By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / Photos Infiniti USA
For 2017, the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 combines an expressive design with exhilarating performance and dynamics. The taut, muscular lines of the exterior underline the considerable performance potential reinforced by an advanced all-new 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine.
Exterior
The Q60 Red Sport 400 is characterized by flowing sculptural lines and strong, muscular proportions. Its sinewy athleticism confidently projects a sense of motion and power, coupled with an effortless, almost weightless stance.
The Q60 employs signature Infiniti design cues to communicate dynamism, representing a daring visual expression of the car’s performance. Unifying features such as the double-arch grille and the crescent cut C pillars which arc forward and emphasize the car’s dynamic quality ensure that the sports coupe is instantly recognizable as an Infiniti. LED headlights, employing light guide technology to spread light evenly on the road ahead, are designed to emulate the shape of the human eye, providing an alluring face to the car.
For 2017, the Q60 features newly designed 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels as standard. The rear-wheel drive version of the Q60 Red Sport 400 models has wider wheels and tires at the rear, contributing to a more aggressive stance while also improving handling and grip with a higher capacity for lateral G-forces. The wheel gaps, the spaces between tires and wheel arches are tighter than ever, further lowering the visual volume of the car and giving it a low, powerful stance.
Interior
Sophisticated craftsmanship characterizes the spacious and beautifully appointed interior for the 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, following the brand’s driver-centric, passenger-minded approach to advanced cabin architecture. Infiniti designers have used this architecture to give each occupant their own clearly defined space within the passenger compartment.
In the front of the cabin, the design emphasizes the dashboard’s focus on the driver, with the center console housing twin touchscreens as part of the InTouch central control system the latest generation of the company’s infotainment technology. The touchscreen capabilities of both screens mean Infiniti’s design teams have been able to minimize the number of buttons in the cabin, for a neat, uncluttered appearance.
The cabin has been packaged to offer comfortable space for all passengers, despite its sports coupe shape. Its 2,850-mm wheelbase enables legroom of up to 1,095 mm for front passengers and 823 mm for both rear passengers. The 1,850 mm-wide body is sufficient to give all passengers plenty of shoulder and hip space. Shoulder room is 1,387 mm for front passengers and 1,321 mm for those in the rear, while hip room is 1,369 mm and 1,217 mm respectively. Irrespective of its sloping coupe roofline, the Q60 Red Sport 400 offers generous headroom for all passengers.
Performance
Under the hood the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 is the all-new 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, from the new VR powertrain family, is the most advanced V6 engine that Infiniti has ever offered, striking an ideal balance between drivability, efficiency, and performance.
Compact and lightweight, the engine has been developed to deliver optimal power and torque for an engine of its size, as well as high levels of fuel efficiency. Peak power from the 400 hp engine arrives at 6,400 rpm, producing 475 Nm torque at 1,600-5,200 rpm. With the highest power-to-efficiency ratio of any car in the premium sports coupe class.
The seven-speed automatic transmission has been engineered with gear ratios spaced to allow for responsive, direct acceleration. Adaptive Shift Control uses a lateral acceleration sensor to detect topographical changes in the road, such as hills or corners, and enhances gear-select patterns according to the changing conditions. ASC also allows the transmission to observe driving behaviors and adapt shifts to driver feedback.
The Q60 Red Sport 400 is fully customizable through the Drive Mode Selector accessed through the 8-inch upper touchscreen. The system allows the drive mode to be selected from the following available options: Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport, Sport+, and Personal.
The Standard mode has been tuned to represent the core performance: normal engine output and transmission settings combined with a unique blend of enhanced ride comfort and agile handling. In this mode, steering requires less effort at lower speeds for easier maneuverability, while at higher speeds or over rough road surfaces, there is a feeling of stability with fewer kickbacks associated with Direct Adaptive Steering, a slower gear ratio and firmer steering feel.
In Personal mode Q60 drivers can personalize the Direct Adaptive Steering performance by selecting one of three core modes (Standard, Sport and Sport+) and then specifying their preferred level of response (Default, Dynamic and Dynamic+). In total there are seven mode and response combinations available in Personal: Standard and Default; Sport and Default; Sport and Dynamic; Sport and Dynamic+; Sport+ and Default; Sport+ and Dynamic; Sport+ and Dynamic+. For the highest level of assistance and ultimate sports coupe driving experience, the Q60 driver would choose Sport+ mode with Dynamic+ response.
In Sport mode, the Q60 selects a more aggressive shift pattern, holding on to gears longer to tap in to the engine’s maximum performance reserves at higher revolutions. In all instances, the automatic transmission shifts smoothly, with less performance-focused modes giving the car an even more relaxed gait for everyday conditions.
Summary
Lower and wider than previous Infiniti coupes, the Q60 Red 400’s bold exterior expresses a powerful elegance which gives the sports coupe a sinewy athleticism, confidently projecting a sense of motion and power.
The Q60 delivers a truly engaging sports coupe experience, with a balance of compliant ride and agile handling. Playing a key role in achieving this balance is Infiniti’s new Dynamic Digital Suspension, engineered to offer direct handling responses and high agility, and enhanced ride comfort.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price starts at $51,300.00, the one I drove included the Technology Package ($1,850.00), Driver Assistance Package ($2,250.00), Premium Plus Package ($2,250.00), Direct Adaptive Steering ($1,000.00) and Exclusive Paint ($800.00), and it came in at $60,355.00 including destination charges ($905.00). The EPA fuel economy estimates 20 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
