28 Votes

Infiniti to offer Europeans more powerful cars

omarrana submitted on 5/26/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 2:24:59 PM

33 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.egmcartech.com

Tag Link: Infiniti

Yes, the Europeans are luckier than Americans when it comes to cars.

Heck they are even lucky when it comes to getting the hottest cell phone technology. Infiniti is ready to launch in Europe, and Nissan engineers are making about 300 to 500 modifications on each car to prepare it for launch in October.

To name a couple of changes we may not be too pissed off about; the push-button switches on the center console will be replaced by knobs like the ones in a Mercedes or BMW. They will also get a new heated-seat system and stronger windshield wipers. Not that bad right? Those are things that we can possibly live without having here on the stateside. Well wait until you read about what else the Europeans will be getting.

Infiniti European models will be fitted with...

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Infiniti to offer Europeans more powerful cars

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— omarrana (View Profile)

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What are you and your friends smoking? Lexus on the same level as a Rolls Royce? Give me a break. Seriously.

And powerful engines in Europe are soon going to be a hassle considering the debate whether or not the German government is going to introduce the new emissions-biased KFZ-Steuer. Infiniti should focus on offering small and efficient gasoline and diesel engines.

Your post is full of crap.
— Wimmer (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 2:51:42 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

^^^In Europe Lexus and Infiniti are working hard to become as prestigious as VW, buddy. The Japanese manufacturers are struggling trying to sell their ugly, under-engineered c**p without success. Not everybody is as dumb as the American car buyer therefore cars like Lexus and Infiniti are considered just second rate products in the rest of the world.

— Star (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 3:25:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

if you stand by your post, why don't you back it up?
— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:12:26 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6

...with a source not your opinion.
— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:12:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5

No way in hell Infiniti or Lexus will be as prestigious as a Rolls, Bentley or Maybach. Not going to happen.

You don't see a Lexus in front of a fine dining district in Monte Carlo. Instead you see Audi's, BMW's and Merc's and of course the uber luxury/sport cars. It's a fact of life MichaelTaylor.
— Agent63 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:50:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Yeah, Thats why a major Toyota dealership here in Germany went bankrupt.You see very few Japanese vehicles in Germany and when you do they are not blasting down the autobahn Michael Taylor.
— simmonsdp (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 5:52:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I can't believe how much time and effort you spend defending Lexus. You really should quit your job at Starbucks and get a job in PR -- you are a master!
— sizquik (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 5:56:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

dream on......
— steve27t (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 8:21:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Infinity appears to be the victim of flawed marketing studies that conclude Europeans need to feel special or superior in their new vehicle. I guess a more powerful car than offered to U.S. buyers makes some European buyers feel they are better than the people of the best country on the planet.

I almost bought a 2009 Infinity EX 35 because my wife wanted a small SUV. I walked away when the dealer wanted to tack on a phoney $700 inventory fee on top of my generous cost plus offer. These phoney charges are part of the dealer's overhead. I was also pissed at Infiniti's blackmail marketing technique of forcing me to buy an extra package with a sunroof that I do not want in order to get the "premium " package with Xenon and power front passenger seat.

I ended up buying a new Passat which is cheaper and has a better ride and slightly better seats that are even more comfy than the seats in the leased Audi A6 Quattro that I turned in. At two thirds the price, my new Passat gives a better ride than my former Audi even though its tires and wheels are the same size.
— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 8:24:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

LOL!

This is funny... lexus a uber luxury company. Most of the europeans would say: What is an lexus?
— andraz (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 2:26:04 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

haha! you're kidding right? everytime i think of a rolls i automatically think of lexus as well. i'm expecting to see alfred driving bruce wayne around in a lexus in the next batman movie because he traded up from the rolls. you lexus lovers just kill me. i love infiniti, but i'm realistic in accepting europeans won't see it on the same level as bmw and mercedes prestige-wise. get real.
— iamthehighway (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 1:38:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I'd like to see this power bump find its way back to the US..

By the way, good post, MichaelTayler. Since you mostly get flamed (and I have to admit it's for good reason sometimes), you should get the positive feedback too.
— cyco (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 2:59:38 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

And an Impreza or Evo X will run rings around the IS350 and G35 for even less cost

So what is your point ?

If the IS 350 or G35 were that great they would be the ones in no 1 position with the 3-Series playing catchup.

Also with regards to the Japanese Companies not selling small engines in Europe; They only sell the IS250 in Europe, not the IS350

And the only diesel avail from Lexus is a 4-Pot 2.2L Rattler while the Greman 3 have a Plethora of V6 & V8 Diesels Avail

I am willing to bet you have never set foot outside of the USA, I have been to the USA 4 times already this year and 5 times to Europe so id like to think i know what i am on about.

