The All New Redesigned Infiniti QX30 vs. The Competition

The guts of a vehicle can make all of the difference. No matter how exciting a car may appear, if it doesn’t deliver, it’s often considered a failure – the classic “Iron Duke” Camaro was weighed down by a horsepower-deficient four-cylinder engine, and more recently, Honda’s attempt at recapturing the fun of the CRX in the new CR-Z fell short due to an engine that was lackluster. At INFINITI, the goal is not only to provide a luxury car, but also provide one that is enjoyable and entertaining to drive. The best way to do that? Create an engine that is worthy of being named to Ward’s “10 Best Engines” list. more The Award-Winning Engine Introduced into the Q50 sports sedan and Q60 sports coupe models, the VR-Series 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine has been named one of the top ten engines for 2017. Two versions of the engine are offered, a base configuration producing 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque or high-performance version turning out 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. In either configuration, it was noted that the VR-series engine produced smooth, immediate response under acceleration as well as available power throughout the rev range of the engine. Lightweight aluminum construction and low mechanical friction doesn’t just provide increased performance, but also helps to curb noise, vibration, and overall harshness. The immediate response is also aided by a new direct-injection gasoline fueling system that was developed specifically for this engine. The VR also drew some notice for being an improvement over the previous high-performance Q50 engine, a 3.7-liter V6, by not only being more powerful but also being more fuel efficient. From the 3.7-liter to the VR, the Q50 has seen a 6.7% improvement in fuel economy. Editorial director Dave Zoia was beaming about the V6, saying “Silky smooth, quiet when you want it to be and capable of delivering some pretty respectable fuel economy numbers. We're thinking the new VR engine just might be a dynasty in the making.” What is Ward’s 10 Best Engines? Every year, Ward’s AutoWorld magazine tests a wide variety of vehicles and engines and lists their 10 favorites. While some magazines center on the vehicle as a whole, Ward’s breaks down certain components and compares them – after all, you can have a bad engine in a good car, or a good engine in a car that is undesirable. Over a two-month testing period, the editors of the magazine evaluate engines against a number of objective and subjective criteria, things such as noise, vibration, and harshness levels, technical relevance, power and torque output, and other basic comparative numbers. There are no instrumented tests done. This year, the field included the ten winners from the previous year, the VR-series twin-turbo, and over 40 new or significantly-improved engines. To make this short list, the engine must be available in regular-production vehicles on sale in the U.S. market, and must be available in at least one vehicle with a base price of no more than $60,000 in 2015, increasing by $200 every year. This prevents limited-edition engines and supercars from dominating the production-minded, widespread engines. Ward’s seems to really like the Q50 – this honor for the engine comes close on the heels of Ward’s naming the vehicle as one of its “10 Best User Experiences” for the year. Here at Sawgrass INFINITI we like the Q50 as well, and see it as a driving force for the merging of luxury and sport into the future. Don’t take our word, or Ward’s – stop by our showroom at 5801 Madison Avenue in beautiful Pompano Beach, and take one of our VR-powered engines out for a test drive to see for yourself.

Are you in the market for a new crossover SUV? There is no shortage of options available to you, and many makes and models offer appealing features and bold styles. However, only one model won the award from the Greater Atlanta Automotive Media Association (GAAMA) for being the best SUV/crossover. This star car was the Infiniti QX30. To understand what an honor this is, you must learn about the prestige that belongs to the GAAMA. While the word "Atlanta" might make you think that the GAAMA only matters in the South, that isn't true. In fact, an Australian website even mentioned the honor the QX30 received at the recent Atlanta International Auto Show. There were more than 400 cars at the show, each of them under the careful scrutiny of automotive experts. The QX30 proved to be the true champion of its class. more What makes the QX30 so special? An Opulent Interior From the moment you open the door of the QX30, you'll be struck by its elegant interior design. Gorgeous asymmetric lines mesmerize the eye, and top-notch materials invite you to climb in and relax. The seats are supple Napa leather, and the dash also boasts this same luxurious material. Other surfaces feature a material called Dinamica, which mimics the look and feel of suede. Infiniti tested this material with hundreds of people to make sure it is pleasing to the touch. Four different interior color schemes are available, ranging from daring black to welcoming white. Ergonomically designed seats enhance the driving experience. A Dashing Exterior Infiniti is known for its sporty exterior designs, and the QX30 is no exception. It is big enough for your whole family and your cargo, but it still manages to call sports cars and racing to mind. The aerodynamic design, complete with exclusive 19-inch sport wheels, will leave everyone in your neighborhood jealous even before you start telling them about this crossover's other impressive features. A Sporty Performance Of course, looks alone aren't enough for a vehicle to earn an award from the GAAMA. The QX30 has a 2.0-liter turbo engine that comes with more than 200 horsepower. That, combined with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a drive mode selector, will make the QX30's drivers feel like they truly rule the road. Other performance-pumping features include sport suspension, nimble handling, and intelligent power steering that is more sensitive at lower speeds and less sensitive at higher speeds. Another notable aspect of the QX30's performance is its available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. The AWD delivers half of the power to the rear wheels only when driving conditions require it. Otherwise, the control remains in the front wheels. This increases the vehicle's fuel efficiency while still delivering the control you need on slippery surfaces. Sophisticated Technology As you would expect from Infiniti, the QX30 comes loaded with a bushel of tech features, foremost of which is the Infiniti InTouch system, which allows you to look at emails, text messages, and your calendar — all from the vehicle's touchscreen. You can also use voice controls or the Infiniti Controller. InTouch also comes with navigation so you'll never get lost when you head out for your annual family vacation. A Bose audio system will keep you entertained even on those days when you head to Miami and have to deal with traffic that never seems to end. The QX30's technology makes the driving experience safer and smarter. Twelve sensors around the car can let you know if that parking space you're eyeing is big enough for your four-wheeled baby. The QX30 can even parallel park itself. Do you have trouble remembering to turn your high-beams off when there is oncoming traffic? The QX30 will take care of that for you. The above features are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the QX30's unbeatable technology offerings. Spoiled for Choice There are three different QX30s from which you can choose: QX30. No one would ever call an Infiniti "basic," but the regular QX30 is as basic as this luxury vehicle comes. QX30 S. The S version has a lower stance and a more aggressive fascia on both the front and back. It looks even sportier than the standard QX30. QX30 AWD. This version has Intelligent All-Wheel Drive. It sits a little higher than its counterparts and is better equipped for rural roads. The QX30 will hit dealerships later this year. When you test drive it at Sawgrass Infiniti, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.

