Infiniti celebrating 20 years of innovation

Infiniti celebrating 20 years of innovation
It was 20 years ago that Nissan’s luxury division opened its first 51 retailers in the US and when the first two Infiniti models — the Q45 performance luxury sedan and the M30 performance luxury coupe — arrived in the US.

In a release announcing the 20th year celebration, Toru Saito, Global Infiniti Business Unit vice president, said, “A dream that started 20 years ago in the United States is now the blueprint for a global luxury automotive brand.”
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theoptimisticpessimisttheoptimisticpessimist - 11/10/2009 4:47:41 PM
-2 Boost
Ditto


M35MTM35MT - 11/10/2009 5:03:56 PM
+6 Boost
-Around View Monitor (EX35)
-Rear view Camera (Q45)

Interesting fact...the 1989 Q45 won 2nd place in a Car & Driver comparison test and was the ONLY car to go 0-60 in under 8 seconds, the only one to top out over 150mph. Too bad the Q had to die out, it had what seemed like a good start.

I suppose the FX was an innovative design when it came out in late '02.


F1_DriverF1_Driver - 11/10/2009 5:07:46 PM
+6 Boost
Self-healing paint off the top of my head.


0to600to60 - 11/10/2009 5:27:02 PM
+5 Boost
yea, I think they were the first to have self healing paint.


LuxuryFanLuxuryFan - 11/10/2009 4:49:46 PM
+3 Boost
Somewhere, 'ChuckG20' is creaming himself over this announcement.


PerformanceGuyPerformanceGuy - 11/10/2009 4:54:43 PM
+6 Boost
Congrats Nissan/Infiniti. Keep up the good work!


chris357chris357 - 11/10/2009 5:51:10 PM
+3 Boost
in japan they dont sell infiniti, even toyota and lexus are the same in japan. Here however the only Infiniti to share an exact platform with a nissan in the QX56. the 350z is built on a shortened front midship platform whish is the g37 sedan and coupe platform. other than that they are different cars in america and europe


chris357chris357 - 11/10/2009 5:54:41 PM
+5 Boost
yes the 2002 q45 was the first to have the rear view monitor, the inteligent cruise control. then the around view monitor and the lane deprture warning and prevention. Forward collision warning I think these are all firsts from Infiniti.

The G35 Sedan and coupe were the first Japanese cars to really give the 3 series a run for its money Lexus and Acura all came up very short in this catagory.

I'd say the only thing infiniti is short on is marketing but they can build a heck of a car


tattedtwicetattedtwice - 11/11/2009 3:49:40 AM
-4 Boost
Let's don't forget the '02 q45 had the world's brightest headlights.

/sarc


M35MTM35MT - 11/11/2009 1:07:23 PM
+4 Boost
It did


dlindlin - 11/11/2009 10:47:19 AM
+2 Boost
Only wish they'd have DCT and FA 2.5 V6 on the next G.


XYZZXYZZ - 11/12/2009 5:50:14 AM
+1 Boost
this is more a first for nissan than infiniti, but seeing as how they're related...

the 2000 Maxima introduced the "fastback 4-dr sedan" design which has since been copied by EVERY other major automaker, including the snooty euro brands.
this was initially a subtle yet sophisticated design, and little recognized by most folks. but auto stylists across the globe picked up on it.

it consists of the curve of the roofline 'cutting through' the trunk and continuing over the rear bumper. the cut line has to be imagined, but its continuation to the bumper can be seen by discerning eyes. the effect is a fastback look like the porsche 911, but with a useful trunk overlaying the fastback. in effect, a FASTBACK 4-door SEDAN.

the late, unlamented Bangle Butt was sort of a coarse version. it eventually evolved to this near UNIVERSAL design on modern 4-dr sedans.
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