What's the news?
Not the biggest news for us here in Ireland - yet - as Infiniti doesn't have a presence here currently, but this is the new Q30: an 'active compact' vehicle that is the first in a wave of new products coming from the luxury arm of Nissan in the near future. So it might be the car to bring the brand to Ireland...
Exterior
The Q30 has an elevated stance but 'coupé looks', making it a premium crossover; think of it as a glitzier Nissan Qashqai and we're getting somewhere. It's 1,495mm tall in lesser trims, although the range-topping Sport is 20mm lower than that. Black lacquer trim around the wheel arches and side sills is designed to highlight the Q30's imposing stance. Along the sides are swooping swage lines, the glasshouse is slender in relation to the car and there are some distinctive C-pillars to give the Infiniti presence. We must say, it's a striking looking creation.
Interior
Its taller standing allows for a higher hip point (531mm), helping ingress and egress. The dashboard that will then greet you is marked out by what Infiniti calls 'dissymmetry', as lines twisting out and away from the driver eschew the more staid standards of rivals. Out the back is a 368-litre boot and the Q30 makes use of lots of sound-damping material plus Active Noise Cancellation (sounds broadcast from the four door speakers to counteract engine and road noise) to create a cabin that is '10 per cent quieter than the leading segment competition' at 120km/h. Sportier models get Active Sound Enhancement, designed to do the opposite and bolster the natural notes of the Q30.
Mechanicals
MacPherson front struts and multilink rear suspension has been tuned to strike a balance between ride and handling, with input from more than 750 engineers in Japan and Europe. The steering is a speed-sensitive set-up as standard and engine choices are a 1.6-litre petrol, with either 122- or 156hp, and a choice of 1.5- and 2.2-litre diesels making 109- or 170hp respectively. All are four-cylinder units. On the higher-spec variants in other markets, a 2.0-litre, four-pot petrol with 211hp will also be offered.
As standard, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox will be fitted to the Q30 but a six-speed manual will become available soon after launch. The Infiniti boasts automatic park assistance with around-view monitor, moving object detection, blind spot warning, forward collision warning with forward emergency braking, auto high beam assist and intelligent (radar) cruise control.
Anything else?
Roland Krueger, the president of Infiniti, said at the car's Frankfurt debut: "Q30 makes a daring visual statement through its sculpted, concept car-like exterior, unconventional stance and asymmetric cabin design. The car has been engineered to exacting standards to deliver a driving experience that is unmistakably Infiniti. Q30 will accelerate the company's strategy to become a leading global manufacturer of premium cars."