2004 Infiniti G35 Base on 2040-cars

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Infiniti to get Leaf-based electric sedan after all

Infiniti suffered a huge blow a few weeks ago when CEO Johan de Nysschen jumped ship after two years on the job to take the helm at Cadillac. As boss, he spearheaded change within the Japanese luxury brand and was among the biggest champions of the Q50 Eau Rouge. However, the company is far from sunk. Plans put in place prior to de Nysschen leaving are still on the table, according to Nissan product planner Andy Palmer to Automotive News, and that could mean a rosy future for the once AWOL LE sedan (pictured above) and other models.
Back in 2012, Infiniti promised that it would have the LE on the market as a premium electric sedan by 2014. It was supposed to share the battery pack with the Nissan Leaf but with a more powerful, 134-horsepower motor. But have you seen one on the road recently? The luxury EV was eventually shelved, but de Nysschen pledged the idea wasn't dead. Maybe now is a better time for it. According to Automotive News, the LE is rescheduled to launch in 2017 or 2018. The latest version would use the Leaf platform but with a more potent, next-gen battery to give it a range over 90 miles.
Of course, the LE isn't the only thing on the way from Infiniti; it also appears to be planning a two-pronged approach for small cars. Palmer recently tweeted that the company would build the forthcoming Q30 hatchback and QX30 crossover in the UK in 2015. Additionally, the automaker is firing up a new joint venture factory in Mexico with Mercedes-Benz; building compact models there starting in 2017. According Automotive News, the Mexican-built models will be more US-focused while the UK-built ones will appeal more to Europeans.

Nissan could report first quarterly loss since March 2009

TOKYO — Nissan may report its first quarterly loss in more than a decade on Thursday because of slumping sales, sources familiar with the company said, adding more pressure on efforts to rebuild the company after Carlos Ghosn's ouster. Deteriorating profits underscore the challenges facing Nissan, which is unwinding many of the expansionist strategies championed by ex-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Ghosn by slashing jobs, production sites and product offerings to save cash and ensure its survival. In addition to slumping sales, production disruptions caused by China's coronavirus outbreak could also drag profits lower. Three senior officials at Japan's No. 2 automaker told Reuters that they anticipate a poor results announcement on Thursday, with one of them calling the figures "dismal". Two of the officials cautioned that there is the possibility of an operating loss, which would be the first quarterly loss since the period ending in March 2009. Nissan said it could not comment on its financial results ahead of its official announcement. The company is likely to report operating profit of 48.6 billion yen ($442.5 million) for the quarter ending in December, less than half the 103 billion yen profit a year ago, according to SmartEstimate's survey of three analysts, who revised their forecasts in January. However, those forecasts were issued before the release of the December vehicle sales figures on Jan. 30, which show third-quarter sales dropped by 11% from the year earlier period, according to Reuters calculations. That is the biggest quarterly slump of its current sales downturn that began two years ago. That sales decline led one auto equities analyst based in Japan to scrap his forecast and also warn that Nissan could post a loss. "It will be a question of whether there will be a profit or a loss. For the quarter, a loss is a possibility," he said, declining to be named as his forecast had not been updated to reflect his latest view. One of the three Nissan officials said there is a risk the automaker may cut its full-year profit forecast of 150 billion yen, which would be an 11-year low. The company announced that forecast in November after an initial 230 billion yen outlook.

2023 Infiniti QX60 adds three-year maintenance plan, higher price

Infiniti has published pricing information for the 2023 QX60. The second-generation crossover enters its second model year on the market with price increases across the board, a handful of new features and a three-year maintenance plan called Infiniti Premium Care. Buyers still have four trim levels to choose from. Pricing for the full range (including the $1,195 destination charge) is as follows: QX60 Pure: $50,395 ($2,520 more than in 2022) QX60 Luxe: $56,445 ($2,520 more than in 2022) QX60 Sensory: $59,795 ($2,420 more than in 2022) QX60 Autograph: $63,795 ($2,420 more than in 2022) Note that those figures correspond to the front-wheel-drive QX60. Motorists who want all-wheel-drive will need to pay and extra $2,000 regardless of trim. Small updates to the list of standard features complement the price hike. Every trim level gains a wireless device charger and a frameless rear-view mirror for 2023. The Luxe model gets gloss black trim on the rear bumper, while Sensory and Autograph trims receive gray trim. Heated front seats, 18-inch wheels, a 12.3-inch display for the infotainment system and a power-operated hatch continue to come standard. Infiniti Premium Care is the final addition to the QX60 line-up. Announced in June 2022, and offered on every 2023 Infiniti model, it's an integrated maintenance plan that includes three years' worth of engine oil and brake fluid changes, tire rotations, inspections, cabin air filter replacements, tire road hazard coverage, and, on some models, car rental assistance. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.