Customers will be offered two options for their V6 engine.
The order guide for 2020 Infiniti HTML50 appears to be correct. Potential customers will then have one less choice of engine. Cars direct says that the Japanese luxury brand will only offer two engines for 2020, despite the absence of the Q50’s turbocharged 2.0-liter engine.
Customers who want the sedan must choose between the turbocharged 3.0-liter engine producing 300 horsepower (223 Kilowatts) and the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine producing 400 horses (298 kW). According to the publication Infiniti has not confirmed or denied the powertrain changes. Customers will have to pay more for a Q50 because they won’t be able to buy the smaller entry-level model. The Q50 turbo 3.0-liter model starts at $49,045. This is more than $12,000 less than the 2.0-liter turbo version.
Infiniti had hopes to target luxury sedan makers BMW and Mercedes-Benz with the Q50. The landscape has changed significantly since then, with Q50 sales not being able to halt the sedan death slide. Infiniti’s HTML60 and HTML80 crossovers have become the most popular vehicles in the brand’s lineup.
Another reason could be the price difference with the QX50 crossover. The Q50 sedan with the 2.0 liter mill costs $1,000 less than its crossover counterpart. It features a variable compression version 2.0 liter engine that produces more power (268 hp (199kW) as opposed to 208hp (175 kW). The company could remove the turbo 2.0-liter engine to allow customers to buy the crossover and open up a space below the Q50 sedan for potential new products.
Luxury automakers are embracing a simpler approach to their sedan offerings. Cadillac removed trims and engines from its CT6 in 2020 despite facing uncertain future. As consumers move to crossovers, trucks and SUVs, sedan sales are declining. One way for automakers to reduce costs and still meet customer demand is to simplify their sedan portfolio.