Infiniti has confirmed that a smaller crossover SUV, likely to be called Infiniti QX30, is on its way as part of the company’s model expansion plans.
Speaking to the Australian media at the Nissan 360 event in Los Angeles, Infiniti’s managing director for Asia and Oceania, Allen Lu, confirmed plans for the car’s future.
“One of the things we are doing now, we are starting to build a more wider product range, starting from Q30 plus future QX30, as a smaller crossover.”
Its sister car, the Infiniti Q30 will sit below the recently launched Infiniti Q50, which is coming to Australia in early 2014. The Q30 will arrive in 2015, along with QX30.
“With the growing consumer range, this will make more people feel [that] you have multiple choices, starting from a younger age.”
The Infiniti QX30, like the Q30, shares the Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLA-Class platform and is likely to share engines as well, given the Q50 is expected to take the 1.8-litre turbo from the C250. The Q’s design is inspired by the Etherea concept pictured here.
The QX30 will complete the Infiniti SUV and crossover range that currently consists of Infiniti EX, QX and FX. Australia only takes the sportier Infiniti FX range for now, but will take QX30 in 2015.
Lu’s plans for growth in Australia (following a slow start) are realistic, stating that Infiniti has a lot of work to do with brand building before the volume will come.
“In the Australian market, we have to be very patient o build a brand, before we can start to build volume.”
Infiniti’s plans include expanding its model lineup by sixty percent, while increasing its powertrain options by fifty percent.
