What's New in the Refreshed 2018 INFINITI Q50

Every car company has to carefully consider what they want to do to make their new models a big hit with drivers. Too much change, and they risk alienating their core customers. Too little change, and they risk getting labeled as stale or unimaginative. The INFINITI Q50 was such a hit that the manufacturer hasn't anything drastic for 2018. However, what they did change will come as welcome news to all interested parties. more A Fresh Look An INFINITI is a truly beautiful car no matter how you look at, and the quality is noticeable from first glance. However, they're certainly not the only cars on the road either, and it's understandable for the casual driver to mistake an INFINITI for another car brand. This car manufacturer has big plans to ensure that doesn't happen anymore, and the Q50 has new headlights, taillights, and a corner splitter to deliver a little more distinction to pedestrians and drama for the driver. The air intakes and the grille sides create a framing effect for the lighting that highlights the eye-like headlights even more. The new LED accent lighting not only gives the driver more visibility on the road, but also ensures more head-turns when on the go. Trims and Tones Drivers noticed that the trim levels of different models looked too similar to each other, so this year INFINITI did something about it. For 2018, the Q50 3.0t Sport got a nip and a tuck, and now features a wider bumper and lower air intakes. It will also come with a two-tone rear diffuser that looks at home next to the dual exhaust. The Sport also features a new dashboard surrounded by leather, chrome accents to highlight the car's luxury, and more artful signature stitching. The styling only gets more aggressive as you climb the ladder all the way up to the Q50 RED Sports 400. Software and Hardware INFINITI has made changes to the Q50's software to improve the shifting and the steering for the driver. The 2018 version also eliminates as much wind and road noise as possible for a smoother and more comfortable drive. What you may notice most if you choose to test drive a Q50 is the spinal support seats. This feature protects all the muscles of your back, making it a welcome feature for all those who want to ward off chronic pain. Safety and Performance Most car companies have their own brand of autonomous technology. In the past, INFINITI has used the ProPILOT for many of their safety features, but 2018 is the first year that all features will be under the ProPILOT umbrella. Drivers can count on the available lane departure warnings, collision assistance (both forward and back), and adaptive cruise control to lend a hand when drivers can't quite react in time. The Q50 will also add a Direct Response Hybrid powertrain this year, with 360 horsepower at 36 miles per gallon for both power and efficiency.

You might not be aware of it, but the INFINITI Q50 has not only been praised for delivering excellent performance, but also is recognized as a fuel efficient luxury vehicle. The Q50 Hybrid offers up excellent fuel economy and even was put on the KBB.com 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Luxury Cars of 2014 list. Not only is the luxury hybrid sedan good at sipping fuel instead of guzzling gas, it also is the most powerful hybrid option on the list that was created by Kelley Blue Book, thanks to a top output of 360 horsepower. That outclasses models like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Lexus IS, which are all options many consider darlings in the automotive industry. In other words, INFINITI has found a solution that works better. more The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the hybrid sedan's fuel economy at 29 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, which are some impressive figures. Adding all-wheel drive to the vehicle provides only a small hit to its efficiency, dipping those numbers only slightly to 28 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Under the hood is a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that works with the INFINITI Direct Response Hybrid system, which involves a 50 kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that supplies electric power. The strategy INFINITI uses is to go a different route than other luxury automakers that often drop a larger engine in a car to supply big performance increases. While the peak horsepower output from the hybrid powertrain is listed above, car shoppers should also know just how much torque the INFINITI Q50's hybrid setup generates. The gasoline engine produces 258 lb.-ft. of peak torque, while the electric motor contributes 214 lb.-ft. for an impressive result. What many people fail to understand is that much of what they refer to as power in a car, particularly while driving in a city, is actually torque, and the Q50 Hybrid comes with plenty. A seven-speed automatic transmission works with the hybrid powertrain to send power to the wheels. The transmission is electronically controlled, with an adaptive learning algorithm that is set up to detect the driver's style as well as road conditions, adjusting how it makes gear transitions accordingly. If drivers want to shift manually, they can by selecting the manual mode. The Q50 Hybrid even can tailor how it behaves on the road, allowing the driver to change its nature based on mood, traffic conditions, or even the desire to conserve fuel. The INFINITI Drive Mode selector comes with a Standard setting that offers a balance between efficiency and performance. Sport favors rapid acceleration, while Eco focuses on maximizing fuel efficiency. Snow is calibrated to reduce wheel slip, helping the driver keep control of the car in slick road conditions. A Personal mode can be customized by the car's owner. Not only can Q50 Hybrid owners feel good about helping protect the environment, they can also feel good about enjoying some on-road fun at least now and then. Thanks to the mountains of torque the hybrid powertrain creates, the sedan can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.2 seconds, making it exceptionally quick. The trick of fuel efficiency involves more than just the gasoline-powered engine and electric motor. Regenerative brakes are standard equipment, helping recharge the car's lithium-ion battery every time the car slows down or stops. The INFINITI Q50 Hybrid also uses an intelligent dual-clutch that provides the full level of engine torque for excellent performance fun, but without causing the luxury sedan to chug fuel. If you have an interest in test driving the Q50 Hybrid Premium or Hybrid Sport please contact our INFINITI dealer today.