Detroit 2016: Infiniti Q60 is one of many new coupe debuts
Infiniti Q60 joins Lexus, Acura and Buick in championing the coupe format in Detroit
The coupe is something of a trend format at this year’s NAIAS, with the Acura Precision and Buick Avista concepts and Lexus and Infiniti showing production models.
The Q60 represents the end of an era as the final part of Infiniti’s new naming strategy – the car replaces the old G Coupe, the last of the G-Series cars to be sold.
The Q60 was closely previewed by a concept of the same name at last year’s NAIAS. The production car represents a step forward over its predecessor, with marginally better proportions.
There’s also a slight evolution of some of Infiniti’s signature design elements – an impressively deep section to the bodyside is applied this time around, helping to really accentuate the car’s wheelarches as the bodyside moves between negative and positive shapes. Flowing creases have been added to the crescent shape C-pillar graphic, too, again reinforcing that sense of dynamism that was missing from the previous-generation car.
The interior doesn’t represent a big step forward, as much of it is derived from the Q50 sedan on which the coupe is based. This is perhaps best shown by the slightly awkward meeting of the flowing, overlapping coupe door card with the regular sedan IP when you shut the door.
Nothing earth-shattering maybe, but the Q60 is a welcome addition to what appears to be a hot market segment – we’re keen to see if this trend continues as we move to Europe and the Geneva Motor Show in March.