2016 Infiniti Q50: First Look

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Competes with: BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Lexus IS

Looks like: No cosmetic changes, the updates are under the hood

Drivetrain: 400-hp, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6; 300-hp, twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6; 208-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four; 360-hp, hybrid 3.5-liter V-6; seven-speed automatic transmission; rear- or all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Winter 2015

Nissan’s luxury brand is updating some of the vehicles in its lineup for 2016 and has shown one of the more significantly changed models ahead of January’s 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Related: More 2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage

The 2016 Infiniti Q50 sport sedan may not look all that different from the 2015 model — in fact, it may not look different at all because the changes to the car are entirely in the engine bay. A trio of updated powertrains are now offered in the sedan, ranging from a stout four-cylinder to a new fire-breathing twin-turbo V-6, along with the returning hybrid powertrain.

Under the Hood

Gone is the venerable VQ line of V-6 engines, after having served Nissan and Infiniti dutifully for over two decades. We’d been wondering when the company would come up with a more modern mill, and here it is: The new VR engines are smaller, more powerful and turbocharged.

The Q50 base model gets a new a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that makes 208-horsepower and a healthy 258 pounds-feet of torque. Like all of the new engines, it’s mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission only, and can be had with rear- or all-wheel drive.

Stepping up from the four-cylinder is a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter VR30 V-6, which makes 300 hp and 295 pounds-feet of torque in the 3.0t trim level. But the one that will likely get enthusiasts’ attention is the version in the creatively named Q50 Red Sport 400 — a twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine that makes 400 hp and 350 pounds-feet of torque.

The only carryover powertrain is the hybrid version, which returns with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 and a lithium-ion battery pack. Employing a dual-clutch transmission and electric motor, it will provide 360 total system horsepower, while ostensibly also providing a fuel-economy boost.

Infiniti didn’t just stop at the engines, however. The automaker also updated the car’s steering and suspension for 2016. The problematic drive-by-wire system has been extensively revised, says the company, with the new Direct Adaptive Steering enjoying considerable logic updates for better feel and responsiveness. It provides some semiautonomous driving functionality as well, working with the lane keep assist system to maintain a car’s position in the lane in the event of strong crosswinds. The Direct Adaptive Steering system can be had with any of the 3.0-liter cars or the hybrid model. The company is still providing a hedge, however, including an electrically assisted power steering system as standard equipment, with the 2.0-liter car sticking with a standard hydraulic steering system.

In addition to the steering changes, Sport trim levels now get the Dynamic Digital Suspension; it’s an adaptive suspension that adjusts shock absorber response to the driver’s selected mode. 

Interior

Cosmetically, the Q50’s interior isn’t much different for 2016, but the brand has updated its aging multimedia system. The new Infiniti InTouch system employs two touch-capacitive screens on the center console to supposedly bring an easy-to-use interface to the driving experience. The upper screen contains most of the more frequently used content, such as apps and navigation, while everything else is displayed on the lower screen. It all works via what Infiniti claims to be intuitive hand gestures, but we reserve the right to make that judgement, given previous experiences with touch-sensitive controls.

Safety

The 2016 Q50 receives some safety updates as well, with a new Driver Assistance Package adding autonomous emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear collision intervention with cross-traffic alert and an around-view monitor with moving object detection. Blind spot warning and intervention with lane keep assist and lane departure prevention are all available in the Technology Package.

The new Q50 2.0t and Hybrid models will arrive in showrooms late this year, with the Red Sport 400 following in early spring 2016 and the 3.0t arriving later that year.