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Infiniti Q60: Oriental Gran Turismo
INFINITI Q60
ORIENTAL GRAN TURISMO
Words by Tommaso Mogge
Photo by Daniél Rikkard
Think about it, the cars world is getting boring. Between all the constraints related to safety and pollution, cars have become bigger and heavier, but above everything it seems that a lot of people do care more about infotainment rather than the fun factor that a sports car or an elegant coupe can transmit. There are valid exceptions and amazing supercars that are able to bring together a high-tech offer with performance that were unthinkable just a decade ago, but let’s face it, not all of us has a quarter of a million in the bank and so we have to face decisions.
The spark of passion lights up in a flash, that precise moment in which something happens inside us and catapults us in a world to be discovered, makes us feel part of a big family that shares dreams and emotions. The same flame that many see fading when the necessities of practical life impose themselves like a big rock blocking the road to which we drove until the day before, that road that a curve after the other gave us smiles and epic moments. There are small sports cars, the so-called hot-hatches, authentic savior of the planet, but they do not please everyone, certainly not for those who look for a more “noble” nature in a car, a more elegant and distinguished dress. The grand tourer – gran turismo – or I should say the most rewarding type of carriage that can accompany a driver with his family, are roads devourers we all dream of and on which we imagine ourselves talking about a hypothetical future, the one that leaves room for a life made up of responsibility and no more hairpin bends attacked with the handbrake lever pulled in disproportionate ways.
You name grand tourer and immediately come to mind the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin or Jaguar, but someone unexpected has thrown into the game. From the land of the rising sun, Infiniti gave birth to the new Q60, first unveiled at the NAIAS in 2016 with a concept car that almost completely yields the visionary forms to this coupe that certainly does not intend to pass unnoticed. With a price tag closer to that of a common diesel sedan, the Q60 is one of those cars that enthusiasts have been waiting for a lifetime and now here it is, parked in front of the office door. The key is on my desk and I do not see even half a reason why I should wait more. I slug out and start to look at it, with that black dress that plays a perfect contrast with the many chrome profiles that accentuate its various details. Despite being based on the Q50 sedan, with which it also shares the chassis, it is slightly shorter, but the centimeters less do not miss internal habitability of this proper 2+2 seats. The shape is that of a typical front engine coupe – a gran turismo you’d say. The engine, in this case a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged, stands there in front under the long curved bonnet, made more muscular by the protuberances on the sides and more aggressive by the huge front grille, a large mouth that ideally joins the lower area of the bumper with the main headlights unit, thin and elongated, in the best oriental tradition.
The Q60 is fantastic at front, as it manages to convince even on its side and rear, anticipating what is the room offered in the cabin and a good load capacity for luggages at the back. Two doors and rear-wheel drive (the 405hp 3.0 V6 features all-wheel drive) for this coupe that even before getting on board is already intriguing me a lot. Once in the driver’s seat, I can see that the whole environment is pointing at me, everything is at hand and the seating position is impeccable, thanks also to the excellent leather seats. The steering wheel is the new three spokes wheel, sporty and with buttons that are added to those numerous placed on the central tunnel, always equipped with two screens and through which you can simultaneously manage the satellite navigation and the air conditioning system, just to give you an example. It’s functional and precise but with a graphic that begins to become obsolete, a detail that on a car with similar ambitions, could have been a bit more accurate. The gearbox is an intelligent automatic 7-speed and above all very fluid, so as to make gear changes imperceptible, even at low speeds. On the model tested there are no paddles on the steering wheel (optional), which means that for using the gears in sequential mode, you must act directly on the lever. If it leaves you stunned, do not get mad, because in fact you will not particularly miss it, not even driving in Sport mode, where the electronic brain tends to take advantage of a wider number of engine revs and the pedal response becomes more voted to a dynamic drive. The pedals though, even in Standard mode, oppose a considerable resistance and require a bit of confidence, before finding the right feel.
Every self-respecting grand tourer must know how to do a multitude of things well. I’m talking about comfort, luxury, but also performance and fun, without obviously forgetting that the eye wants its part too. Finding that aesthetically you are facing a concept car lent to the road, the Q60 also makes a great impression thanks to its 19 or 20 inches alloy wheels, which help to crush it to the ground and emphasize its truly unique look. The materials are of a high standard and despite some plastics may not fully please your touch, the sense of compactness that is felt on board is great, even for those who sit behind, not sacrificed one bit. Of the only two engines available, our Q60 is powered by a seemingly small 2.0cc turbo that delivers 211 horsepower and 350Nm of torque. Although the cavalry may seem timid, the fact of having a more than adequate reserve of torque at just 1250 revs makes this Infiniti agile and brilliant. Moreover, with a weight of almost 1800kg and suspension more oriented to valorize the journey, rather than the reduction the time of the same, we are not putting its driving skills on trial, but praising the way in which the car gives us pleasant moments once sitting with the steering wheel in your hands.
Away from its favorite habitat and immersed in city traffic, the sinuous curves of the body and the reduced turning radius can put you into some struggle, but parking sensors and rear view cameras help and solve most of the problems here. Everyone’s looking at me, indicate me and the Q60, trying to figure out what car it is, but it is not easy to guess. The clues are just few and the Japanese brand is not yet mainstream in the old Continent. It often happens that someone ventures an unspecified BMW model, but the ability to stand out among all the others is one of the strengths on which Infiniti is aiming and does so by offering a very well-packed car. It’s hard to find yourself struggling with powerslides, or timing if the 0-100 kph is actually consumed in 7.3 seconds, but it’s very likely that every moment you spend driving the new Q60 will see you with a beautiful smile on your face, aware that wherever possible you will be able to reach 235 per hour and grind kilometers in complete comfort, driving a piece of metal that renews the pleasure of driving. Prices for a Q60 start from about 47 thousand Eur for the 211hp 2.0cc and just over 62 thousand Eur for the 405hp 3.0cc, but both provide a rich equipment and the wow factor every time opening the garage you will find yourself running your eyes on its fantastic lines. And this is not a small thing.
INFINITI Q60 2.0t
Layout – front-engined, rear wheel drive
Engine – in-line 4 cylinder 1.991cc – turbo
Transmission – 7-speed automatic gearbox
Power – 211 hp @ 5.500 rpm
350 Nm @ 1.250 rpm
Weight – 1.775 kg
Acceleration – 7,3 sec.
Top Speed – 235 kph
Price – from €46.900
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