The year 2012 was filled with memorable events that affected, or better yet, concerned individuals on a global scale. Queen Elizabeth II celebrated sixty years of British monarchy, Barack Obama was reelected for a second term as President of the United States of America, and ensuring it didn’t get sidelined, Infiniti announced its rather complicated and reworked model nomenclature. Global events, indeed.
Replacing the easily identifiable “M”, “G”, “QX”, “FX”, “JX”, and “EX” with a simple “Q” followed closely by a multiple of the number ten, it appeared as though the brand’s only objective stood to confuse audiences who had just about managed to memorize its exquisite line-up. So, the all-new Q60, for those who are still getting to grips with the new naming structure, is the replacement to the legendary G-Coupe and rival to the Lexus RC and BMW 4-Series. Ah!
| Key Features: | |
| Engine | 3.0L / V6 |
| Transmission | 7-speed automatic |
| Power | 400 Hp / 475 Nm |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h |
| Price | AED 320,000 as tested |
Exterior
Brands (irrespective of their industry) tend to be synonymous with certain objects in our lives. For instance, Ferrari strongly corresponds to the color red, while large, vertically-opening doors are unmistakably a Lamborghini trait. But this write-up is about an Infiniti, and no ordinary Infiniti, but one that cemented the brand’s capability to churn out jaw-dropping and segment-topping coupes.
When news of the second-generation Q60 surfaced back in late 2014, skepticism was rampant with fans questioning whether the all-new model would be able to do justice to its famed predecessor. Fast forward a few years and it is evident that the designers have outdone themselves, creating what is best described as the automotive equivalent of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, an absolute masterpiece.
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Interior
Continuing its artistic streak into the cabin, the Infiniti Q60 borrows subtle cues from the brand’s Q50 sedan and infuses dollops of sportiness with an equally hearty serving of luxury. Cocooning its occupants, elements such as piano black and silver trims, along with stitched and supple perforated leather, come together to make it feel as opulent as it appears.
Having retained the sporting aura of its predecessor, the Q60 is home to a hefty steering wheel, a legible instrument cluster, and a set of brawny yet supremely comfortable bucket seats up front. Where the Q60 truly surprises, however, is with the amount of space it offers, both within the passenger compartment and concealed beneath its sculpted boot lid.
Safety & Tech
A tad OTT, even by contemporary standards, the brand’s fascination with multimedia displays sees the introduction of two screens stacked one above the other along the protruding center console. Flanked by a sizeable gloss black border, the lower screen works merely as a touch control unit, in addition to the physical buttons that sit below it and along the horizontal spokes of the steering wheel.
In addition to a 13-speaker Bose audio system that punches out clarity to rival a live performance, the Japanese coupe is fitted with an active noise cancellation system that makes it that much better. Driving aids, though aplenty, include adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, an around view monitor, backup collision intervention, forward emergency braking, and blind spot detection.
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Drive
Bidding farewell to the naturally aspirated legacy of its predecessor, the Q60 is armed with 400 horsepower and 475 Nm of torque, grunt that it generates from a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 unit. Mated to an exceptional 7-speed automatic transmission, it pushes power to the rear hoops and clocks 100 km/h in just 4.7-seconds.
Lighter than its tubby Japanese rival that takes 4.5-seconds to hit the ton, the Q60 is as gracious as an ice-skating ballerina and packs enough punch to deliver wheel spins all through first gear. With 336 different configurations to be had, the drive mode selector allows extreme customization with changes affecting the engine mapping, throttle responsiveness, suspension stiffness, and steering heft.
Verdict
Bridging the gap between the softer Lexus RC F and the performance-inclined BMW M4, the Infiniti Q60 is a coupe that combines the benefits of a grand tourer with those of an outright sports car. Although a very, very good offering with an attractive AED 280,000 starting price, the success of this particular model is likely to be hindered by its AED 320,000 price tag.
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