A short time back we shared quotes from Infiniti president Roland Kruger regarding the Eau Rogue concept and whether it could become a reality. Kruger was coy about the car's future but did take the time to mic check the automaker's upcoming twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. Well, that engine has just been revealed in the new Infiniti Q50. The new VR30 engine comes in two tiers: the first one produces 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque and the top-run kicks out 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
In addition to the new VR30 engine the Q50 will also offer a new 2.0-liter turbo-four rated at 208 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque. Infiniti claims the runt of the litter will respond and perform just like the new V6 but with better fuel economy. The hybrid powertrain remains unchanged with a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a dual-clutch electric motor good for 360 horsepower in total. Controlling all the action is a seven-speed automatic transmission complete with paddle shifters. Both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive are offered. The engines are the big ticket item here, but rest assured that other areas received updates as well. Direct Adaptive Steering-aka steering by wire-has been improved to feel more like the real deal.
We're not really big on a feature like this as we'd much prefer to steer ourselves rather than have computers and sensors working to simulate the feeling. There's also Infiniti's Dynamic Digital Suspension (DDS), a first for the Q50. DDS does what you'd expect, adjusting the ride in accordance to road conditions and driving modes. Further enhancing ride quality is a multi-link suspension and improved suspension settings. In terms of looks, well, the range-topping Red Sport model is probably your best bet. It sports 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with staggered tire sizes (245/40R19 up front and 265/35R19 in back) and special exhaust tips, in addition to its 400-horsepower engine. It won't win any beauty contests but does look sporty and tasteful.
More power is never a bad thing, especially when it comes to high-end models. People need to use something as a tie breaker and sometimes that's raw power numbers. Infiniti didn't release performance figures or mpg specs yet, but we should see those once the revised sedan makes its official debut at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show.
