Infiniti Flagship Sedan to Sport 700-HP Hybrid Powertrain
Could Infiniti create a vehicle that competes with the Porsche Panamera?
That’s exactly what the Japanese automaker is planning with its upcoming flagship sedan that could be powered with a hybrid powertrain packing at least 700 hp. Recent reports have the 2016 GT-R sporting a hybrid powertrain with at least 800 hp, and considering Infiniti has already shoehorned the current GT-R engine into a Q50 Eau Rouge concept, it wouldn’t be a stretch to believe the automaker is thinking of doing the same for its flagship sedan.
SEE ALSO: Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Reveals the GT-R Inside
The high-performance luxury sedan will debut in the near future, but don’t expect it to be so far high end as to be a Mercedes-Benz S-Class competitor. High performance and sport will be the keywords for the new model, rather than ultra luxury and exorbitant. While the 700-hp hybrid powertrain will sport a new 3.7-liter V6 twin-turbo engine, a newly-developed 3.0-liter V6 turbo hybrid will also be available with around 550 hp. Since the GT-R’s current V6 engines are hand built, Infiniti and Nissan chiefs would prefer to create a more accessible, easy-to-build engine that will have lower emissions and better fuel economy than what the GT-R offers currently.
Expect the new flagship sedan model to carry the Q80 or Q90 nameplate with Eau Rouge attached to the end. Pricing will start at around $100,000 for the 3.0-liter model while the more powerful 3.7-liter engine will cost around $150,000.
GALLERY: Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept
[Source: Motor Trend]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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