PS I live in the UK and WE DO NOT CONSIDER LEXUS ON PAR WITH ROLLS ROYCE OR BENTLEY.
— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 3:25:24 PM | | Votes: 5

MichaelTaylor, I usually take issue with your posts because you tend to trash the brands/people you don't prefer instead of simply disagreeing.

Your example of the 3 series is a good example. The competition from Lexus and Infiniti is great - but each has a bit of a different take with their product, each has a different way of going about its business. Is one truly any better than the other? In some ways, yes, in others, no.

So what makes them great for you, may be a detriment to someone else. This is neither good or bad, it's just diversity in the market.

If I'm a fan boy of anything, it's the entire industry. I like BMW, Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac, MB, Hyundai, etc ad nauseum. The more each ups their game, the better car I get regardless which is my most favored brand.

The reason I said your post was good wasn't because I agreed with the content, it was because you didn't crap on anyone or smear anything, you just threw your opinion/thoughts on the subject out there.
— cyco (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:03:47 PM | | Votes: 5

Which is NOT what they want.

I love Infiniti but they need to offer smaller, more efficient engines there, as well as diesels.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 3:25:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4

I concur.
— EvoAudi (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:46:13 PM | | Votes: 2

They won't buy,gas is twice what it is here.
— autopro (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:08:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Super plus (98octane) is over ten dollars a gallon in Germany.
— simmonsdp (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 5:56:49 PM | | Votes: 3

195

What do u mean Lexus doesn't sell well outside USA. Actually u better step outside USA.

Come to middle East and u'll find tons of new Lexus. Currentley LX570 and LS460 are selling like crazy. Ask anyone from Middle East like M53R.

Toyota and Lexus dealers in Middle East countries like Futtaim Motors(UAE), Suad Bahwan(Oman)...etc are one of the biggest in the world. and they are makiing great dealerships and pushing Toyota especially Lexus brand like anything. Making them popular and reaching more coustomers.

Now Lexus (despite with less number of models and comparable lesser known) sells nearly as much as MB and BMW in Middle East.

and in other asian countires like China, India...etc Lexus is very much there and selling well.

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 4:35:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

A turd would sell good in China and India right now, they will buy anything at present. Japanese cars sell poorly in Europe.
— simmonsdp (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 6:01:07 PM | | Votes: 3

JUGNU

Yes, they are indeed selling like hotcakes here, but then again, one of the main reasons is because their models are comparably cheaper than the competition. Correct me if Im wrong, but the 330 2006 costs almost 60k dirhams more than an IS300.
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 7:30:44 PM | | Votes: 3

I am sorry, i am from India, and I was there last month, I saw only one lexus, it was SC460. that is in Kerala. rich people in Indian still thinks German are doing better engineering than Japanse, in automobile.
— pchera01 (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 7:35:06 PM | | Votes: 5

pchera01, don't sweat it, a lot of rich people people here in the west also feel that way... it's called "delusional" - even without the scorching heat getting to their heads might I add.

They don't realize how "good" people in the other "camp" (Infiniti, Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, Jag, etc.) have it :)
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 11:04:31 PM | | Votes: -1

JUNGU

Learn to read

I never commented on Lexus sales outside of the USA

What i am VERY SURE of is that in the UK and in Europe Lexus is not considered on Par with Bentley or Rolls Royce.
— I95SPEEDINGTICKETS (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 12:13:19 PM | | Votes: 3

German cars are the best. I still owned 2003 E320 bought brand new and wished I should have bought 2 because one is in the shop.

My boss bought a brand new 5 series and he love it so much that he traded for the M45 after 1 month.

— sharky (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 8:12:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

"he traded for the M45 after 1 month..." so you're boss drives a M45 now huh? wise move :)
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 11:07:00 PM | | Votes: 0

First, Europe will be a niche market for Infiniti and I'm sure the European versions of these cars will be low volume (at lease in the first few years) and more expensive than US. Second, The SUV market is much more competitive in US, so in order to offer their product for a lower price, Infiniti chose to go with 3.5L in the new FX.
— koobah (View Profile)

Posted on 5/26/2008 10:32:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

They want to focus more on design as that is very important in Europe, rather than the power in their cars for the time being. European, especially U.K fuel prices should be illegal. So making more and more powerful engines, with worse fuel consumption isn't going to do them any favours. And the very wealthy, who don't care about that, will not be buying an Infiniti anyway.
— Czelinski (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 3:40:29 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Actually, Infinites here come with more powerful engines than in the US. The G37S for example comes with 350hp, the M45 if Im not mistaken comes with 360+hp if Im not mistaken.
— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 5/27/2008 5:01:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

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Infiniti to offer Europeans more powerful cars

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