26 Votes

Are They Serious? Infiniti Plans to Take BMW Head on!

Agent009 submitted on 1/26/2007 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 1:19:09 PM

38 user comments | Category: Spy Shots | Source: | SOURCE: www.autoexpress.co.uk

The Japanese firm's upmarket Infiniti brand will be launched in the UK in autumn 2008, and these sketches hint at two models that will make up part of the range.

Insiders describe Infiniti as the 'Japanese BMW' and think of Lexus as more of a 'Japanese Mercedes'. By this they mean the Nissan-owned brand will focus on driver involvement and entertaining handling in an upmarket package, rather than outright luxury. As a result, all of Infiniti's models will either be rear or four-wheel drive. The official sketch shows the Infiniti G Coupé, which will be unveiled at the New York Motor Show in April.

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WHA???
— Talli (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 1:35:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I dont think they can but they surely have a better chance than Cadillac who wants to do it too.
— BMW_DRVR (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 1:41:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3

Hey why not? If they can build the Skyline, why not applying the same effort with a more luxery twist to it.
— silverarrow2 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 10:28:30 PM | | Votes: 3

I don't know man..that new 08 CTS is looking like the real deal.
— paul3230 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 12:06:33 PM | | Votes: 1

Nothing is impossible. How good of a job will be dependent on what us-consumers think.
— AdmiralT20 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 1:54:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I hope them a good luck.

Infiniti just make the new G35 Coupe very near to the concept u showed us, better than the BMW 3 coupe and u r there.

M35/45 and FX 35/45 is already good enough.

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 2:16:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

This is true, Lexus was introduced to compete with MB and Infiniti with BMW.
— Designer1 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 3:46:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Good luck. When it comes to automobiles the Europeans aren't so easily persuaded. Their luxury and sport car heritage is unmatched.
— BM3W (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 4:01:43 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I don't know, I've driven the G35 and the 3 series, and while there were some things I liked better about the 3, I would take the G35. The exhaust note alone makes it feel more special, and I thought it was more enjoyable to flog. Yes, badge snobs won't have to think twice before stumping for the spinning propellor, but that only makes me want the Infiniti more.
— lizthevw (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 5:27:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

Oh....shit....now infiniti is really going to gave BMW and other German brand a beating they deserve. Nissan difinitely know how to make a sport car for sure. Just think the Nissan Skyline GT-R. I think that Honda will probably on the bandwogon soon. What I mean by that is, they will improve their Acura lineup to compete with the German as well.

The invastion to Japanese sportcars has begun... With Infiniti officially announcing they will take on BMW head with their own high performance car. Acura will jump into the bandwagon really with their sportcars. Lexus has already begun their assault by releasing the their high performance Lexus brand. The IS-F, GS-F, LS-F and Lexus LF-A.

Ah....he..he...he...he...he...

Lexus
Lexus
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 6:20:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7

correction. With Infiniti officially announcing they will take BMW head on.

Lexus
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 6:22:30 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

yea go infiniti, i think that infiniti is a little under rated.
— trd1 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 6:29:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I don't think Infiniti is ready for BMW yet. Maybe in a couple of years, but right now, they need to improve their vehicles.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 6:59:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I think Infiniti has a much better chance at making sportier cars than BMW, than Lexus.

Lexus does luxury far better than Infiniti, but Infiniti does sportiness and overall fun much better than Lexus.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 7:29:49 PM | | Votes: 1

That may be true, but Infiniti needs quality to compete with BMW, and that is something they just don't have.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 10:19:38 PM | | Votes: -3

Hardly. They may not be as luxurious as Audi, Lexus or Mercedes, but anything that's considered a "luxury car" is of high quality.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 12:53:14 AM | | Votes: 1

Yeah, but Infiniti needs to make more improvements on their cars to make them more popular. Yes, I know, the G sold more than the IS, but still, Infiniti isn't recognized as one of the luxury cars or the sport sedans. If they want more people to turn to them, they need to make a better quality car so they can actually compete with the higher quality cars.
— lexusis350 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 1:30:31 AM | | Votes: 0

"Infiniti isn't recognized as one of the luxury cars or the sport sedans"...... R U nuts?

G35 has been a legitimate sport sedan since 2002, long ahead of Lexus.

G35 is no doubt the #2 sport sedan after BMW 335. As much as I like IS 350, it can only qualify for this competition when it switches to hydraulic steering system in the future.

I wish to see that change in the new IS coupe.
— dlin (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2007 12:08:17 AM | | Votes: 1

Who isn't?

