A twin-turbocharged V6 engine may already be on the cards for Infiniti’s soon-to-be-unveiled QX65 compact SUV, and could be on the market as early as next year. If true, the new QX65 may be among the first models to revive the Japanese marque’s Red Sport range of performance vehicles. Why A New V6 Could Help Infiniti’s Flagging Sales Infiniti USAUnveiled during last year’s Monterey Car Week, the new QX65 will be the first brand-new product launched by Infiniti since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will make its production debut on March 26 at 7pm EDT. The midsized luxury SUV will be built atop the same chassis as the established Infiniti QX60, and powered by the same, albeit upgraded, turbo four-cylinder. The QX65 slots into Infiniti’s line-up beneath its sister model. A new report from Automotive News, though, states that a V6 engine could be introduced for the QX65 as early as next year in a further bid to tempt customers:“The V6 is still king in this segment for the perception of power… Infiniti wants a performance model for every vehicle eventually, and the V6 makes that easier.”-Infiniti spokesperson, via Automotive NewsWhile there is no official confirmation, if true, the proposed V6 would likely be lifted from the Nissan Pathfinder. Power would be hiked from 284-horsepower to around 300 hp, potentially via twin-turbocharging in-line with Infiniti’s previous six-cylinder-engined models. CarBuzz.com, having reached out to Infiniti, was informed that “while [the brand] don’t have specific details to share currently, client expectations continue to guide future powertrain offerings.” The brand's spokesperson went further, stating that the QX65 had been engineered around key customer values, including “responsive performance, refined power delivery, and smart efficiency," and that "the powertrain offered at launch meets those needs exceptionally well.”InfinitiWhen first announced, the QX65’s compact turbo four-cylinder was in response to tightening fuel emissions regulations in the United States. These have since been heavily relaxed by the current administration, however, opening the door for Infiniti and other manufacturers to introduce larger capacity engines to their respective line-ups.It's a move that could prove crucial for the Japanese marque. Such is the cachet of a V6 engine, a Nissan USA sales representative claimed to AN that the new engine could boost sales by up to 10% for Infiniti, the latter of which has seen its US sales more than halve since 2019. And with a four-cylinder already in the mix, future V6 models could simply be dropped should emissions regs change, again, in the US market. A V6-Engined QX65 Could Help Revive The Red Sport Badge InfinitiInterestingly, this news has also intensified rumors that Infiniti will revive its performance-focused Red Sport sub-brand sooner rather than later. Introduced as a (slightly) more competitively priced alternative to Mercedes-AMG and BMW’s M division, the most famous example – the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport – was introduced for 2016 with 400 hp and a more aggressively tuned suspension, brakes, and steering. Alongside the Q60 Red Sport, however, the Q50 was eventually binned after 2024 as Infiniti re-focused its attention on premium, family haulers. Fun fact, you can now get your very own second-hand Q50 Red Sport from just $30,000 USD.InfinitiNews recently broke, however, that Infiniti would revive the Red Sport name, starting, paradoxically, with a 600 hp version of the new, seven-seater QX80. This would likely be followed by a more dynamic 680 hp Track Spec concept. Production numbers would be kept low – possibly no more than 600 per year – as Infiniti gauges customer interest.If confirmed, and if the Red Sport name does build sufficient momentum, the smaller, nimbler QX 65 Red Sport, potentially with a 300 hp twin-turbo V6, would be a perfect base on which to expand the sub-brand, given that Infiniti no longer sells any sedans in the US.We might learn more about the QX65's future later this month when it makes an appearance at the New York Auto Show.
