Keep It Vanilla: Infiniti Executive Confirms, No More Convertibles

Convertibles are a niche market, and Infiniti doesn’t feel it’s a market worth pursuing. At least, not right now.

The automaker’s product strategy chief confirmed to Car Advice that a droptop version of its second-generation Q60 coupe isn’t in the cards, eliminating the open-air option from the brand’s lineup.

Let the Germans have at it, the executive implied.

“We’re focusing only on the coupe version … a convertible is off the table for the moment,” said global senior manager of product strategy Gerardo Carmona. “Convertible volumes are pretty small, and we wanted to be focused on making a big improvement on the car.”

Infiniti offered a convertible variant of the former G37 starting in 2009, with the model rebadged as a Q60 in 2013. Droptops are nice, but they don’t help the brand much if the model it’s based on fails to inspire.

222max - 9/27/2016 12:22:57 PM

+1 Boost

Personally, I couldn't care less about convertibles. I would always choose the hardtop over the ragtop version of any given car

jerseycat1010 - 9/27/2016 12:52:38 PM

0 Boost

The amount of money spent on engineering/tooling of convertibles is decidedly wasteful. Spend that money on making the coupe/sedans better.

TheSteve - 9/27/2016 3:02:31 PM

+2 Boost

It's just a matter of economics. Few people are buying Infiniti. Even fewer are buying Infiniti convertibles.

PUGPROUD - 9/27/2016 5:10:21 PM

+2 Boost

While all of the comments above are valid and reasonable Infiniti needs convertibles or something to give the brand some panache, some buzz, anything to make the brand more appealing. Its about branding and image that carries over to the SUV's and sedans that generate the real volume.
This but another real example that Infiniti management has no clue where or how to take the brand.

TomM - 9/27/2016 5:19:50 PM

+5 Boost

I completely agree- Just look at their commercial for their SUV - a good looking guy - who ends up picking up his KIDS from a party. Just the IMAGE a high end buyer wants to have!

BUT - the problem is - tooo many companies are trying to be the new GERMAN car company. THe market has already said that they don't want more small german sports cars - so much so - that even Mercedes has backed away and turned to more Luxury.

Cadillac was better at marketing when they competed against the quiet of Rolls Royce - the idea that a Cadillac should be smaller and nimbler that the Germans is simply STUPID. DeNysschen is simply going after the wrong market - and he is deciding to leave behind those customers - when no one is buying HIS vision.

mre30 - 9/27/2016 5:49:22 PM

+2 Boost

Who is Infiniti's target customer?

From what I can tell - in NYC/NJ/Long Island/South Florida - it is single, flashy, 25 to 35 year old guys with a high opinion of themselves. Not a bad demo I guess - strikes me as youthful (where Lexus is geriatric, Acura is plodding/suburban, and a step up from Honda/Toyota/Mazda.

Those straight, image-conscious men do not care about convertibles - so Infinity is smart in not doing one.

Infiniti needs to grow into the aspirational car for the dude demo if that's possible!

MDarringer - 9/27/2016 6:52:54 PM

-1 Boost

@mre30 Infiniti also trends very well with gay men, but you are spot on in your assessment.

Once you get bast muscle convertibles, sales of drop tops are DIRE.

iamdabest1 - 9/29/2016 12:17:01 AM

+1 Boost

in nyc the q50 leases for about 299 with 1300 out of pocket . thats the real reason infiniti sells.