In order of intensity, in going after BMW:

1. Audi

2. Lexus

3. Infiniti

4. Cadillac

5. Jaguar

Geez, I guess Mercedes should have the tagline "Never Follow" from now on!
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/26/2007 7:29:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I would probably move Cadillac into second ahead of Lexus. The reason is that Cadillac already has an established performance brand (V-series) and has raced the CTS in SCCA events, where as Lexus has just re-introduced (think the now failed L-Tuned) the IS-350 as an "F" model.
— paul3230 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 12:10:01 PM | | Votes: 1

Well, Lexus has clearly stated that "we're going after BMW", but Cadillac hasn't said such a thing. I know Cadillac's cars are more fun to drive, but they seem less intent on beating BMW than Lexus. They just build good cars for the sake of building good cars.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 3:31:51 PM | | Votes: 1

...I don't know if I would put Jaguar behind Cadillac Infinity or Lexus. I admit I really don't have much experience with Infinity. I would imagine that with Cadillac it has high dependence upon the model. But I don't think Lexus or Cadillac produce a large four-door vehicle that could out-perform the Jag Super-V8 for example [0-60 in 5.0 sec] Admittedly, such things don't necessarily transform directly into "intensity".

My lawyer has a brand new, just delivered, XKR. He thinks it is more exiting to drive than his 1960 something Ferrari, or so he told me. I never had the opporitunity to drive his Ferrari, but I would imagine that he is a bit full of it: he is a lawyer. Be that as it may, I will say that that car has the single most beautiful sound I have every heard from a vehicle: it is actually designed to growl. It is so sexy.
— cdoke (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 4:22:45 PM | | Votes: 1

...Perhaps I stand corrected about Cadillac with their STS-V. Although, reading some of the stuff, there seems to be disagreement about how fast it actually is. The specifications are for less than 5 seconds however, although edmunds couldn't duplicate it. They probably tested it at sea level.
— cdoke (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 4:33:39 PM | | Votes: 1

...Tested by GM that is...@ S.L.
— cdoke (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 4:35:16 PM | | Votes: 1

Well, Jaguar isn't specifically "going after" BMW. They, like Cadillac, are simply making sporty cars. Lexus is specifically trying to go after BMW, although they're not doing a great job. They should stick to Mercedes.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 6:14:00 PM | | Votes: 1

I remember if not wrong, the Nissan skyline GT-R hold the record on the track with the fastest time. They hold title for awhile too, and after that the Porche beat or something like that. I forget.
— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 1:18:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

You are not tripping. You are correct man!
— GTR35 (View Profile)

Posted on 1/27/2007 10:23:29 PM | | Votes: 1

I am so sick of all the bashing on this site. I'm ashamed that sometimes I get into it.

I just want to pull my hair out!
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 1/28/2007 6:14:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

"BMW in it's entire history of making automobile has yet to figure out how to make a vehicle that performs anywhere close to a GT-R or any Skyline GT-R/V-SPEC etc. of the past."
Ever heard of McLaren F1? World's fastest car for many many years.It was 100% BMW Technics.BMW knows it's terrain and it could challenge any car segment because they have the experience.How come Nissan didn't release a new Skyline since the first model? Ever wondered why?
— Kostin (View Profile)

Posted on 1/29/2007 6:28:05 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

Actually the McLaren F1 is British Built and Engineered by McLaren Cars Ltd car with the motor being the only piece of that car that was designed by BMW. Which doesn't make it a BMW. Then compare the price less than 100k for GTR vs the 1 million for the F1 and for 1 sec difference in 0-60mph. Oh did I mention V6 vs V12. I think if you want to compare apples to apples then compare the GTR with the M3.

What most also forget is that Nissan in General has always made great cars and excellent motors and much more reliable than the Bimmers. I've owned 2 bimmers in the last 7 yrs and I've spent more time in the shop than driving them. It should also be noted that Nissan has always been after the mid income markets as opposed to the over priced BMW's which have always been geared toward upper middle class and above. Are BMW's they great cars IMO they're not great but they are overall a very good car with impressive performance, but it took them over 15yrs to earn the awards and accolades. Don't underestimate Nissan/Infiniti their G has only been around since 2002 and they're very quickly bridging that gap. Just my 2 cents.
— dvst8u (View Profile)

Posted on 2/2/2007 10:38:40 AM | | Votes: 1

ok ok, first make the car, then think about comparing. Dream on
— BMWRocks (View Profile)

Posted on 1/29/2007 1:55:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

@dvst8u:First of all the example was for RICEMASTER who said that "BMW in it's entire history of making automobile has yet to figure out how to make a vehicle that performs anywhere close to a GT-R or any Skyline GT-R/V-SPEC etc. of the past." I was pointing out the fact that BMW has all the experience needed to build a supercar.
About the F1,It doesn't make it a BMW it only makes it 90 % percent BMW because i don't know what's the most important thing in a supercar if not the engine and gearbox.Aerodynamics is also very important but i think it's much easy to design than to build a perfect engine and gearbox and BMW did that in '92 and no other car was faster untill 2005!!! when Koenigsegg CCR was first produced.

To compare BMW with Nissan in any aspect....well i'm going to answer that because it's obvious that it's idiotic.
— Kostin (View Profile)

Posted on 2/3/2007 7:01:51 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Are They Serious? Infiniti Plans to Take BMW Head on!

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