Infiniti Cars

Infiniti launched in 1989, the same year as Lexus and Acura, as Nissan luxury brand for the North American market. Unlike Lexus, which targeted the silent-and-comfortable end of luxury, Infiniti tried to be the sport-leaning alternative. The Q45 launched alongside the LS400 with a 4.5-liter V8 making 278 horsepower, the most powerful Japanese sedan engine available at the time. The brand found its identity with the G35 in 2003. Built on the FM platform shared with the 350Z, the G35 sedan and coupe used the VQ35DE V6, a six-speed manual was available, and the chassis was tuned for actual driver engagement. The G35 won numerous comparison tests against the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes C-Class. The G37 (2008-2013) refined the formula and added a coupe variant that was widely praised. The Q50 and Q60 (2014-present) continued the rear-drive sport sedan and coupe tradition but moved to the VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6 (in some trims) and the Mercedes-Benz 2.0 turbo four (in entry trims, via the Renault-Nissan-Daimler alliance). Reception has been mixed compared to the older naturally aspirated cars. In the modern era, Infiniti lineup has shifted toward crossovers (QX50, QX55, QX60, QX80). The sport sedan focus has faded, though the Q50 Red Sport 400 and Q60 Red Sport 400 still represent the brand performance peak. On WhipJury, Infiniti submissions are heavy on G35 and G37 builds (often with VQ swap or supercharger), the occasional Q45 stock build, and Red Sport 400 modern examples.