4wd Navigation 8-passenger Bose Chrome 20's Moonroof Camera on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2016 Infiniti Q50 gets 2.0L turbo four

After adding a US-built, 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder to the European and Chinese-market Q50, Infiniti will finally add this engine to the US-spec car. Official details are exceedingly scarce, with the company only saying the 2.0-liter will hit dealers this winter and that additional info will be made available this fall. We can, however, make a few safe assumptions based on the engine's output in Europe. According to our previous story on the Decherd, TN-built engine, the turbocharged mill will offer up 211 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. That plants it squarely between the outputs of the 2.0-liter turbo in the BMW 320i and 328i, though it's down on power compared to the engines offered in the Cadillac ATS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and upcoming Lexus IS 200t. There's also a 100-plus-horsepower gap between the Q50's two gas-only engines. Considering all of these things, not to mention Infiniti's reluctance to reveal official specs, it seems safe to wager that the Japanese brand will find a way to squeeze more power out of the current 2.0-liter turbo. That'd allow the Q50 to better challenge the competition's entry-level offerings while bringing the starting price point down from the roughly $38,000 it sits at now. That's grain-of-salt conjecture on our part, though, so caveat emptor. Expect to hear more on the Q50's new engine later this year. Until then, scroll down for the official press release cover all of Infiniti's 2016 updates. INFINITI – WHAT'S NEW FOR 2016 For 2016, the Infiniti lineup in the United States expands once again, literally, with a new longer, roomier Infiniti QX50 premium crossover. With its wheelbase extended 3.2-inches, the 2016 QX50 offers greatly increased rear passenger room, as well as additional cargo space. It also features new exterior styling. There are additional changes in store for 2016, starting with the addition of a new 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine for the Infiniti Q50 sports sedan available in the winter of 2016. Other Infiniti Q50 enhancements will be announced at the North American International Auto Show in January. In addition, revisions to the Infiniti QX60 luxury crossover will be announced at that time. The Infiniti QX80 full-size SUV keeps it fresh for 2016 with a new Signature Edition, which includes Driver Assistance and Split Bench packages, Saddle Tan high-contrast interior, bodyside moldings and chrome mirror caps. The QX80 Special Edition is limited to just 1,000 units.

Infiniti previews four upcoming models on its path to electrify by 2030

Nissan and Infiniti have been “also ran” automakers for years, but a shift to electrification presents new opportunities to break through the noise and climb back up the sales charts. To get there, Infiniti is looking at a range of new models in body styles familiar and futuristic. The luxury automaker recently announced four new models that it said will lead its transformation to an all-electric company by 2030. The concepts have familiar shapes with futuristic touches that donÂ’t appear in the automakerÂ’s current lineup. InfinitiÂ’s Vision Qe concept illustrates its vision of the modern sedan, with a striking fastback shape and unique lighting elements that give it a real Tron vibe. Similarly, the brandÂ’s QXe concept blends that styling philosophy with advanced tech and a crossover body style. Infiniti also previewed its new QX80 flagship SUV, scheduled to arrive in 2024. The automaker previewed its upcoming luxury three-row with the QX Monograph concept earlier this year at Pebble Beach, and the new model looks to be a refinement of the existing SUVÂ’s boxy, upright shape. Infiniti said the cabin will feature upscale materials and high-end tech that elevate the experience. Finally, the QX65 is a new midsize crossover coupe that Infiniti said will channel its FX crossovers from years ago. The automaker promised the new SUV would be a “stylish two-row alternative in the cluttered midsize crossover segment.” Infiniti didnÂ’t show a closeup of the vehicle, but we can get a hint from the teaser image, which displays a small crossover with seeping lines and a unique roofline. Infiniti and parent company Nissan have work to do before they are anywhere near level with their rivals, but they havenÂ’t been able to capitalize on missteps by others, including the fact that heavy-hitters Toyota and Honda have been slow to move on electrification. NissanÂ’s Ariya saw significant delays and landed well after its intended release date, losing what could have been an impressive early mover advantage. The good news for brand hopefuls is that the shift to electrification should open the door to more flexible vehicle designs and technology-sharing opportunities with the companyÂ’s alliance mates, Renault and Mitsubishi.     Design/Style Green Tokyo Motor Show Infiniti Nissan Concept Cars Electric

Infiniti's new VC-T changes the rules of small turbocharged engines

The upcoming Infiniti QX50 crossover does not get our pulse racing, no matter how shapely the QX Sport Inspiration concept that previews it may be. No midsize SUV does, to be fair. But it has something special under the hood – the world's first production variable-compression-ratio engine. That means the QX50's 2.0-liter turbo four, which makes 268 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque, will have up to 27 percent better fuel economy. Here's how it works. The trend of moving to smaller, turbocharged engines carries with it one big falsehood. Under low load when the turbo isn't needed, these engines are less efficient than an equivalent engine without a turbo because of the low compression ratio the turbo requires. That is, if you never need the extra power, you're wasting fuel. Turbocharged (and supercharged) engines use a lower compression ratio to prevent detonation. When you force extra air in a cylinder and mix it with fuel, it's more likely to prematurely go boom. Lowering the compression ratio prevents this problem, but it's less efficient. Infiniti's VC-T promises the best of both worlds, with a compression ratio that ranges from 8.0:1 for high-power turbo needs to a 14.0:1 ratio for fuel-sipping efficiency. At its heart the VC-T engine is a simple idea, but it's complicated to explain. Consider yourself warned. The photo below from Infiniti serves as a good visual overview. For the truly nerdy, this patent application covers the mechanical concept. Instead of having the pistons connected to the crankshaft, Infiniti's engine has a pivot arm with a connection on each end. One end connects to the piston, the other connects to a second lower shaft, which is controlled by an actuator arm. At any given time the engine's pistons move up and down according to the lobes on the crankshaft. But the actuator arm can change the angle of the pivot arm up and down. That is, the pistons still move in the same motion with the same stroke, but phase the entire stroke up or down. Move the pivot up and there's less room at the top, which means a higher compression ratio. Move the pivot down and the compression ratio goes down, too. As an added bonus, the lower shaft eliminates the need for counter-rotating balance shafts. Infiniti says this system works constantly and can vary the compression ratio to any number between 8:1 and 14:1. It also uses electronic variable valve timing on the intake valves to switch into Atkinson-cycle combustion for greater efficiency.