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2017 Infiniti QX30 brings style in a small package to LA

There are already no shortage of luxurious compact crossovers on the market, like the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. Infiniti clearly sees room for growth with the debut of the production QX30 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The highly sculpted CUV arrives next year to offer another stylish entry in the segment. The production QX30 clearly adapts the swoopy concept's design from the Geneva Motor Show, but the designers soften things slightly. The kinked C-pillar comes straight from the earlier shape, and the arching character line now runs through both door handles along the side. Narrow lights at the front and rear also give the CUV a sporty look. Inside, leather and metallic trim abound, and the infotainment system sits high on the center stack. The QX30 will be available with diesel and gasoline engines, depending on the market, but the 2.0t on the fender here suggests this one uses the turbocharged unit from its Q30 hatchback sibling with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is standard on the CUV, and an all-wheel-drive system can send up to 50-percent of the power to the rear wheels as necessary. Infiniti hopes young buyers gravitate toward the model's bold shape when the QX30 goes on sale. LA seems like the perfect place to catch the eye of these potential customers. Infiniti QX30: A premium active crossover for all purposes • QX30 debuts as a new premium offering for global markets • Combines crossover appearance with signature Infiniti design cues • Delivers a confident drive and versatile attitude, aided by intelligent all-wheel drive • Intuitive technologies enhance safety, comfort and convenience • Part of first Infiniti production in Europe, at new facilities in Sunderland, UK • Simultaneous world premieres at Los Angeles and Guangzhou motor shows HONG KONG – The Infiniti QX30 premium active crossover is making its simultaneous global debut at the 2015 Los Angeles and Guangzhou international motor shows – signalling the next phase of the company's global growth strategy. Created for a new generation of premium buyers who appreciate category-defying design inside and out, the QX30 boasts a purposeful appearance that makes a bold visual statement as part of Infiniti's premium model line-up.

Mystery shoppers love Infiniti, hate Tesla

Infiniti, followed by Lexus tied with Mercedes-Benz took the top two spots for best sales experience according to mystery shoppers from the latest Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index, while EV manufacturer Tesla recorded the lowest overall score. Not surprisingly, premium brands dominated the top ranks. Including the three already mentioned, luxury brands occupied seven of the top ten spots and included Audi, BMW, Porsche, and the only American brand to crack the upper echelon, Cadillac. Toyota, Volkswagen, and Nissan rounded out the first ten positions. The news for domestic automakers isn't good. Aside from Caddy, the only other star-spangled automaker to score above the industry average is Chrysler. The rest of FCA, most of GM, and all of Ford fell below the line. But Pied Piper's mystery shoppers handed Tesla the biggest walloping – the company is ten full points below the next lowest brand, Volvo, and its score of 86 is 17 below the average of 103. It's baffling, considering the company's touted direct-sales model. "Tesla leaves me scratching my head," Fred O'Hagan, Pied Piper's president and CEO, told Wards Auto. "They own all of their stores, so you would think each one would be doing the same thing. But they're not. Tesla is consistent in its inconsistencies." O'Hagan added that there's a "huge variation" in Tesla's store-to-store effectiveness, and that in some cases, shoppers found showroom workers that acted more like "museum curators," Wards Auto reports. It might be popular to call Tesla the Apple of the car world, but based on Pied Piper's work, the brand has a long way to go to emulate the uniform shopping experience of an Apple Store. The news might be bad for Tesla, but even for the brands that scored below average, there's cause for celebration. Only Tesla and Mini lost points in this year's rankings, and only Mercedes and Lincoln held steady. Every other brand, including Infiniti, which topped the index for the first time, gained at least one point. The biggest improvements belong to Porsche, Land Rover, and Mitsubishi, which all jumped five points. Pied Piper's annual Prospect Satisfaction Index uses mystery shoppers – over 6,100 this year – from across the country to assess dealers and generate rankings from over 50 individual factors. News Source: Pied Piper via WardsAuto Green Audi BMW Cadillac Chrysler Infiniti Lexus Mercedes-Benz Nissan Tesla Toyota Car Buying Car Dealers study

Upcoming QX80 will use current model's platform, powertrain

Infiniti previewed the next-gen QX80 full-size SUV at this year's New York Auto Show with the QX80 Monograph concept. The new model is slated to go into production by the end of this year. Despite the updated look, Motor Trend reports that the next QX80 will ride on the same platform as the current model, carrying along with it the 5.6-liter 400 horsepower V8. The current QX80 shares a platform with the Nissan Patrol globally and the Nissan Armada here in the US. The model has been a success for the automaker, outselling every other Infiniti but the smaller QX60 crossover and Q50 sedan. Though the platform dates back to 2010, it seems Infiniti doesn't want to spoil a good thing. Competition like the Mercedes-Benz GLS-class, Cadillac Escalade, and Lexus LX are about as old as the current QX80. While most new models are more refined than their predecessors, Infiniti Motor Company President Roland Krueger says it should drive about the same as the current model. While the V8 will carry over, Krueger didn't rule out the possibility of a smaller turbocharged V6 for the future. Also carrying over will be the independent, self-leveling rear suspension, though neither the QX80 or Armada get some of the Patrol's really good off-road components. Since there isn't much going on beyond the skin, expect a short development cycle and a full debut sometime this fall. Related Video: News Source: Motor Trend Design/Style Infiniti SUV infiniti qx80 infiniti qx80 monograph