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2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

Infiniti rolled out the IPL version of its G37 Convertible at the Los Angeles Auto Show more than a year ago. The Infiniti Performance Line treatment logically mirrors that of the IPL G Coupe, meaning it receives both cosmetic and mechanical tweaks designed to raise the pulse of driving enthusiasts. Aside from the overstated aerodynamic styling components and huge exhaust tips, the cabin features special leather upholstery, aluminum trim and IPL badging to distinguish it from lesser siblings. Under the hood, the 3.7-liter V6 (VQ37VHR) has been recalibrated to deliver 343 horsepower - 18 more than the standard coupe - and 273 pound-feet of torque. The suspension has been upgraded with firmer spring and stabilizer bar rates, multi-piston sport brakes are fitted and 19-inch graphite-finish wheels wrapped with summer rubber are bolted on. There are only two exterior color choices (Moonlight White and Malbec Black) and two upholstery choices (Stone and IPL-exclusive Monaco Red). Everything sounds marvelous until someone reveals its as-tested $62,415 window sticker.
DRIVING NOTES
The three-section steel roof raises and lowers in a leisurely manner - give it about 30 seconds each way. While it is marvel to watch, the operation seems clunky, not fluid. Buttoned up, with all four windows closed, the cabin is comfortable. Wind noise is minimal and the front buckets coddle passengers in all the right places. While tight, those of smaller stature will find the two rear seats tolerable for short journeys (my kids never complained). Outward visibility is also very good for a convertible - no impeding B-pillar.

Infiniti extends long-wheelbase Q50 L for the Chinese market

Want to sell your luxury sedan in China? You're going to need a long-wheelbase model. Not because the still-dominant Chinese government mandates it, or because the customers are taller, but because Chinese buyers tend to like being chauffeured around in the back of their luxury sedans instead of driving themselves, so the priority is on rear-seat space over driving dynamics.
We've seen the likes of Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo all roll out long-wheelbase versions of their compact and midsize sedans specifically to cater to Chinese tastes. Even Infiniti - which now bases itself in Hong Kong - offers a long-wheelbase Q70 L not only in China but around the world, and has now bolstered its extended offerings with the reveal of the Q50 L, set to debut at the Chengdu Motor Show later this month.
Set to be produced locally for the local market, the Q50 L adds nearly two inches to the wheelbase of the Q50 to the benefit of rear-seat legroom. Power comes from Infiniti's 2.0-liter turbo four offering 208 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, driving to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with drive-by-wire steering.

2014 Infiniti Q50S

Ten years ago, nearly to the day, I took delivery of a brand-new 2004 Infiniti G35 6MT. The sporty rear-wheel drive sedan, equipped with its throaty 260-horsepower V6, slick manual gearbox and limited-slip differential replaced my 2001 BMW 330i because the Japanese competitor touted a product that was roomier, better equipped, quicker and lower priced. The G35 trumped the German in nearly every measurable category - at least on paper.
The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is the direct descendant, albeit two generations later, of the car I owned a decade ago. It is dimensionally about the same size, but it has gained more than 300 pounds of mass thanks to numerous safety upgrades and technical innovations. The additional weight is largely dismissed by a larger and more efficient powerplant that delivers an additional 68 horsepower, a welcome arrival, but the manual gearbox that charmed enthusiasts has been pushed out of the picture by a mandatory seven-speed automatic transmission.
As it has in the past, Infiniti touts its all-new Q50 as a luxury sport sedan worthy of the title. Decades ago, impressive performance statistics may have sealed the deal. Yet there is much more to the assignment today, as the model must offer premium appointments, sophistication and engaging driving dynamics if it's going to entice and capture the next-generation of young, premium buyers - much like the G35 did for me ten years ago.