Infiniti Q30: A new type of premium compact car
09/15/2015
Infiniti
Making its world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show (September 15), the Infiniti Q30 active compact is a new type of premium vehicle for a new type of consumer. Representing Infiniti's first global entry into the fast-growing premium compact segment, the Q30 will play an important role in helping the company realize its plans for global growth.
Designed for a new generation of buyers who are not willing to be defined by their choice of vehicle body type, the Q30 challenges convention with its bold character and daring shape. The car stays true to the signature design cues from the original 2013 concept and exemplifies Infiniti's design-led, customer-centric approach to product development. The unconventional stance and asymmetric interior contribute to an overall design that is certain to command attention.
The development teams behind the Q30 have taken a holistic approach to its engineering, presenting a car that offers exceptional ride and handling. It feels comfortable yet "ready to go anywhere" thanks to the versatile dimensions, confident dynamics and intuitive technologies.
In addition to the base model, two bespoke versions of the Q30 will be available: "Premium" and "Sport." Each will have its own unique personality, including design, dimensions and driving performance - offering premium compact buyers a choice that is specific to their personal needs and preferences.
"Q30 makes a daring visual statement through its sculpted, concept car-like exterior, unconventional stance and asymmetric cabin design. The car has been engineered to exacting standards to deliver a driving experience that is unmistakably Infiniti. Q30 will accelerate the company's strategy to become a leading global manufacturer of premium cars."
Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti
Q30 is a vital part of Infiniti's plans for global growth
The launch of the Q30 active compact comes at a moment of significant opportunity for the Infiniti brand, and it will play a vital role in global growth and strengthening of its presence in key sales regions.
Infiniti sold a record 136,700 new vehicles worldwide during the first eight months of 2015, representing an increase of 14 percent compared to the same period in 2014. The brand also set records in China, Asia & Oceania, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa).
In August alone, Infiniti posted global sales of 16,900, an increase of 19 percent over the same month last year. This marked the best August in Infiniti's history, and the brand has now reached a 12-month streak of best individual months on record. Sales records were set in many key markets, such as Australia, Canada, China, Latin America, Mexico, South Africa and West Europe.
"These excellent results provide a strong foundation for future growth globally and in key regions, and the launch of Q30 means we're well positioned to carry forward this momentum."
Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti
The Q30 gives Infiniti the best platform from which to achieve its goals in key markets globally. It will become the company's first ever vehicle built in Europe at newly upgraded production facilities in Sunderland, United Kingdom. Representing a £250 million investment, plant extensions totalling over 25,000m2 will provide Infiniti with the production facility to satisfy the demands of premium vehicle manufacturing. A successful recruitment program has recently been completed, filling over 300 new jobs to support Q30 production.
Q30 is the beginning of Infiniti's push to expand its product line-up
With the launch of the Q30 active compact, Infiniti has started to deliver on the promise to expand and refresh its product portfolio within new premium segments.
Staying true to the concept revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Q30 is an in-house development designed and engineered to meet exacting Infiniti standards.
"Q30 is integral to Infiniti's commitment to offering a broader range of premium products in new segments, and is part of an intense product launch period that will see us further enhance our offer to an increasing number of customers."
Roland Krueger, President of Infiniti
Infiniti is adding new product at the right time, as data show that the premium compact segment is among the fastest expanding globally, and it is set to continue its growth trajectory as we approach the end of the decade.
Infiniti entering the compact segment for the first time
Representing the first vehicle of its kind for the company, Infiniti has dared to be bold and ambitious with the Q30 active compact. The car defies categorization with its rare shape and elevated stance. Its expressive design targets premium customers seeking urban individuality.
"From the very beginning of product development, it was clear that Q30 presented an outstanding opportunity for Infiniti. The company's inspiration was to create a vehicle that mirrored the existence of a new generation of premium buyers."
Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President Product Strategy
Combining unique height and dimensions with coupe-like proportions, the Q30 conveys a "ready to go anywhere" attitude while maintaining an "at home in the city" versatility - perfect for those wanting to create their own unique experiences.
