Inside News On The Infiniti EX

Most people who are into cars, if they met face to face with an executive vice president of a car company, would probably know what to say to him in terms of improvements on a car. Chances are, most people will never get to meet a VP of a car company to voice their opinions. The key then if one ever wants to see improvement on a car is to take a moment to write letters to coporate and make sure they get to the right people. I don't know how the German luxury marques are, but I know for a fact that letters addressed to the VP of all the Japanese luxury brands are eventually read by them. The auto industry is highly competitive right now and corporations spend money to hire outside research firms to survey what people want. But, it's even more accurate when us customers ourselves write to corporate and let the VP's know what we want.
After writing to Nissan/Infiniti, I eventually came in correspondence with Nissan VP of Global Communications Simon Sproule. I really liked the Infiniti EX concept and wrote to him telling him what should be done for the EX to be a hit. He gave me a bit of early news on the EX. Here is an excerpt of the correspondence:


Dear VP Simon Sproule:

In months to come, I may be looking for a mini SUV such as the
all new exciting Infiniti EX concept!
I really liked the look of the new EX concept at the New York auto show
and might consider one. I passed on the Acura RDX because it doesn't
offer power seats for the front passenger.
Please take note of these suggestions for the new EX:

---I realize that features such as the transparent glass roof will
not likely make production, but PLEASE DO NOT TONE DOWN THE INTERIOR
QUALITY OF THE EX CONCEPT for the production model. The interior design
and quality appearance of the EX concept is totally AMAZING. I will
probably put a deposit in for one if I am assured the production
quality
will be the same as the concept's.

---Critics have always said Nissan/Infiniti always shows great
concepts but that they are always toned down for the production model.
You have not disappointed us with the all new G35, the new G37 and the
new GT-R seems to be the return of 'Godzilla'.
Please DO NOT DISAPPOINT US FANS WITH THE NEW EX CONCEPT!!

---make sure the Around View Monitor and Ambient headrest
illumination make production. I am very, very excited about these
features.

Sincerely,

David
-------------------------------------------------------

Dear David,

Nice to hear from you. regarding the EX. I don't know all the details of final production
but it will have the around view monitor and I am told that the
interior
of the concept is very close to the production car. We have NOT told
the
media yet, but the production car will be shown at a special event in
August this year - so if you can wait, send me a note in a couple of
months and I can get you some details and pictures.

Thanks again for the note - glad to hear that Infiniti is still
attracting you!

Best regards


Simon Sproule
_______________________________________
Corporate Vice President
Global Communications
Nissan Motor Company Ltd.
17-1, Ginza 6-chome, Chuo-Ku
Tokyo 104-8023, JAPAN
Tel: +81 3 5565 2145 Fax: +81 3 3546 2669
---------------------------------------------------------

Take Home Message: Letters to corporate regarding improvements or future vehicles are actually read by senior executives. Take the time to write if there is something you would like to be implemented. Obviously, if one person makes a suggestion, it might not be taken in. But if EVERYONE wrote letters complaining of the same thing, you can be sure they'll do something.

BTW: The VP's E-mail address is: s-sproule@mail.nissan.co.jp

If you have any Nissan/Infiniti concerns, write to him. He reads his mail!

Agent001 - 6/4/2007 1:16:23 AM

+7 Boost

Might we suggest not hammering Simon with emails to his personal email address and letting him know your thoughts here in this blog, because he is a big fan of Auto Spies and he reads the site regularly.

001

cktoo - 6/8/2007 6:20:24 PM

+1 Boost

Not to be a smarta$$, but why don't you guys just take his email out of the above post. That will do a lot more than just asking people not to do it.

Anyway, good stuff with him actually responding back. Very rare in this day and age. I know many Honda Execs. read comments over at TOV, but not a shot in he!! they would ever respond back to an email in such a way.

