Infiniti’s European Blueprint: Watch out Lexus

I looked at the GS and decided it is not worth the money. The ES represents better value but then you might as well buy a Camry or, better still, an Avalon. The IS is too small and has several flaws in the way that Lexus has packaged its drivetrain options. The value of the pricier LS is easily beat by several German cars, notably Audi. Toyota screwed up the GS when they dropped the in-line 6 cylinder engine. The only proper (inherently balanced) 6-cylinder engines remaining on the market are those offered by BMW (I-configuration) and Subaru (H configiration).

I don't agree the only good 6 cylinders are I6. It's theoretically balanced, but its configuration naturally put a stop to the displacement, which is very hard to go over 3.5L.

I own a bimmer, and I know the I-6 is sweet, at least smoother than the V6 in my G35. However after testing IS350 I'm overwhelmed. That 3.5L V6 is just as smooth as my bimmer, but way more powerful, and more fuel efficient.

If I have a choice, I'll put that 2GR-FSE engine into my bimmer. Who needs a turbo engine in a normal sport sedan? Leave those turbo to company like AUDI or Merc who doesn't know how to make a good 6 cylinder.

Merc and AUDI has great V8, and I don't mind using turbo or supercharge in some high end cars.

Thing is, the 3.5L V6 in the new C is still under 270hp while VQHR 37 is passing 330hp already. If you know some good NA 6 from both MFRs that can match BMW/INFINITI/LEXUS please let me know.

whoever said the G35 is only sold in the US is dead wrong. Look that the JDM Skyline. It is sold with both the 3.5l V6 and the 2.5L V6. The 2.5L has gotten well above 30MG with 220hp and I fully expect it to make it to the European Market.

The lexus GS isnt a flop in europe the new generation is selling good, but how would you know that you only talk crap.

STJ88, just because a car increases 100% each month doesn't mean it's selling well. That's the difference between 20 and 40 cars. Percentages mean nothing. A small percent based on large #s is more significant.

Lexus needs a bigger diesel engine than the 2.2L they offer in the IS. How about a GS300d? And Nissan needs to drop one of their larger diesels into Infiniti's cars, also.

Two reject Jap brands trying to make it in automotive holy land? BMW and Benz rule Europe, that will never change.

Audi offers better value than BMW or Benz. One day rice-burner manufacturers will wake up and start using Audi as the benchmark to beat -- then watch out!

BMW and Mercedes rule now, but things change as time goes by. In twenty years the Jap brands develop premium lines/brands while Merc and BMW comes down to A, B, and 1 series. Not that I think German will flip, but I haven't seen change of the trend.

AUDI? Since the world is getting sportier and it doesn't even have RWD I'm afraid it might fade out before it got the chance to rule.

Don't get pissed just because I don't own a Merc that you idolize. You should know I consider Merc the best design in daily cars, and I have also stated that in other comments. However, I own BMW and INFINITI for their sporty driving gene.

Heritage and brand prestige? It's a bit pathetic you have to resort to that again. Too many debates already on this site and I'm not gonna waste everybody's time again.

I own my cars for what it is, not for what its dad or grandpa was.

Lexus don't do very well in Europe. What makes Infiniti think they can do any better? Provide equally ugly cars and undercut Lexus pricing? Pfft...forget it boys.

Tell me who put in the article that Infiniti is Lexus only Japanese competitor, other than a V8 offering and a flagship by the name of Q that got whopped by the LS, they have alot to improve on sales for one. Acura is also a major player and they too will be entering Europe they should have been there by now but Lexus approach has made them rethink their stradegy. Instead along with the NSX and new products they will enter the European market.

Nobody will want Acuras: their current models are sold as Hondas. Then, when they jack up the prices and switch the badging, the underwhelming Acura products will have absolutely zero appeal in Europe.

Good luck to Acura trying to market a new name-plate in Europe. Alot of their products are already available there as Hondas; the RL is badged as Honda Legend its sell as dismally over there as it does here. Honda would have to come out with completely new products, not just tart up and rebadge Hondas as it does here.

Sorry,BenzW124 your wrong yet again.

Audi is the best selling premium auto manufacturer in Germany.

Germany would be a European country.

Audi is also the best-seller in the UK. They are #2 in the continent, behind Mercedes-Benz but ahead of BMW. They are also #1 in Asia.

Sales are not down a lot in Europe. Get your facts straight.

Infinit said that they will bring desiel into EU

@e90335i

Why do you people hate lexus that much that you say such childish things, lexus is sales are higher than ever in europe this year.

In 2006 lexus sold 72% more cars than the year before and lexus is europe's fastest growing car brand. My source http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jan2007/gb20070119_132541.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe_today's+top+story

Toyota is there to sell smaller cars with smaller engines. Lexus is there as a premium brand that does not have to compete that way.

And.... flop?

Ok people let's sum up some raw facts here:
- nobody knows Infiniti
- the name sounds ridiculous for Europeans
- no diesel engines
- heritage? nope
- the segment of the M35/45 is DOMINATED by the Germans and then the French/Italians so any newcomer has failed (that includes Lexus)
- it's UGLY (the M models --- AARGH! this sounds like a BMW! a bad thing). Also this is an American car, not a European one.
- interiors are not as good as Lexus, Audi, ..etc

So what are the strong points of Infinit?
- they do have a personality (not all models but they're coming.. watch out!)
- great engineering and the world's best petrol V6 engine ever made. The V8 ain't bad either.
- brilliant AWD system
- it will be unique and different
- reliability probably
- price will be cheaper than all its competitors
- full option as standard (Germans hate this)
- warranty (like Lexus, Honda, ..)

I think the M35/45 will flop bigtime, but I could be wrong? The EX model will do very good I presume if they put a good diesel in it.

SoCaL, I respect your view, definitely. Lexus has come a long way.

But I wouldn't be surprised if it took them another 20 years to crack the European market. I don't meant they'll be DOMINATING in 20 years- no, probably not even close. The German brands are moving forward just as quickly, keep in mind. But around then, that's the time when they'll actually be a global player. Maybe they won't sell 1,000,000 cars then, but they'll be close.

Cheers, to competition! Who knows, me may be driving Chinese cars in 20 years.

People in Europe are importing Infiniti models already, and have been for the past few years.

"Here in Germany, if you see a Corvette, Escalade or Hummer, the owner is most likely a pimp"

Wow, this really is a dumb statement. That's like me saying that when I see someone driving a BMW, Mercedes or Lexus in the U.S. they are likely drug dealers.

Only the FX is really popular. But here we think its interior and assembly quality is below average.

"Here in Germany, if you see a Corvette, Escalade or Hummer, the owner is most likely a pimp. This is not a generalization but it's well known that these cars are often bought by these types of people. Same deal with Infiniti as it has a kind of "exotic" status here, which these guys like for some reason."

Hahah lol that is so true! The other day I saw this Turkish bloke in an Escalade pretending to be black!

So Infiniti is not rebadged Nissans, Lexus is not rebadged Toyota's lets be real people. Only the RL and the TSX are rebadged, the other Acura products are manufactured in North America, platform sharing yes, rebadge no. When will the hating stop?

Armada QX56
Land Cruiser LX570
4Runnedr GX470
thank you
and Infiniti does better here also and they are going to stop the QX/Armada deals

The MDX is sold in Australia as a Honda. Canada has the Honda Civic rebadged as an Acura

One more thing maybe Acura doesn't have to waste time in Europe after all "Honda's are the most appealing cars to drive" see past threads on this site. LOL