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❤❤❤❤❤love your videos
i work in a garage in the uk and one day we had 4 infiniti's come in, all separate people, never worked on one before or since lol
As a former Infiniti owner (G37), and current Nissan owner (Navara), I truly love both vehicles. Infiniti and also to extent Nissan brand fall from grace is nothing to be surprised. Their cars are rather uninspiring for most people, despite having good vehicle dynamics and are rather reliable, just not best at anything in particular, no "wow" factor to differentiate themselves really.
You mentioned Infinity Entering the Australian Market. They did not stay long. Infinity Flopped probably because it was way to late to introduce a Lexus and Euro brand preferred market. Also by that time, Australia was Grey importing the Nissan Equivalent in smaller numbers which were considerably cheaper.
Edwardes couldn't even organise a haircut! Says it all.
Interesting I always wondered about the Infinity brand & I believe you are the first to do a video on there line...Liked
The original J30 has "interesting looks" because it looks like a slightly melted Ford Scorpio... which they then evoked again on the Q45! Were they aware that the Scorpio's design was... unpopular? I liked Infiniti's 2010s design language (especially the Essense and Emerg-E concept cars) and was intrigued when they arrived in the UK, but they had all of 7 dealers nationwide and, ultimately, nobody really cared. But Britiain is especially hard for premium brands that aren't German or JLR - witness Genesis now giving it a go; I can't remember seeing one out on the road at all...
It's a shame Nissan-Infinity never ever consistently the S chassis, as the Silvia was overlooked/unsuitable for the pulsar/ primea. Shame they discontinued the model, as the 86/BRZ/FRS has sold like hot cakes.. an S16 ..mmm
Infiniti tried twice in Australia, firstly in 1993 until 1996 and then came back for another go in 2012 and lasted until 2020. Mazda's luxury brand in Australia was Eunos, which was introduced in 1992 only to leave in 1996. Honda's luxury brand Acura has never been sold in Australia and even Lexus to this day has never really troubled the '3 Big Germans' - Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of sales in Australia. Lexus had a record year in Australia in 2023 with just over 15,000 sales.
Citroën is shown it is so advanced before its time
Hi 👋 the G35 is actually the Skyline V35, similar but not a 350z. Same with the G36/V36. But I didn't know about the convertible model, a Nissan Skyline convertible.. nice 👍 cheers 🍻
Yes, true, the V35 was designed as the replacement for the R34 Skyline generation, and it included the 4 door saloon G35 version seen here, aswell the coupe G35 version. The Nissan Skyline family was actually a whole host of cars, that included sedans, less powerful coupes, and even a wagon version called Stagea, it was not just the legendary GTR version that everyone knows about :)
@fontheking5 yes the 260RS autech version of the Stagia has the rb26 and all wheel drive from the BNR33 gtr. I'd never seen a convertible 35/36/37 before. I was looking at importing a V36 coupe in 2015 when I owned a Toyota Aristo (147-30V), that I only very recently reluctantly parted ways with. I'll definitely be checking out your next video 👍
28:36 the Q30 was based on the MFA plattform but on the „high“ variant meaning the GLA. So instead of showing an image of a W176 a X156 should be presented
I rented a Q70 for a day, such a disappointing car. Performance was meh, handling was floaty, interior was as ugly as the exterior. Did have a decent sound system though and some of the luxury features were nice (especially the ventilated seats during a 40 degree Aussie summers day). But the kicker was the price, only a little more than a Holden Calais V V8.... which drove and looked better. No wonder they flopped in Australia
There's something about the shapes of the earlier models that isn't quite right. Where the QX56 rear door curve meets the box welded on to the back, looks like it as designed by 2 people that couldn't agree. Terrible. The sports SUV has too long a bonnet, with a curious depression before the windscreen. To me, they all look a bit of of sync. The best proportioned one is the G35, and that's a bit plain. A mongoloid Lexus at the front, and the upswept Audiesque rear. There shapes are about as on point as their marketing. Naa
Protectionism and prejudice played a massive part here. The Lexus LS400 struggled for market share even though it was in most respects superior to the competition. Infinity should be more popular, but they were never assessed without bias. On a different note, why are you using American language? Will you be throwing in some German words when reviewing BMWs, or French when reviewing Peugeots? You are English, please speak English.
