European Infiniti models to get diesels in 2010
Nissan finally launched their premium Infiniti brand in Europe this week with the world debut of the new FX at the Geneva Motor Show. Nissan (and Renault) boss Carlos Ghosn obviously knows that if you're going to take on the likes of BMW and Audi on their home turf, you had better have the right product. While it's questionable whether the FX50 and EX37 are the right products for Europe, one element that will definitely help their chances, is the availability of diesel power. In Geneva, Ghosn confirmed that the European Infiniti lineup will be getting a new diesel being developed by Nissan and Renault starting in 2010. The diesel, likely the 3.0L shown by Renault last fall and already announced for the U.S.-market Nissan Maxima, will be tweaked for the Infiniti models, likely yielding somewhere over 250hp and making it competitive with the dual turbo 3.0L offered by BMW in the 535d and other models. Whether U.S.-bound Infinitis will get diesels is unknown as Nissan has previously indicated that their in-house developed hybrid system would go into some of those models.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Greg G 7:53PM (3/06/2008)
This is a nicely done vehicle. I still do not care for the typical non-domestic logic that this car possesses. Smart key but no delayed ACC mode, etc. I drove the 3.5 L, and it felt like it had a lot more HP than it does. I really like the touch screen nav, and also the option to use the controls.
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rgseidl 9:23PM (3/06/2008)
I still don't understand why Ghosn decided to let Infiniti enter the European market without a single diesel available. The gasoline options on offer are all high-displacement guzzlers, nothing under 310hp. At European fuel prices only a select few can even consider this brand at the moment.
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MikeW 1:56PM (3/07/2008)
I am still looking for the gear ratios of the 7 speed auto.
and Nissan is going to throttling via variable intake valve lift (like Valvetronic)
so the mileage shouldn't be that bad, relatively speaking
It is an interesting marketing twist.
Only the people with enough financial means can/will purchase these vehicles.
It might engender the 'brand' with a certain panache, and then when the diesel finally come, the sales volume will increase.
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