Intent on creating a more focused nomenclature system for its products, Infiniti has announced that its entire vehicle portfolio will be renamed for the 2014 model year. The automaker’s new alpha-numeric system will use the initial letter "Q" to denote sedan, coupe and convertible models and "QX" to designate crossovers and SUV. Each will be teamed it with a double-digit number that designates the vehicle’s relative position in the overall Infiniti lineup. The first vehicle to debut this new designation will be the 2014 Q50 – an all-new replacement sport sedan for the existing G sedan.
Infiniti’s name gaming effort will continue throughout the remainder of the year with the Infiniti M becoming the Q70 and the G-Series Coupe and Convertible retagged as Q60 models. On the crossover/SUV side of the ledger, the QX56 will transition into QX80 status, the FX becomes the QX70, the JX35 gets a QX60 designation and the EX will be become the new QX50.
In commenting on the new approach, Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company Limited, stated: "Over the past few months, we have talked at length with our retailers, our customers, and our business partners about our brand. The need for a new identity and direction to promote consumer familiarity with our model range as we expand the portfolio became evident. To achieve this, we clearly needed a simple and consistent nomenclature framework. After exhaustive research and evaluation, we concluded that ‘Q’ captured the inspiration within the next generation of Infiniti models, as well as emphasizing our performance credentials while harking back to our heritage with the Q45 – Infiniti’s first iconic flagship product in 1989."
In a separate statement on the renaming presented directly to owners and fans of the Infiniti brand, de Nysschen dropped a few additional hints as to what we can expect to see from the automaker in the months ahead. Among other things, he promised advanced technology engines that will be smaller, lighter, more fuel efficient and more powerful as well as a number of "exhilarating performance machines." The most intriguing of which was a direct reference to a high-tech flagship with a 3.0-liter/550+ horsepower force-fed V6 that would be the ultimate iteration of the new Q70 contingent.
