By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos Infiniti USA
For 2017, the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport sedan delivers an empowering and rewarding drive thanks to an innovative powertrain and next-generation technologies to enhance ride and handling.
Exterior
Signature Infiniti exterior design features include the powerful double arch grille, dynamic arch roofline and Crescent-cut C-pillar. The front-end design is decidedly aggressive, with a sport front fascia offered on the Q50 Red Sport 400 model. The grille’s three-dimensional, textural quality is provided by elaborate detailing of the waved mesh pattern surface and chrome surround, while the distinctive LED headlights and LED daytime running lights suggest an expressive form, almost like the human eye.
The lean, robust body sides are designed to anchor the performance stance with a strong, solid bone and arched roofline that flows to the Crescent C-pillars. In the rear, the side character lines smoothly merge with the shape of the rear LED combination lights. The familiar rear double-arch trunk line completes the strong, unforgettable view from behind. Heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals are standard, while an available power sliding and tilting glass moonroof is offered. The Q50 Red Sport 400 includes red S badging and unique exhaust tips, helping assert the car’s performance credentials and adding to its aggressive, confident aura.
Other exterior refinements include wide door architecture with narrower, roll formed A- and B-pillar sashes that provide improved ingress and egress, as well as a more open cabin environment. The body design also offers enhanced airflow over both the upper and lower body portions, resulting in a coefficient of drag as low as 0.26. The Q50 Red Sport 400 also features zero front and rear lift.
Interior
Matching the inspired design and performance is an interior created to the same extraordinary standards. The interior environment offers a powerful blend of three-dimensional textures, highest craftsmanship and premium quality, combining modern luxury and user-focused advanced technology.
The interior is also created as an invitation to drive to celebrate the elation of driving that is often lost in the modern world. As such, special attention was paid to the driver position, offering a generous range of customizable adjustments within a cosseting yet comfortable cockpit.
The instrument panel honors Infiniti’s double wave design tradition, while updated with an asymmetrical flow from the top of the center cluster to the wide center console. Access to all key operations and controls is designed so that the driver does not need to change driving posture, including use of hard switches, touch panels, Infiniti Controller and Infiniti Drive Mode Selector.
The front and rear seats help distribute body pressure across a wider range of the upper seating surface. The roomy interior space offers ample front and rear headroom, ample rear knee room enhanced by the thin front seatback design, and greater front seat slide and lift adjustability.
Technology
Building on Infiniti’s unique approach to making owners’ lives easier is the available Infiniti InTouch with Navigation and Infiniti InTouch Services, with lane guidance and 3D building graphics, voice recognition for navigation functions, including one-shot voice destination entry. Infiniti InTouch Services include six months of safety, security and convenience services, SiriusXM Traffic, including real-time traffic information, a SiriusXM subscription is required and sold separately.
Unlike conventional interfaces, the Q50 Red Sport 400 has not one but two touch capacitive screens with intuitive hand gesture screen operation to easily connect drivers to their lives outside the car. Along with the large dual screens, the Infiniti InTouch system is designed to effortlessly synchronize car and driver. Content and functions directed to the upper screen includes the most frequently used applications, such as navigation maps. Other content is directed to the lower display screen. The two screens work together so that, for example, the navigation map can be viewed on the top screen while setting destinations or finding points-of-interest can be done on the lower screen. A limited number of critical functions, such as heating and cooling, are operated by hard switches. Content can be customized using easy-to-understand menus.
Premium audio systems include an available Infiniti Studio on Wheels by Bose audio system with an instrument panel 3-speaker array and Advanced Staging Technology. SiriusXM Satellite Radio and High Definition radio are standard. Other features include Dual-Zone Automatic Temperature Control, Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Rear-View Monitor and available Advanced Climate Control System with Plasma cluster air purifier.
Performance
Under the hood is the high-output version, which is standard in the range-topping and aptly named Q50 Red Sport 400, delivers 400 horsepower at 6,400 rpm, the most standard horsepower in class for a non-specialty model. Torque is rated at 350 lb-ft at 1,600-5,200 rpm.
The powertrain is matched to an advanced seven-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with manual shift mode and available steering column-mounted magnesium paddle shifters on Sport models; The gearbox features improved logic and hardware to handle the power output of the VR-series engines. Dual transmission coolers are utilized to better diffuse heat.
In addition, the Adaptive Shift Control enhances gear selection by using a lateral acceleration sensor to detect changes in the road, such as hills and turns. Sport Mode allows the driver to select a more aggressive shift pattern with automatic up and down shifting at higher rpm. Manual Mode is also standard, with genuine magnesium paddle shifters added with Q50 3.0t Sport and Red Sport 400 grades. The combined effect is for any driver to enjoy quick, smooth shifts and gear choices that are appropriate to both the road and the desired driving style.
Summary
The 2017 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 strong first impression is created by its combination of stylish, purposeful proportions and aggressive stance which provides a powerful statement of the sports performance awaiting the driver; The cabin has been created with human artistry in mind, enabling occupants to travel in style and comfort.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $48,700.00, the one I drove included the Illuminated Kick Plates ($465.00), Exclusive Paint ($800.00), Design Package ($1,850.00), Technology Package ($1,700.00), Direct Adaptive Steering Package ($1,000.00), Maple Wood Trim Package ($400.00), Driver Assistant Package ($2,150.00), and the Premium Plus Package ($2,250.00), and it came in at $60,220.00 including destination charges ($905.00). The EPA fuel economy estimates 20 MPG City and 26 MPG Highway.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
