The new 2015 Infiniti Q70 has a revamped exterior and a version is available that offers a longer wheelbase.
Let's take any mystery out of the power story right away. Infiniti, Nissan's luxury brand, offers the updated Q70 with a choice of three powertrains: V-6, V-8 and hybrid and all get a tidy seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's the hybrid you want.
The Infiniti M Hybrid set a Guinness world record for fastest accelerating full-hybrid car (September, 2011) and was then named to Ward's 10 Best Engines list in 2012. Infiniti likes to call this the "driver's hybrid" and that's apt.
The 3.5-litre V-6, teamed with a 50-kilowatt electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, delivers a combined output of 360 horsepower, although the numbers don't do justice to the instant torque on tap with the nudge of the car's throttle. Love it.
This is the Q70 I'd buy. Because frankly, the standard 3.7-litre V-6 (330 hp) seems a little rough when pushed, and while the 5.6-litre direct injection V-8 has loads of muscle (420 hp), I'm not sure I'd want the premium gas bill.
That said, let's run down the rest of the Q70 story. The engineers have fixed some of what buyers and potential buyers have complained about. Throttle, steering, brakes, shocks, springs – all the driving pieces have been retuned and with good results. The Q70 is no BMW 5-Series, though it's competent.
But also note what you can get in a Q70 that's not available from the Germans here in North America: a long wheelbase version.
The long Q has 150 mm of extra wheelbase (3,050 mm in all), which means those in the back have plenty of legroom. You also get rear reading lamps, heated rear seats and a 12-volt power outlet, along with limousine-like rear-door closing assist.
Up front, the cabin is lovely and elegant – lots of wood and metal trim, a big colour screen and clean instrumentation tucked below a twin binnacle design that reminds me of Dolly Parton's third most-precious asset, after her golden voice and platinum hair. The Bose 5.1 Studio Surround system pumps out amazing sound through 16 speakers.
And let's not overlook the exterior design. Plenty of cars have healthy rear haunches, but the Q70 has big, bold fender shapes up front and I am a fan. They frame some delightful sheet-metal creases in the middle, door-to-door.
Enjoy the design but get the hybrid.
TECH SPECS
2015 Infiniti Q70
Price (estimated): $60,000-$70,000-plus
Engines: 3.7-litre V-6, 5.6-litre V-8, hybrid with a 3.5-litre V-6 mated to 50-kW electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack.
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Drive: Rear- and full-time all-wheel drive
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): Hybrid rated at 8.0 city/6.9 highway using premium fuel
Alternatives: BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Audi A6, Cadillac XTS, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Acura RLX, Volvo S80
You'll like this car if: you want an alternative to the usual German luxury cars, in particular the hybrid offerings
Looks: The powerful shapes of the front- and rear-wheel arches are distinctive from the sheet-metal shapes between them. A nicely balanced look and an elegant one.
Interior: The front seats could be more supportive and have better bolstering. They seem flat and not equal to the performance capabilities of the car. The interior design is expensive-looking and the infotainment interface, while not the most advanced among luxury cars, is easy to use.
Technology: The hybrid is a smooth and powerful bit of gee-whiz engineering. A "drive mode" selector allows you to pick from four – Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow. A huge array of
electronic safety features is impressive and the Bose surround-sound system is outstanding.
Cargo: Not the biggest trunk.
The Verdict 8.0 The Q70 hybrid is an outstanding engineering package in a car with an eye-catching look but mediocre seats.
The writer was a guest of the auto maker.
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