THE PROS & CONS
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- What’s Best: The styling is stunning.
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- What’s Worst: Rear seat room is extremely tight.
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- What’s Interesting: Infiniti has two versions of the 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 engine — one with 300 hp and a re-tuned version with 400 hp.
Although their sales numbers have been shrinking, coupes still have a loyal following in North America — particularly in the luxury end of the market.
Case in point, the 2017 Infiniti Q60, a two-door premium sports coupe that has been completely redesigned for 2017, featuring three engine choices including the new 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 powerplant found in our tester.
In a field that is largely dominated by the German manufacturers, the Q60 variant that we drove leans more to the luxury end of the scale over performance, although with 300 hp and 295 lb/ft of torque the car is far from being a slug.
But if performance is of prime importance, buyers should opt for the top-of-the-line Red Sport version with its 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 that has retuned to make 400 horses and 350 lb/ft of torque.
The base model has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 208 hp and but offers 258 lb/ft of torque.
All models come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and Infiniti’s rear-biased Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.
Our test car touched the ground at $58,840 plus $1,895 freight and PDI. Included was $5,850 in optional equipment, adding to the base price of $52,990. The 2.0L variant starts at $45,900, while the Red Sport is $60,990.
Among the options on our vehicle was the $3,200 Technology Package, which packs in a host of high-tech features like auto leveling adaptive from lighting system, intelligent cruise control, advanced climate control, front seat driver/passenger pre-crash seatbelts, blind spot intervention, lane departure warning and prevention with active lane control and direct adaptive steering.
This is Infiniti’s second generation of direct adaptive steering and it has been re-tuned to transmit driver inputs to the wheels faster than with a mechanical system and with fewer steering corrections.
A further $2,000 was tacked on with the Driver Assistance Package that adds front and rear parking sensors, back-up collision intervention, blind spot warning, around-view monitor, rain-sensing wipers and forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection.
Infiniti has a history of building exciting sports coupes, dating back the G35 and G37 that were launched in 2002 and 2007 respectively.
The new third-generation Q60 carries the tradition along. Where it really excels is in exterior design— it is simply a stunning car that is lower and wider than its predecessors and one that Infiniti says, “expresses a powerful elegance through its daring proportions and taut, muscular lines.”
With the signature double-arch grille, the Q60 is instantly recognizable as an Infiniti. It has beautiful, flowing lines that draw more than their share of admiring glances. Wheels are 19-inch alloys with all-season run-flat tires.
Inside, the cabin has a modern, upscale look and feel, again with smooth, flowing lines just like the outside. Fit and finish is as one would expect for a car touching the $60k mark, but it may not quite reach of level of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
The highly bolstered leather seats are comfortable and inviting up front and both feature eight-way power. The leather-wrapped steering wheel and front seats are heated.
While technically a four-seater, the Q60 is really meant for only two adults with the back seats suitable for small children. The rear seats also fold down to add to the smallish 246-litre trunk area.
All Q60 variants feature a dual screen infotainment set-up— the top one for the navigation system (standard on the V6 models) and the bottom for other functions like audio and HVAC. Also standard is Infiniti’s InTuition central control system that allows occupants to personalize the interior environment to their preferences.
New this year is an excellent 13-speaker Bose performance audio system tailored specifically for the acoustics of the Q60 cabin. It also matches up well with the noise cancelling technology.
On the road, the Q60 is quiet and composed, in part due to a new electronic suspension system that enhances both handling agility and ride comfort. To change the focus from comfort based to a more dynamic one, drivers can simply select Sport or Sport + on the Drive Mode Selector. This firms up the dampers and levels out the ride.
The Drive Mode Selector also allows steering response adjustments with Customize, Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport and Sport+ settings.
As far as outright acceleration is concerned, the 300 hp Q60 is decently quick, turning the 0-100 km/h run in about six seconds. Fuel economy numbers are 12.4/8.8/10.8 L/100 km city/highway/combined. Our tester had a manual shift mode on the gearshift selector, but no paddles, which are offered only on the Red Sport edition.
So for the buyer who wants a sports coupe with a focus on luxury, the Q60 is worth a long look. With variants ranging from 200 to 400 hp, there’s a model for all tastes in the vehicle lineup.
2017 Infiniti Q60 3.0t AWD
BODY STYLE: Two-door premium sports coupe.
DRIVE METHOD: Front engine, all-wheel-drive.
ENGINE: 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 (300 hp, 295 lb/ft of torque).
CARGO CAPACITY: 256 litres.
FUEL ECONOMY: 12.4/8.8/10.8 L/100 km city/highway/combined.
PRICE: $52,990, as tested $58,840 plus $1,995 freight and PDI.
WEB SITE: Infiniti.ca
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