Generations X and Y are a new breed of premium car buyers. For these buyers, a car is an expression of "self" rather than "status," and they insist on setting their own standards through unique, category-defying products. For them, personalising a brand is a means to individual expression - a "made for me" approach that is at the core of new luxury.
To satisfy these demands, every decision that went into crafting the Q30 was made for the individual. For example, the alloy wheels allow for true personalization, with a laser-cutting process enabling the precise application of an accent colour of choice. The process is so precise that the bespoke colored lines can be as thin as 0.3mm, offering a subtle way of making the car your own.
Complementing the bespoke nature of Q30, perceptual quality levels meet the expectations and high standards of buyers in the premium compact segment. Superior fit and finish details, both visible and tactile, are available across all grades. For example, a satin chrome-plated trim, rather than plastic chrome, gives Q30 a "cool-to-the-touch" feel, even in hot temperatures, while consistent use of black lacquer trim across wheel arches and side sills highlights the Q30's elevated stance, contributing to the strong, unique road presence of the vehicle.
Q30 takes a design-led approach that forges a unique path
Staying true to the design cues from the original 2013 concept, the Q30 active compact exemplifies Infiniti's design-led approach to product development.
"Infiniti is an expression of design. We want our customers to feel the hand of the artist at work in the sculpted, muscular aesthetic of our cars. Q30 design is marked by turbulent character lines and sculptural shapes that look stretched over bone and muscle. The effect is a spontaneous feeling of harmonious design that can be appreciated at a glance."
Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti Executive Design Director
An important, differentiating characteristic of the Q30's design is its combination of elevated stance with an overall height that is comparable with models in the traditional compact segment (1,495mm for base and Premium and 1,475mm for Sport). The result is a highly distinctive, coupe-like silhouette, which is further emphasised by a shallow side glass area.
The Q30 takes Infiniti's signature design cues and evolves them into new dynamic shapes. The double-arch grille with 3D mesh, for example, has grown from the Q50, with a more fluid movement into the headlamps. The dramatic curves and turbulent lines flow up the signature double-wave bonnet, over the fenders and across the bodyline into the strong shoulder of the car. The signature C-pillar arcs forward in a dynamic crescent shape that emphasises motion, even when stationary. The contrast of the long, low-slung roofline, conjuring an image of a rakish shooting brake in silhouette, and elevated stance add to the visual impact.
Above the base Q30 model, two grades - "Premium" and "Sport" - permit opportunities for further individual expression through exterior design.
The Q30 Premium includes LED front fog lamps, body-colored and heated door mirrors, as well as chrome dual rectangular exhaust finishers. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels add to the Premium grade's striking appearance.
The face of the Q30 Sport is slightly different, thanks to a shapely bespoke bumper and gloss black front grille. Custom body-colored sidesills give the car a striking, in-motion look, while a sporty rear bumper is joined by dark chrome dual rectangular exhaust finishers. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels complete the confident look of the Sport model.
The Q30 Premium's elevated stance (170mm at the front axle) allows for a higher hip point (531mm), which aids ingress and egress. The A-pillar design is intentionally slim, contributing to enhanced visibility for a confident driving experience. Q30 Sport stands a little lower (155mm at front axle), providing for agile ride and handling.
The Q30's coupe-like design belies its interior space and functionality. Cabin room is highly competitive, notably the boot capacity of 13 cubic-feet (368 liters VDA), which ranks among the best in the premium compact segment.
"The Q30 is not the little brother or sister to siblings from larger segments. The car features a unique posture and shape that conveys the type of spontaneity and independent spirit that can only be matched by its owner."
Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti Executive Design Director
Infiniti's bold approach to design continues inside the Q30, where buyers will find an expressive interior that challenges traditional standards of symmetry in automotive design.
The beautifully styled, asymmetric surfaces feature wave shapes and dynamic lines that twist apart and flow away from the driver. This "dissymmetry" alters the conventional perception of occupant areas, creating a more pleasant environment in which to spend time.
