Does INFINITI Have A Branding Problem When Its Vehicle Gets WIDELY Misrecognized For A LEXUS?

This week was an interesting one in Washington D.C. No, not because the folks we elected into office were getting anything done in terms of ending the government shutdown, but because of an individual that wreaked havoc along Pennsylvania Avenue.

The story of Miriam Carey is just starting to unravel and why she drove nearly 300 miles from Connecticut to our nation's capital is beyond us. Even worse, putting a one-year old baby girl in harm's way is unthinkable to the Agents. We'll leave that discussion to the mainstream media.

We're a bit intrigued by a phenomenon that happened the day of the incident. While I saw the social media activity EXPLODE during this fluid situation I found it interesting that Carey's Infiniti G37 was misinterpreted as a Lexus. Hell, even if you Google "Miriam Carey Lexus" you'll STILL see posts that haven't been corrected.

Seemingly trivial fact in such a peculiar case, but here's the thing: it wasn't just Twitter fiends getting it wrong as "Lexus" became a trending topic, so did MAJOR publications like the New York Post.

Personally, I think Infiniti makes great products though I may not love their designs all the time; however, if people can't distinguish the marque from a swath of Far East luxury vehicles that HAS to ruin the brand's cachet, if it even had it to begin with.

That said, what say YOU? Does Infiniti need MORE distinctive styling — it's on the way — and is the new "Q" nomenclature change a step in the RIGHT direction towards gaining MORE recognition?

carloslassiter - 10/5/2013 8:33:22 PM

0 Boost

If one of your cars is used to ram the White House, I'm sure you don't mind if people call it a Lexus.

cidflekken - 10/6/2013 2:47:47 PM

+2 Boost

I've seen numerous news reports where cars involved were mis-identified.

MattDarringer - 10/6/2013 4:24:01 PM

+2 Boost

Infiniti has ALWAYS had an identity problem and it will NOT be getting better soon. The old rocks and twigs commercials are funny to watch for the utter BS in them. They have been famously unable to join the S Class / 7 Series / XJ / A8 / LS class and have to be watching Hyundai succeed where they failed. The Q45 was a series of stupidly executed messes while the Lexus LS slowly and cleverly earned the mantle of the Japanese Mercedes. The G37/Qwhatever is neither a 5 Series nor 3 Series competitor. It's a competent vehicle but wrong sized. Arguably, when the Nissan 350Z resurrected the Z name, it should have been given to Infiniti based on the price point. After all, the Z had been both a Datsun and a Nissan, so a third rebranding would have been of no consequence. The GTR should have been the Infiniti Skyline GTR given its price point. A GTR "sedan" would have been a brilliant move against the CLS AMG or the M5. Infiniti's styling is as generic as a Nissan or a Renault and the latest Q does nothing to change that. The recent change in naming system will NOT suddenly make Infiniti a viable brand against BMW et. al. because they lack appropriate product. Conversely, if Hyundai-Kia made Genesis a brand and put their premium models under it, no one would bat an eye. Infiniti's SUVs are either Nissan knock offs or the long in tooth cliche that is the FX/QXwhatever. So yeah, Infiniti has problems though not as bad as Lincoln's.

Dexter1 - 10/6/2013 10:36:43 PM

+1 Boost

Yep. They're both ugly.

xjug1987a - 10/7/2013 6:39:51 PM

+1 Boost

Matt Dillinger - hit the bulls eye!