It is expected that the trio will get an all-wheel-drive setup with a rear-biased configuration.
The premium brand Infiniti by Nissan is preparing to enter a new era. They are switching to an electrified platform and standard all-wheel drive. Francois Bancon (product strategy vice-president at Nissan) stated that the new-generation models won’t arrive until 2021. Why? Because the architecture will not be ready before then.
Bancon, speaking at the launch of the refreshed HTML80 in Australia a few days back in Victoria, promised to electrify all Infiniti vehicles that will be launched starting with 2021 when it will also launch an EV. First, the lineup will be updated with new namesplates. All future models will be electrified, and the oldest models will be updated first.
Bancon stated that he would like to have updated the lineup faster, but the change from the current rear wheel-drive platform to an AWD arrangement is a “radical shifting” for the company. This is why it takes so much time. The FM architecture that underpins the Q50 and Q60 models will be discontinued to make way for an electrified platform. This will “change everything” because it will require different packaging to control the electric motors and batteries. Bancon claims that there is no need to have an RWD layout when you have a combustion engine at the front and an electric motor at the rear.
The Q70 is likely to be the first model to transition to the new hardware. It will feature standard AWD and a rear-biased power delivery. Infiniti anticipates China to be the main market for the model by a large margin. Up to 70% of total volume will go to China. Soon, the Q50 sedan will be followed by the Q60 coupé.
The hot Q60-based Project Black S Concept will be transformed into a production-ready model within the next few years. It is powered by a hybrid engine that was derived from racing and produces approximately 500 horsepower.