"Infiniti wants to offer an environment in which the driver stays connected to the driving experience and where passengers feel relaxed in an open, aesthetically pleasing space. All occupants will appreciate a high level of artistry in the flowing, asymmetric lines."
Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti Executive Design Director
Custom-designed trims deliver a personalized, self-expressive interior design. "City Black" blends black upholstery with purple stitching, ideal for the all-night urbanite. "Cafe Teak" combines classy brown and black upholstery with black stitching, providing a modern twist on traditional concepts of premium. "Gallery White" endows Q30 with a fashionable, high-contrast appearance, featuring white leather with red accents. All three "designer" trims accentuate the Q30's stand-out interior and will add to the car's appeal for open-minded premium buyers looking for a new, creative approach to cabin design.
Infiniti interior designers have also selected the highest quality materials and processes available to create a modern-looking and luxurious cabin. For example, a super-soft, highly tactile material lines high-impact areas of the interior, such as door trims and the center armrest, while "Dinamica(R)," a new Italian suede-like material used increased increasingly in the high-fashion industry, has been applied to the roof-line and pillars.
Interior noise levels in Q30 add to the overall cabin comfort. Infiniti sound engineers used the official Articulation Index, a standard way of measuring the level of speech intelligibility provided in a space, to measure the quality of occupant conversation within the cabin. Q30 features a 10-percent improvement in audibility over the leading segment competition at a speed of 120kph.
Quietness in the cabin is aided by Active Noise Cancellation, which emits sound waves from the four door speakers to negate any instances of booming noise emanating from the 2.2-liter diesel engine (Europe market only). Sound-damping materials further reduce the impact of unwanted noise, either from the engine or exterior elements, while the closed sections of the high-rigidity body structure protect the Q30 from any negative noise and vibration generated by broken or inconsistent road surfaces.
Further interior comfort is guaranteed thanks to an advanced seat design. The seatback has been carefully engineered to match the curvature of the spine, providing consistent spinal support and minimising pressure on back muscles. A wider fitting shape on the seats distributes weight more evenly, while the softness of the seat cushion provides enhanced support and comfort. Internal testing by Infiniti engineers showed that the Q30 seat back section distributes load more effectively than its competitors in the segment.
For drivers wanting to add to the dynamic feel inside the Q30, sports seats with integrated headrests are available for the first time in an Infiniti, featuring eight-way adjustment and power lumbar support. The Q30 Sport features a leather-wrapped, flat-bottomed steering wheel, as well as aluminium pedals and footrests, adding to the in-control driving experience.
On certain grades, drivers can also stay in tune with the dynamic performance of the Q30 through Active Sound Enhancement, which monitors acceleration behaviour and gear ratio, smoothing out variations in engine tone to project a harmonious and exhilarating sound when accelerating.
Confident dynamics deliver a holistic driving experience
The Q30 active compact delivers a dynamic driving experience unique to Infiniti. Development started at the brand's technical center in Japan, before moving to Europe for final development and testing. In total, over 750 Infiniti engineers in Japan and Europe were involved in the car's development.
"Each mechanical aspect has been tuned in unison to make the Q30 perform as one, delivering a holistic driving experience that is both involving and intuitive. As a result, high performance is deployed consistently."
Grahame Cornforth, Infiniti Chief Vehicle Engineer
The priority for Infiniti engineers was to strike an ideal balance between ride and handling. The car stays firm on the road thanks to specially tuned shock absorbers, with engineers considering over 50 variations on prototype vehicles before choosing the optimal setting, while the driving remains smooth throughout. Body stiffness has been enhanced to the benefit of the driver, eliminating negative sensations and audio cues, so the Q30 experience feels and sounds controlled.
Infiniti engineers have designed the suspension to be both forgiving and comfortable, without sacrificing agility. Bump shock rates and shock absorber rebound rates have been specially tuned, while MacPherson front struts offer tight packaging to best handle Q30's size and weight. A multilink system at the rear offers precise wheel control in all any conditions.