My cousin had a first generation Scénic. At first glance it looked like a perfect family car. Nice to drive and ok comfort. But after owning it a few years it ended upp not beeing such a good choice... Quality issues was there, nothing extreme but when things needed to be repaired the cost was always very high. And you often had to whait a long time for parts beeing delivered. And the fuel consumption with the small 1,6l engine was not good at all. It was their first Ranault and also the last.
Why would the G20 have a V6 or V8?? C'mon, it was a compact sedan....similar to the Sentra. No way it was gonna have anything larger than a 4 cylinder engine.
I have an Audi TT and I get compliments daily on how beautiful my car is. Audi would be wise to electricity their first version of the TT with minimal changes, they would sell like crazy!
My uncle have one v8 auto in Burgundy colour
To be fair, lexus also only succeeded US and middle east market, beyond that they also struggling even in the south east asia market where toyota is reigning but not lexus
That "Bloody Hell, is that John Davis" cut in the middle of a sentence had me laughing that I rewound the video. 😂😅
I had a rental Infiniti once - in Scotland. It was the 2.2L Mercedes turbo diesel varient. I rather liked it. BUT - I'm from Canada and diesel cars are verboten now. So I have a BMW 330e. I think it's nicer than anything Datsun ever put out. Cheers!
its a shame as some good designs, but wrong engines and gearbox
I see 🙏 in the logo
...and the A-Class based Infinitis look like Mazdas!
30:29 they bought a new leader? Where do you buy leaders from? 😂
They’re not cheap!
😎😎😎😎👍👍👍👍
Recently, I've felt kind of bad for Sachsenring, Wartburg, and Barkas. They had multiple chances to update and sell new models to their people, but either other concepts were planned, expenses were too high, or nothing would've gotten done in the 5 year plans. I've been fascinated by Eastern European cars for what they were able to get away with under communist rule. Sometimes, the economy would even allow coupes and sports models to be put into production. (Heck, I'd even go as far as to say that Czechoslovakia had the most creative freedom when it came to innovation! 😄) This makes it all the more sad for East Germany since barely any mass-produced innovative cars were built after the 60s. I would love to pitch the concept that after tensions between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO die down, small production of these prototype cars should be sold to the older population and car enthusiasts. It's still a new concept, but hey, Allard does it. Anything can be possible if you're willing to take risks and not give up. If you are interested in alternative history, however, I did find a neat article on Fandom's Alternative History wiki on how things could've gone.
Such a beautiful car. Sad it flopped. :(
28:11 😅
To me, it seems Infiniti's biggest problem was every single car was pug ugly.
yes- none of them look 'good' . . . . . ; )
well done for your delivery on such a woeful story
If Infiniti had used the following line-up: *G* G20 > 2.0-litre 4-pot / 150 PS (MR20DE) G23 > 2.3-litre V6 / 170 PS (VQ23DE) G25 > 2.5-litre V6 / 218 PS (VQ25HR) G30 > 3.0-litre V6 / 258 PS (VQ30HR) G35 > 3.5-litre V6 / 306 PS (VQ35HR) G20d > 2.0-litre 4-pot / 150 PS (M9R) G20ds > 2.0-litre 4-pot / 177 PS (M9R) G30d > 3.0-litre V6 / 238 PS (V9X) G30ds > 3.0-litre V6 / 279 PS (V9X) *M* M23 > 2.3-litre V6 / 170 PS M25 > 2.5-litre V6 / 218 PS M30 > 3.0-litre V6 / 258 PS M35 > 3.5-litre V6 / 286 PS (VQ35DE) M45 > 4.5-litre V8 / 340 PS (VK45DE) M56 > 5.6-litre V8 / 450 PS (VK56DE) M20d > 2.0-litre 4-pot / 177 PS M30d > 3.0-litre V6 / 238 PS M30ds > 3.0-litre V6 / 279 PS M40d > 4.0-litre V8 / 320 PS (what the V9X project started out as) *EX* EX23 > 2.3-litre V6 / 170 PS EX25 > 2.5-litre V6 / 218 PS EX30 > 3.0-litre V6 / 258 PS EX35 > 3.5-litre V6 / 306 PS EX20d > 2.0-litre 4-pot / 177 PS EX30d > 3.0-litre V6 / 238 PS EX30ds > 3.0-litre V6 / 279 PS *FX* FX30 > 3.0-litre V6 / 258 PS FX35 > 3.5-litre V6 / 286 PS FX45 > 4.5-litre V8 / 340 PS FX56 > 5.6-litre V8 / 450 PS FX30d > 3.0-litre V6 / 238 PS FX30ds > 3.0-litre V6 / 279 PS FX40d > 4.0-litre V8 / 320 PS ...and stuck with it through facelifts etc then they might have had a chance in the European market
*Nissan Juke appears* RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!
