline board a few weeks ago...

"Also, keeping cars registered in Japan isn't the expensive part. It's keeping its bi-annual inspections up to date and the taxes. You are taxed on the engine size of a car. If it were a S20, 2.0L 2000cc engine, it would be resonable. But if it were say an RB26 under there, you would have to pay to get the registration changed to reflect that. And your taxes would go up because you now have a larger engine in the car, which also means you need new plates, and now have to do another sha-ken (the inspection I mentioned earlier.)

The sha-ken is the most expensive part of owning a car in Japan. Parking if you live in an apartment is usually around $50, and if you have a house, with a "driveway", you are G2G. But paying around $3000 every two years just to be able to drive your car can get a little pricey.

And you people complain about smog checks. Try owning a car here, then tell me you hate paying to get your car smogged. "

I AM NOT defending this tax because I have not researched it. I am not going to dismiss it out of hand however. As some of you have pointed out, the market doesn't want better MPG. It is kind of like eating healthy. We all KNOW we should...but damn that fatty food tastes good. Given this market reality and the reality of the politics of oil, it is not unreasonable for the government to attempt to find a way to shift the market equation to make high mileage cars more attractive. Which is a better investment? To give Ford/GM/etc billions of dollars to research alternatives or to make changes in the market place that push in that direction or some combination? This tax would not say you can't have your Q60000000000, but would just make you pay for the right. Is it fair that my 60 MPG 1 liter Insight is taxed the same as someone else's 10 MPG 6 liter sports car? They are both two seater vehicles. They both drive on the same roads. So maybe it is.....but maybe it isn't. In almost any other country, they would be treated differently.

[StarPD]

1. This is not "any other country".2. More taxes is not what we need3. Punitive taxation is counter to productivity.4. Far, far more fuel is wasted in the US by idling at traffic signals and accelerating away from them than when driving steadily in smoothly flowing traffic.5. This condition is grossly exaggerated by traffic congestion due to poor traffic management than anything else.6. improving aerodynamics and reducing vehicle weight would improve all aspects of motor vehicle operation more than anything else, given the state of technology today. Fuel mileage, performance, ride and handling would all benefit from this, as would vehicle life and maintenance expense.7. Skibane is right.

[silver2k2]

I can't wait for the moans from 2008 EPA MPG changes......minus 2-3 mpgTo avoid people rushing to used cars, there are proposals to extend the gas guzzler taxes to the used car market so everytime you buy you get to pay again and again.

The governments version of electroshock batton on gas guzzlers.

Now that is frustrating, I CA we get to pay sales tax on used car purchases. Such BS I can hardly stand it, every dollar was already taxed to pay tax again and again is something that gets me riled. If they do that I will never be able to sell my G50 or SVT Lightning... good thing I dont plan to