Say hello to the Infiniti Q50 2.0t, the variant that will spearhead Q50 sales in Malaysia. With a Mercedes-derived 2.0 litre turbocharged engine under the hood, this is the first and only Infiniti model in our market that doesn't come with a large naturally-aspirated engine, immediately raising its chances in a competitive segment dominated by the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
This writer was driving past the Infiniti Center on Jalan Tun Razak when he spotted two fresh units of the compact exec beside the striking red Q50 3.5 Hybrid Sport that we recently tried (stay tuned for the test drive report). Made a loop for another look and spotted 2.0t badges on the cars, which led to these pics. Fresh to the showroom, I was told.
The Q50 2.0t is powered by a 2.0 turbo engine with 211 hp and 350 Nm of torque from 1,250 to 3,500 rpm. The direct-injection four-pot is paired to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with manual mode and Downshift Rev Matching. The drivetrain is from Mercedes-Benz, and can be found in the W212 E-Class facelift. The upcoming W205 C 200 is expected to carry this combo as well.
Zero to 100 km/h is done in 7.2 seconds and top speed is 245 km/h. Claimed combined fuel consumption figure is 13.6 km/l. That's comparable to the 184 hp/270 Nm BMW 320i, which is good for 7.3 seconds and 235 km/h. The W204 Mercedes C200 does 7.8 seconds and 235 km/h, so they're all in the same ballpark. Like the German duo, the Q50 is a rear-wheel drive sedan.
The Q50 2.0t Standard, at RM248,800 on-the-road without insurance, looks like good value for a CBU Japan import, and that's before you scan the very decent spec sheet.
Auto LED headlamps, keyless entry and push start, 10-way powered driver's seat with memory (8-way for passenger), power steering adjustment, dual LCD screens, rear view monitor and tyre pressure monitor (TPMS) are all standard. Customers can choose from three leather colours - black, grey and beige - to go with the nicely-textured "Kacchu" aluminium trim.
Should that be not enough, Infiniti is offering a RM30,000 upgrade package that includes 18-inch alloys (with obvious Enkei branding, 17-inch on Standard), a 14-speaker Bose sound system and Direct Adaptive Steering, among other things.
The latter "steer by wire" system is the headlining tech act in the Q50. Opeation is entirely electric, though there's still a mechanical link for the direct steering in the form of a safety clutch - our man Jonathan likes this pioneering system, and you can read his review of the Q50 Hybrid here.
Both the 2.0t Standard and 2.0t Premium have the regular Q50 face, as opposed to the Q50 3.5 Hybrid's "Sport" appearance, which comes with a more aggressive front bumper and 19-inch alloys. We're expecting the Hybrid to be priced at under RM400k, which means that it will be a rare sight. The 2.0t on the other hand, is competitively kitted and priced, and has the right drivetrain to take on the mainstream Germans.
Infiniti Q50 2.0T Standard
Infiniti Q50 2.0T Premium
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