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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.

Hurricane Sandy cost automakers 15,000 vehicles, may have ruined up to 200k

Hurricane Sandy was the largest Atlantic storm in US history, and its total economic impact is just now coming into view. According to Automotive News, Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Honda are set to scrap around 15,000 new vehicles ruined by the storm. Nissan alone accounts for about 40 percent of those, with 6,000 Nissan and Infiniti models deeded "un-saleable" due to damage. The company saw 56 dealerships shuttered due to the storm, but 51 of those have since reopened.
Toyota, meanwhile, had some 4,000 vehicles at its Newark port facility, and of those, 3,000 may be scrapped. An additional 825 were dealer inventory when they were ruined. Honda and Acura dealers are reportedly sending 3,440 vehicles to the salvage yard. By comparison, Chrysler weathered the storm fairly well with 825 units destroyed, while Hyundai suffered only 400 lost units and Kia scrapped around 200.
As you may recall, Fisker also suffered some losses, and Automotive News reports the manufacturer saw 320 Karma models damaged beyond repair. Ford and General Motors have yet to come up with estimates, and no automaker has commented on the full cost of replacing the vehicles.

2023 Infiniti QX55 starts at $50,175, an increase of $2,650

Infiniti has added "more standard luxury amenities, driver-convenience features, and Infiniti Premium Care" to all grades of the 2023 QX55. The plusher digs come at a price, though. The entry-level Luxe and mid-level Essential trims have each gone up by $2,650, the 2023 Luxe costing $50,175 after the $1,025 destination charge, the 2023 Essential costing $55,275. The top Sensory trim has only been increased by $750, rising to $58,825. The dosh buys perforated leather upholstery, 4-way power lumbar adjustment for the driver's seat, a USB-C port for the back passengers, rear door handles with integrated LED welcome lighting, auto-folding heated outside mirrors with blind spot detection, and ProPILOT Assist across the board. Three-year standard maintenance program Infinity Premium Care is thrown in, too, providing routine inspections, oil changes and tire rotations for purchasers and lessees. Every variant also comes with wireless Apple CarPlay, but Android Auto still requires a cord. Moving to the Essential upgrades to adaptive LED headlights in a cube design with auto leveling, adds Traffic Sign Recognition to the ADAS suite, and extends feature content with items like climate controlled front seats, around-view monitor, and 3D building graphics for the navigation system. The QX55 Sensory picks up even nicer leather seating, four-way power lumbar adjustment for the front passenger, heated outboard seats in the second row, a heads-up display, and a motion-activated rear hatch. The powertrain holds steady with the 2.0-liter variable-compression four-cylinder making 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, "shifting" through a continuously variable transmission and sending power to both axles. The 2023 QX55 can be configured at the Infiniti site now, arriving at dealerships sometime this summer.