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Infiniti readying small crossover for China, is it Juke based?

The small crossover is the superstar segment of the global automotive industry at the moment. With the love that Nissan has for the form with vehicles like the Juke and the Rogue, it should come as no surprise that Infiniti is going to hop into the market as well. However, its luxury CUV is likely going to remain exclusive to China for the time being.
The first hint of the Chinese Infiniti crossover leaked as dark silhouette looking a lot like the Juke, during a brand press conference said to be held in Beijing. It suggested that the model would use the Nissan platform but incorporate unique styling.
Leftlane News speculated that it could be among the company's debuts at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show, but that appears not to be the case. Infiniti spokesperson Kyle Bazemore has confirmed to Autoblog that a "small premium crossover" is under development for China. However, "Details of the vehicle will be announced at a later date. It will not debut at Beijing Motor Show," he said. Also, don't get too excited about the prospects of driving an Infiniti small CUV, because Bazemore says the company has no plans to offer this model elsewhere.

Infiniti Q60 dies at year's end

In 2021, Automotive News' Future Product Pipeline coverage for the Infiniti brand contained a single entry for 2023: "Infiniti Q60 ends in 2023." Turns out the report of the Q60's death was true; the brand confirmed to Car and Driver that the coupe ends production at the end of this year. We wish we were surprised at the news or the rationale. An automaker spokesperson told the magazine, "We are focusing on the most popular luxury automotive segments such as crossovers and SUVs, as well as the upcoming EV we recently announced that will be built here in the U.S." The official justification didn't address the fact that dealers sold 2,728 units of the Q60 in the U.S. last year, 64 units fewer than achieved in 2020, and 2,315 units fewer than dealers moved in 2019 — the year Q60 sales fell off a cliff after selling more than 9,000 units in 2018. Consider this another step in the "three-phase company transformation" that Chairman Peyman Kargar is in the second stage of working through. The first phase of recovery ended this March, the luxury automaker getting back to profit globally. The current second stage that will revamp, electrify, and expand the lineup is predicted to last for the next four years. The spearhead will be the new QX80 SUV, planned for late next year or early 2024 with ambitions to challenge the Cadillac Escalade, Lexus LX, and Range Rover. That luxury club barred Infiniti from entry awhile ago, so Kargar's talking about profound turnaround. As for the Q60, the shame is that a car with sweet looks and even sweeter power never got the interior or driving dynamics to match. Perhaps the return of a much better Nissan Z can provide fodder for a proper Infiniti coupe once the luxury division has restored its momentum. The spokesperson told Car and Driver that Q60 inventory should last until well into 2023, so anyone looking for a 400-horsepower bargain with a six-speed manual should mark their calendar for early next spring.   Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

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