Nissan’s Luxury Division Is Staging Its Biggest Comeback in Decades

Infiniti’s lineup will double before 2030.

Infiniti USA

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Published 22 hours ago

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Infiniti’s lineup is currently a bit sparse. However, Nissan’s luxury division is looking to change that in a very sizable way.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Infiniti is planning what could likely be its biggest comeback in decades. It involves a sizable expansion of the range before the end of the 2020s.

Restoring Infiniti to its former glory

Infiniti commenced its lineup overhaul with the recent launch of the new QX65.

Chris Chin

It wasn’t too long ago that Infiniti offered a rather comprehensive lineup. The company’s model range was just as diverse as those of its rivals, with offerings in the compact and midsize premium sedan space.

It also had a full-size SUV based on the Nissan Armada and a whole fleet of crossover SUVs. However, many such models aged out over the last few years, and Infiniti’s offerings have since been slim pickings.

Today, only three models remain on sale: the midsize QX60, the QX65 and the QX80. Additionally, because Nissan has been in a bit of a financial pickle, Infiniti took the brunt of the problem.

Red Infiniti Q50S sedan parked on a paved road with hills and trees in the background at sunset. — Infiniti’s next big debut will reportedly be a new rear-wheel-drive sedan with turbo V6 power and an optional manual transmission.

The result was a lineup that went stale and new models that came across as underwhelming. It’s the complete opposite of what Infiniti used to be, especially during the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s.

Now, Nissan is hoping to recapture some of the Infiniti’s glory with a full lineup refresh.

Reviving Infiniti as a performance brand

Matte dark blue Infiniti SUV with black multi-spoke wheels and tinted windows on a dark background. — Infiniti is also working on a high-po variant of its QX80 flagship SUV to rival the Cadillac Escalade V.

According to Infiniti USA’s CEO, Eric Ledieu, the brand is preparing to launch seven new models before 2030 arrives. The plan is to fill out the range and restore the badge’s presence and appeal to what it once was.

“Infiniti was lacking product,” Ledieu told Freep. “We’ve got three vehicles in the showroom today. We’ll have seven by the end of the decade.”

So far, we already know the new model range includes a driving enthusiast-aimed V6-powered sedan (and possibly coupe), which will even come with the option for three pedals. Rumors already point to a new Q50 sedan, the model that was once celebrated as the G35 and G37 sedan.

Silver two-door sports coupe parked on a desert road at sunset with tinted windows and alloy wheels. — Infiniti’s hoping to revamp its lineup and recapture its glory as a performance brand.

The Q50/G35/G37 were essentially Japanese Domestic Market Nissan Skyline sedans and coupes repurposed and rebadged as Infinitis. But because they offered rear-wheel drive performance with optional manual transmissions, and potent turbo-fours and V6s, they became known as a big-time performance bargain.

The other models reportedly include a new compact gas-electric hybrid SUV as a replacement for the old QX50 and two new body-on-frame SUVs. The recently introduced QX65 and the next-gen QX60 will also count towards the new lineup.

Additionally. Ledieu pledged to remind everyone that Infiniti is a performance brand aimed at enthusiasts. It’s a perception that’s been a part of the carmaker’s image since it launched in the 1980s.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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