2009 Infiniti M35 Awd Sedan Automatic Navigation Rear Camera Bose Keyless Entry on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Infiniti teases Qs Inspiration electrified sedan concept for Auto Shanghai

Infiniti has the third installment of its Q concept lineup ready for Auto Shanghai in a couple of weeks. The 2018 Detroit Auto Show saw the Q Inspiration concept, a slinky pearlescent sports sedan. This year's Detroit show welcomed the QX Inspiration concept, an ivory electric crossover that previewed a future product. The Shanghai debut blends the two with the Qs Inspiration concept, "an electrified sports sedan for the future," that previews a forthcoming product. The Qs Inspiration appears to pick up where the 2018 Q Inspiration left off. We noted last year's show car didn't have visible tailpipes, and we suspected an electric powertrain. That wasn't the case — Infiniti said the brand's VC-Turbo technology powered the four-door. This new Qs Inspiration is built on an "all-new flexible architecture developed specifically for electrified powertrains." That's a curious distinction if by electrified Infiniti means an electrically assisted ICE. If a car needs all the paraphernalia of an ICE drivetrain, where's the electric leap? It must be somewhere, because Infiniti says the Qs Inspiration is as groundbreaking as the Q45 sedan that birthed the brand in 1989. Company boss Christian Meunier said, "Electrification creates a range of new possibilities for sedans," the concept "letting us imagine how this type of car could be reinvigorated and adapted to fit the changing needs and tastes of drivers." The teaser tells us nothing but to expect more white. There will be an "electrified form language" outside, a "minimalist cabin" inside. The dual-zone interior contains a "clutter-free cockpit ... to engage the driver, and a relaxed passenger zone that make the most of the generous interior space." Naturally, there'll be more Japanese "artistry and craftsmanship" than you can process in one sitting. Stay tuned April 16 for the reveal.

Andy Palmer leaves Renault-Nissan to serve as CEO of Aston Martin

Aston Martin has been without a helmsman since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the chief executive office at the end of last year, stepping back to serve as non-executive chairman in a semi-retired ambassadorial capacity. The British automaker, now on the cusp of a new era, has been running without a CEO since, but has now named Bez's replacement in Andy Palmer.
If you don't recognize the name, you should: Palmer has worked under the Renault-Nissan Alliance for decades now, rising through the ranks to become one of the top executives under Carlos Ghosn. Most recently he was serving as executive vice president of the entire group and chairman of the Infiniti brand, but like Carlos Tavares, who recently left Renault to run Peugeot, Palmer is now embarking on a new mission as CEO of Aston Martin.
Once the transition period is complete at the start of October, Palmer's role as Chief Planning Officer at Renault-Nissan will be assumed by Philippe Klein, who steps up from his current role as executive vice president of product planning for Renault. Read the statements from both companies below.

Autoblog sell-it-yourself highlight: 2013 Infiniti QX56

As Lincoln announces an all-new Navigator at this year's New York auto show, and General Motors' Arlington (Texas) plant runs 24/7 cranking out Tahoes, Yukons, and Escalades, Infiniti's big QX56/80 continues to gain fans in a great many upmarket zip codes. And its appeal – for those with an appreciation for Big Foot footprints – is obvious. Built atop Nissan's Patrol platform, the QX56 offers high levels of refinement with cubic yards of utility. Introduced by Nissan's Infiniti division in 2011, you would assume any inaugural bugs had been worked out by 2013, the QX's third model year. Power was supplied, in the press vernacular, by Nissan's proven 5.6-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission was standard on all models, and while the additional speeds might suggest some semblance of efficiency, no one should confuse this big QX with a Toyota Prius. Our 'for sale' example, with 84,000 miles, represents above-average mileage for a 4-year old vehicle. But if those are largely highway miles in and around Madison, Mississippi, and service records are available, you shouldn't be too concerned. This is, with proper maintenance, a 200,000-mile platform, leaving you about 116,000 miles for your $37,000. And the 'ask' seems about $5,000 too dear; perhaps the seller will throw in a gas card. Related Video: Infiniti Car Buying Used Car Buying Ownership SUV Luxury