Fantastic story, well done to all those hero's that developed this car, even today these cars are much sourt after 😊
Infiniti simply screwed up one thing: no electrified models to flex their muscles. There's Q60's steer-by-wire, maybe, but that's it.
When they started the whole Q rebrand, that's when the dealer network went to pot in North America. It was always a great experience, but suddenly it was a hard sell to push something on the lot instead of what you really wanted. I walked out at that point and never went back
Infiniti used to sell in Malaysia and Singapore between 2011-2020, when they withdrew after they stopped making rhd vehicles. In Singapore, their dealer was wearnes, rather than tan chong (who is the agent for Nissan), strange enough.
The Q50 and Q70 were truly underrated cars. I hope Infiniti picks up sales one day.
Infiniti had a rather bizarre marketing strategy at the beginning.
I knew someone who had J30. He liked it and it was excellent car but Nissan killed it with high prices of parts and maintenance. Guy traded it for second generation Honda CRV .
The first batch of Lexus, Infiniti, and Acuras were basically rebadged uptrim versions of the domestic models of Japan because they wanted to sell Japan made models with as much profit possible.
Wrong on the Lexus there. The original Lexus LS was nothing like anything Toyota had made before as they spent the best part of a decade developing it to be on par with the then current S-Class, and the JDM Toyota badged version was actually the rebadged one. And it was far from cheaply made.
@@ayrproductionsWell yeah. Apart from the LS.
Extremely ugly cars.
I’d love to have an original Q45. How bout a story about Amati, and the V12 which almost made it to production?
I feel like Infiniti could never have hoped to achieve the same market share as Lexus or Acura, simply because Nissan wasn't as strong of a company as Toyota or Honda. Didn't Toyota do a LOT of market research before launching their flagship first generation LS? It's no wonder that car was a hit. And, being an aspirational model, it encouraged sales of the smaller, cheaper Lexus models that followed. Had the first Q45 been a more competitive car, and the company's early model lineup been more cohesive, could we have seen Infiniti grow to become the brand it was always intended to be?
The issue all traces back to the decision making at Toyota versus Nissan. The G50 Q was a moonshot project by and developed within Japan, despite the target being the US market. Toyota crafted their equal moonshot at the US market... in the actual US. Everything else followed those decisions with logical consequences.
I was a kid in the 2000s but I'm fairly certain peak Infiniti reputation was their cars released in the 2000s. I saw a lot of them growing up. I really don't see many anymore. They exist. But eh.
Some of us still live that golden era every day... been dailying a 2013 G37xS sedan since Oct 2016, rad replacement has been the biggest bill and it's never left me stranded. 200,100 km on the clock. The low miles 07 HR 350Z roadster next to it completes the full late 2000's meal deal for this guy... VQ37VHR & VQ35HR. Not a spec of rust on either, and I'm in ON Canada. Happy as a pig in feces.
Superb videos. Stunning research. Best car channel on KZread.🥰 (Teeeeeeeeeeny bit of feedback as long term follower: please, please reconsider mic/mic distance from your mouth, that wet lip-slapping ASMR, specific to your audio, makes a 30 minute video sound too 'seductive yoghurt advert'.... the wetness in 'coupe' pronounced 'coop', and 'Peugeot' pronounced 'puh-joe'... If the moist-mouth ASMR bubbling is eliminated, I'll become Patron!!)
Thanks for the feedback. I’ll take a look.
Elgin : "I told you, Lexus doesn't make a convertible." Barlow : "Yes they do, it has room in the back for a kid's seat." Elgin : "Infiniti has a convertible but not Lexus."
I had a q50 3.5 4x4 hybrid in the UK about 6 years ago, a very rare sight here! Kept it for a year and thoroughly enjoyed it, very quick in a straight line (even surprised a few BMW M cars) but not so good around the twisty bits, plenty of grip but felt odd due to the FBW steering. Sold it at the right time and it cost me very little as an overall ownership experience. Most surprising was the 40 mpg (UK gallons)…