Infiniti begins production of new six-pot powerplant

JAPANESE luxury car-maker Infiniti has begun production of its new twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine for its updated Q50 luxury sedan and fresh Q60 sports coupe later this year.

The VR30 engine borrows technology from the iconic Nissan GT-R’s VR38 engine – also a twin-turbo V6, albeit with 3.8-litres of displacement – and is the lightest, more powerful, cleanest and most fuel efficient V6 engine that Infiniti has ever offered, according to Nissan’s premium marque.

Arriving first in the revised Q50 sedan and later in the new Q60 coupe – both due before year’s end – the new boosted engine will be available in two states of tune, 224kW and 298kW.

This means the new range-topping V6 will significantly outmuscle the current cream of Infiniti’s six-cylinder crop, a 268kW 3.5-litre V6 hybrid in the top-spec Q50.

The current Infiniti Q60 range – formerly known as G37 – shares the same underpinnings and engine as Nissan’s 245kW 3.7-litre V6 powered 370Z sportscar, although with 235kW.

In its milder 224kW tune, the new VR30 engines likely improve fuel consumption while still matching current performance figures.

Infiniti Motor Company president Roland Krueger said the new VR30 engine would underpin a renewed product push for the luxury brand.

“Infiniti is in the middle of a major product offensive, significantly expanding and refreshing our product portfolio,” he said. “With the new V6 engine, Infiniti vehicles will become even more powerful and more fun to drive.”

Nissan’s Iwaki plant in Japan is producing the new range of engines, the same factory that has made Nissan’s VQ V6 for more than 20 years.

Since being launched in Australia in late 2012, Infiniti has slowly increased its footprint against stalwart prestige marques BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and fellow Japanese compatriot Lexus.

Last year, Infiniti sold 574 vehicles, a 30.2 per cent increase over 2014. For the first two months of this year, Infiniti has sold 88 units, a 3.5 per cent increase year on year.