Nissan’s resurgent luxury brand Infiniti is a confirmed starter for Australia in the third quarter of 2012.
Nissan Australia CEO Dan Thompson was a happy man when he made the announcement in Melbourne yesterday as part of the build-up to the F1 Australian Grand Prix – just weeks after Infiniti was named as a sponsor of the world championship-winning Red Bull Racing Renault Team.
We’re part of global expansion for Infiniti – Australia in the same stage as Mexico, Panama, Chile, Indonesia and Sweden.
Former Saab executive Kevin Snell has been appointed General Manager of Infiniti Cars Australia and he confirmed a three-model lineup at launch – the superb FX high performance SUV, the stylish G in coupe and convertible guise and the equally elegant M sedan (the latter possibly including the M35h Hybrid).
On display at the launch was the Infiniti FX S – definitely one of the world’s most desirable luxury high performance SUVs, powered by a 290kW, quad-cam, 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine. Boasting gorgeous styling, a sumptuous interior with masses of space, the Infiniti FX S doesn’t short change in the technology department with standard features such as Lane Departure Warning and the Around View Monitor camera system.
Infiniti FX S will also be offered with V6 petrol and diesel powerplants.
Together with the M and G models, the FX showcases why Infiniti is on the march – great products, cleverly marketed to younger buyers. Last year Infiniti North America posted sales growth of 27.5 per cent (105,000 sales, just behind Audi with 110,000).
Now part of the Nissan-Renault Alliance, the new Infiniti should not be confused with the cumbersome Q45 model which Nissan Australia first launched in 1990.
Nissan Renault President Carlos Ghosn has personally endorsed Infiniti as a crucial part of the Alliance conglomerate and given the design team under the direction of Shiro Nakamura a very loose rein to deliver cutting edge vehicles. Mr Ghosn said of Infiniti: “We will not try to be all things to all people, but everything to some people.”
That’s evident in the global design philosophy for Infiniti dealerships which more resemble architecturally edgy art galleries or boutique hotels than car dealerships.
Infiniti Cars Australia General Manager, Kevin Snell, reckons there will only ever be 15-20 Infiniti dealers in this market and at launch, there will only be three – in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Like Infiniti in other parts of the world, Australian buyers will be lavished with personal attention and hospitality. In fact several Infiniti senior managers are in Australia to personally check-out customer hospitality options at the Albert Park F1 Grand Prix.
Naturally so far out from launch, no decisions have been taken on pricing for the various Infiniti models, but Dan Thompson stressed they would not be the cheapest luxury cars on the market – a strategy which is working in other markets.
Car Showroom has driven some of the current Infiniti lineup in North America and we can confirm these are outstanding luxury vehicles which will be coveted by enthusiast drivers.
Definitely keep an eye out for Infiniti.