Here’s another reason to get excited about the upcoming release of 2016 Q50 Sports Sedan. Infiniti recently announced the introduction of a trio of powerful turbo engines that will be available in the Q50 for the first time ever. New options include: 300- or 400-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 208-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder Hybrid gas-and-battery powered 3.5-liter V6 The engines all match performance and efficiency, achieving the best fuel economy while offering that same advanced sports sedan driving that has made the Q50 a favorite in the class. more The All-New V6 Available in the 2016 Q50 Infiniti is calling the new turbo-charged V6 its “most advanced” 6-cylinder yet, and the reason is simple. The 3.0-liter – which is available with two different tunes (300 or 400 horsepower) – expertly matches performance and torque with improved fuel economy. For starters, Infiniti says the new engine has improved fuel economy by about 7 percent, compared to previous versions. Plus, output has been maximized. The higher-output version delivers 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. In other words, the sedan’s power-to-efficiency ratio has been greatly improved. How? Infiniti added an updated speed sensor for the turbine and redesigned turbine blade, which enables the turbine to revolve faster. This results in enhanced power and torque. 2.0-Liter and Hybrid Powertrains Delivery Impressive Efficiency If you’re after maximum efficiency, then the Q50’s new 2.0-liter four-cylinder or the 3.0-liter hybrid V6 are the options you should consider. The turbocharged four-cylinder delivers a respectable 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and it features newly updated fuel injectors that help to maximize output. Plus, the entire engine block is new and has been completely redesigned to be lighter. Featuring a lighter aluminium block and cylinder head, as well as lighter camshafts, crankcase, and improved crank assembly, the 2.0-liter has greatly reduced friction and improved efficiency. And for even greater energy savings, the four-cylinder Q50 will be available with idle stop-start system for the first time ever. Finally, the Q50’s hybrid engine merges a 302-horsepower DOHC V6 with a small 50kW lithium-ion battery that delivers 67 horsepower. The result is a net output of 360 horsepower. In other words, this Q50 might be a hybrid, but it still delivers strong acceleration and more confident driving. One reason the drive is so easy: The battery delivers instant torque, which when combined with the V6’s output, acceleration is off the charts. It’s certainly a performance-minded hybrid. New Handling Technology and Transmissions The Q50 is getting a trio of new engines, but that’s not all. Infiniti is also releasing a range of advanced driving technology, including Direct Adaptive Steering and Dynamic Digital Suspension, as well as a 7-speed rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive transmission. Direct Adaptive Steering – which has been rebuilt from previous iterations – allows drivers to completely customize the vehicle’s steering systems. Drivers can choose response and feel levels so that the vehicle handles and drivers just like they want. Additionally, the Dynamic Digital Suspension – available for the first time – boosts the Q50’s ride comfort to the max. Finally, with the release of the new engines, Infiniti has also unveiled an all-new 7-speed electronic automatic transmission. The transmission is equipped with a range of features including Adaptive Shift Control, which selects gears based on road condition. The transmission also offers distinctive driving mode, as well as your option of rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive configurations. Interested in the all-new Infiniti Q50 sports sedan? It’s coming soon to Sawgrass Infiniti. If you’d like to pre-order a custom Q50, visit our location in Tamarac, FL today or give us a call.