Infiniti Q50 Twin Turbo reviews are out

[12,000 RPM]

I don't recommend that you do this.

I already did it, bro.

[Cookie Monster]

Wait up guys!




Ok, continue.

[68_427]

[565]

113 mph trap speed.  That's like e92 M3 territory.

[GoCougs]

I've has a MY2015 Q50S as a service loaner the last couple of days. Jesus, the cockpit is a mess. What a shame. Ride quality is good but suspension overall is too stiff. ANC works well though. $55k sticker and still no rear LED turn signals. Fronts are LED though, as are fog lights. It's a confusing car. It does handle and grip well though. The new Red Sport 400 is supposed to have adjustable/adaptable suspension of some sort - my hope is it has some soft(er) settings.

[12,000 RPM]

Infiniti has always, always, always had this oscillating relationship with greatness and confusion. Came out strong with the 1st gen Q45 & G20, followed with the ancient M30 and then a slew of cars that ranged between awful and cynical (2nd gen Q, I30, QX4 ). Then they absolutely GAPED the poseur class with the G35, and followed up strong with the M & FX. Now they are confused again, with pretty much every single vehicle in the lineup besides the EX and FX. I think they will come back strong around 2018-2020.... past history shows a cycle of about 15 years, with things getting really bad before they get really good again.

[Char]

Too bad it's ugly still.  Ugh.

[afty]

Pricing is out.  $49k for RWD, $51k for AWD. 
http://www.autoblog.com/2016/04/08/infiniti-q50-red-sport-400-price/

[12,000 RPM]

More worrying specs:

RWD curb weight: 3850lbs, AWD curb weight: 4000lbs

BMW 340i is ~150lbs lighter with auto and damn near 200lb lighter with stickshift, with better weight distribution. Cheaper too :\ Q50 is probably better equipped but I don't know guys. 400HP sounds impressive but I am thinking Infiniti may have jumped the shark

[12,000 RPM]

Peering through specs it appears the 340i has more standard equipment for less money

Only 2" less total legroom, but still a ton.... same trunk space too, though the 340i has a smaller gas tank (16 vs 20 gallons).... fair trade as 340i is about 6" shorter

400HP Red Sport is only just as fast as the "320" HP 340i (low 13s/high 12s)

IDK bros.

[GoCougs]

Configurator is finally up for MY2016:  http://www.infinitiusa.com/sedan/q50

Steer-by-wire is a "standalone" option but requires almost $6k in additional option packages (all of which are pretty much worthless, so thankfully it can all be skipped). The Japanese have always done this bundling nonsense but I'm sure it has to do with cost cutting. I'm gonna need to see unbiased reviews (the previous road tests seemed to by factory-controlled) before I even think about test driving one though.

[12,000 RPM]

Strange that the 300HP version isn't up. I wonder what the big difference will be if the 400HP version is only just as fast as the 340i.

[68_427]

Since when does the 340 run in the 12s?

[12,000 RPM]

6MT is down to 13.3, 8AT will probably knock off a good half a second

[MexicoCityM3]

6MT is down to 13.3, 8AT will probably knock off a good half a second

No.

[GoCougs]

Since when does the 340 run in the 12s?

The 340i is gonna have to lose a fair amount of weight and size before it does anything of the sort (i.e., the M235i with the same motor and w/8sp runs like that as shown by both M/T and C&D).

[GoCougs]

So, I'm still pretty aggro over the Q50 infotainment. As I've mentioned a few times, it's manageable but so much nonsense. Whenever I get a service loaner I turn all three screens off. Pretty much the only car in the poser class without infotainment is a base model S4 (i.e., w/out MMI), and I have yet to see one for sale new on a dealer lot. I see 'em show up as used but they were probably special order, which I'd really not rather do.

[MrH]

What about the new S4?  The virtual cockpit and MMI system for new audi's is really good.

I can see being against bad infotainment, but it seems you're against any screen at all?  Golf Rs have Carplay now btw.

[GoCougs]

The B9 S4 looks sucky - turbo motor, slushie AT, looks little different than the B8. I just want regular gauges. I am against any sort of touch screen or joystick or touch pad. CarPlay would be me compromising in a big way.

[12,000 RPM]

U should at least give it a look bro. U have been doing slushie ATs for like the past decade, whats the big deal?

I was against infotainment systems but I got used to the ones in the Mazda 3 and Golf in like 15 minutes. U only seem to keep cars for like 5 years too. No biggie

[Raza]

U should at least give it a look bro. U have been doing slushie ATs for like the past decade, whats the big deal?

I was against infotainment systems but I got used to the ones in the Mazda 3 and Golf in like 15 minutes. U only seem to keep cars for like 5 years too. No biggie

The new S4 doesn't have a DSG? What gives?

[MexicoCityM3]

The B9 S4 looks sucky - turbo motor, slushie AT, looks little different than the B8. I just want regular gauges. I am against any sort of touch screen or joystick or touch pad. CarPlay would be me compromising in a big way.

It's not going to get any easier for you to find a new interesting car without those things. Even the Miata has got a screen these days.

Why such a big deal? It's nothing. I don't mind the screens in my cars at all.

[GoCougs]

I just hate it, esp. the lack of tactile feel, and the duplication of functions. And once one is accustomed to a modern smart device, car infotainment feels ancient.

[12,000 RPM]

But if u are accustomed to modern smart devices, lack of tactile feel should be no problem, no?

Plus how is the duplication of functions a bad thing? I'm almost certain your G37 and Accord DX V6 had redundant controls for the stereo.

I am a bit of a luddite too but honestly modern infotainment can be decent. The double touch screen thing is stupid but between the steering wheel controls and shifter console dial it should be manageable. Biggest issue about the Q50 IMO is the transmission

[565]

Strange that the 300HP version isn't up. I wonder what the big difference will be if the 400HP version is only just as fast as the 340i.

No.  Q50 traps 7 mph faster than the 340.  The difference between the Q50 and the 340i is the same difference as a 340i and a 328i (about 7mph). 

Its also about the same trap speed difference between say a C7 and a C7 z06.  Or a CTS v sport and a CTS V.  Basically an entire tier above.

[2o6]

The new S4 doesn't have a DSG? What gives?

Too much torque for existing DSG's, and the dieselgate stole a lot of R&D money for projects like that.

[MX793]

Too much torque for existing DSG's, and the dieselgate stole a lot of R&D money for projects like that.

Dieselgate is far too recent to have impacted development funds of models coming out now.  If they were going to use a DSG, they would have invested in developing a more robust one 3-5 years ago when the latest S4 was actually being designed/developed.

[12,000 RPM]

Audi S7 has a DCT as does the R8 I think. They have the goods, it's just a matter of if it makes financial sense. S4 hasn't really been "hardcore" since the B6 (the V8 one) anyway. It's a 340i competitor, which itself has the ZF 8AT box. Not the end of the world IMO.

I think it's sadder that the S3 doesn't have a stickshift option here.

[SJ_GTI]

I didn't realize this until recently but oddly enough the regular A4 (2.0T) does now come with DSG instead of a slushie. 

[GoCougs]

Meh, I don't buy the budget angle. The S6/S7 has 440 hp and has DSG and Audi has otherwise spent a ton of cash on moving its other cars forward. I think Audi is simply choosing to move the S4 away from sport and into luxury as the A4 is a bit of a turd and there is a huge capability gap between it and the S4. Slot the S4 to be a C450/340i/Q50 RS400 competitor and then my hunch is they'll bring back the RS4 to go head to head with the M3 and C63.