Infiniti is changing car nomenclature. Gone are like "M", "G" and "FX" followed by numbers representing engine capacity. Instead, all cars and SUVs will begin with Q for sedans and QX for SUV's. The first model will be the Q50, an all-new premium sports sedan to be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2013.
Also, displacing displacement indicators will be double-digit numbers meant to place the vehicle within the portfolio hierarchy rather like What BMW does with 3, 5, 7, etc.
Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company Limited, who has been on board for a few months along with the move of the brand's global headquarters from Japan to Hong Kong, explains that the change simplifies things for Infiniti. He added, in a press conference this evening, that it also makes more sense because the lineup is about to expand both up and down: more premium, true luxury cars, and more entry luxury vehicles. He also hinted at a range of smaller vehicles for the latter category.
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The rollout begins next year, starting with the Q50, with on-sale date coinciding with the traditional model year switchover, when inventories of late model cars are relatively low. He explained that the timing reduces as much as possible the confusion consumer might find themselves at the showroom, when looking at an old M and its Q replacement.