Rupert - 6/4/2007 5:53:28 AM

+5 Boost

If he has anything to do with Infiniti Europe, he'll be sensible to include a diesel in whatever cars they bring here, especially the FX.
A diesel FX would blow Lexus sales out of the water.

Will_ - 6/4/2007 9:15:59 AM

-3 Boost

Lexus hybrids are kicking tail in Europe.

Rupert - 6/4/2007 9:54:21 AM

+2 Boost

Lexus still sells about 1/6 of what the Germans each do in Europe.

IS sales more than doubled when they introduced the 220d, I think it's a bad sales move of Lexus not to give diesels, especially in the RX, where diesels take a majority of sales (in the Range Rover the 3.6 TDV8 takes 85% of sales).
The RX sells in nothing like the volumes of any rivals, even the Cayenne sells better, never mind the X5 or ML.

Will_ - 6/4/2007 12:51:21 PM

0 Boost

It was more of a sidenote than an addition to the discussion. I digress...

But, Lexus hybrids are outselling their gasoline counterparts by a very wide margin.

I too, believe that if Lexus really wanted/desired the quickest means possible of global domination (or whatever phrase you would like to substitute in here if that one offends you for whatever reason...) then they would just stick diesels in all of their cars. They've started off slowly by offering the IS220d, to go head-to-head with the 3-Series diesel, the best-selling luxury segment to be in, and it's a very great car according to several reviews now.

Lexus, however, does not want to abandon their radical approach of winning the world over with their hybrids. I don't think they truly understand yet that what works in North America does not automatically work for Europe and Asia. This is one flaw with Lexus that I can agree with everyone on. But I do give them the benefit of the doubt, considering that it was only recently that they finally got the chance to separate themselves from Toyota, whose immense business skills pushed them to Number one in the largest automobile market in the world.

It seems as if we've all figured out the magic formula: diesels for Europe, hybrids for America. Now all we have to wait for is a brand that willingly wants to devote an equal amount of attention to development for both.

Rupert - 6/4/2007 5:24:29 PM

+2 Boost

Lexus hybrids do outsell the petrols by a wide margin, but petrol sales completely slumped after the hybrids came in. Nobody wants an RX350/GS300 anymore, people are prepared to pay more for the 400h.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/4/2007 6:06:06 PM

+1 Boost

"But, Lexus hybrids are outselling their gasoline counterparts by a very wide margin."

That's not saying much at all. Gas Lexus cars probably sell about a tenth of what each of the three German-brand gas cars sell in Europe.

Will_ - 6/4/2007 9:16:58 AM

+3 Boost

I'm glad to hear that the interior on the concept is close to the production version, it's gorgeous!

PPower - 6/4/2007 9:52:01 AM

+4 Boost

The only show in August would be at Pebble Beach, so it may be on display on the area of concept cars just before you enter the actual "competition" area. The EX is going to be phenomenal, but I have to figure that it is going to really cannibalize FX sales until the FX gets redesigned/redirected for 2009. My guess is that the FX will become a vehicle like the upcoming BMW X6 to be the super sporty version with a 3.7L 6 or 5.0L 8. Lane Departure Prevention system will be worthless technology that eveybody will want to turn off. Sad to say on that.

Agent009 - 6/4/2007 12:15:04 PM

+5 Boost

001 is right. Don't flood messages to Simon's email address regarding the info I presented here, or with harsh complaints/criticisms. The VP was nice enough to give away some info before official word has been leaked to the media.
We want Simon to be able to trust us enough to give info on upcoming Infiniti products in the future.

S4cabriofoxone - 6/4/2007 6:07:59 PM

+1 Boost

I really liked the EX concept- and I was blown away that the VP would personally give you so much info, Dave. I've never had such personal contact with car brands.

Otherwise, though I don't like the RDX as much as the EX, why would you pass it up over a power seat? Doesn't make sense, especially because it's only the passenger seat... I'd think you would dislike the Acura for the ugly exterior design, not something as insignificant as that.