The Q30's steering has been tuned to deliver a consistent and connected feeling, thanks to an intuitive speed-sensitive system. A light and nimble feel makes the car easier to control in busy city traffic and urban environments, reducing stress and driver fatigue, while a gradual increase in resistance according to incremental changes in speed boosts driver confidence and control.
"The Q30 offers excellent steering, further enhancing the overall ride and handling feel, as well as a tuned suspension and body response that's uniquely Infiniti. Thanks to this set-up, the car offers a firm and in-control driving sensation, a perfect example being Q30's ability to confidently steer the right cornering angle and 'hold the line' precisely though the corner."
Grahame Cornforth, Infiniti Chief Vehicle Engineer
Depending on the grade, Q30's suspension settings endow unique performance attributes. The base and Premium model are best suited to the varied, and often inconsistent road surfaces found in urban environments, the suspension set-up biased towards reducing vibration and harshness picked up from the road.
The Q30 Sport - with 15mm lower ground clearance than the base and Premium versions - gives a firmer ride, facilitating tighter body control and reduced roll without compromising comfort. The Sport grade has been engineered to be used comfortably on a daily basis while offering an intuitive, in-control driving experience.
A varied range of powertrain options is available globally, all tuned to provide exciting power delivery. In the European base model, there is a 1.6-liter engine, with either 120hp or 154hp. Also in Europe, diesel options include 1.5- and 2.2-liter engines, both four cylinder, with 107hp and 168hp power outputs, respectively.
In addition to these powertrain options, and the only engine offered in the U.S., Premium and Sport models add a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine producing 208hp.
Automatic gear shifts are smooth and seamless thanks to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The dual clutch intelligently pre-selects gears so the next shift is always ready to go, while manual mode with paddle shifters lets the driver control gear changes when desired. Well-spaced ratios promise comfortable acceleration thanks to an even distribution of power, whether at a steady or fast pace, while quick and supple changes are ensured using either the fully automatic mode or the paddle gear selectors. Torque is almost uninterrupted between changes, reducing lurching while in motion and between shifts.
A six-speed manual transmission will also be made available in Europe only.
Power delivery from all engines is smooth while responsive as Infiniti's technical engineers have ensured the Q30's acceleration is prompt and reactive - providing bursts of power when most needed, giving confidence to the driver. An in-command sensation is generated by easily controlled acceleration, enabling the driver to feel and regulate the Q30's forward motion more intuitively.
The Q30 features a host of intuitive technologies that enhance the driving experience, while providing maximum safety to all occupants. These include: Automatic Park Assist with Around View Monitor (AVM) and Moving Object Detection (MOD), making the Q30 one of the easiest cars to park in the premium compact segment; Blind Spot Warning, providing greater security and confidence at speed by warning of other vehicles out of the driver's line of sight; Forward Collision Warning with Forward Emergency Braking, reducing the stress of driving in heavy traffic or in the city; Auto High Beam Assist, a highly intuitive technology that improves safety and confidence during night-time driving; and Intelligent Cruise Control, maintaining a safe distance from the car in front, resulting in a safe and relaxing drive.
A special metal plating method allows the radar waves of the Intelligent Cruise Control to pass through the Infiniti badge - a first for the brand.
Infiniti's trademark InTouch infotainment system, first introduced on the pioneering Q50, has been evolved and upgraded for the Q30, delivering an intuitive, tablet-like experience from the driver's seat via a delivering touch-screen HMI (human machine interface).
The Infiniti Q30 active compact will go on sale in selected markets later in 2015.
About Infiniti
Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in over 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States and China. Production in the UK will start in 2015, bringing with it significant expansion of the brand's portfolio. Infiniti plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017.
As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Infiniti has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the four-time FIA Formula One World Championship winning Team.
More information about Infiniti, its Total Ownership Experience(R) and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infinitiUSA.com. For the latest news on Infiniti, visit InfinitiNews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.