The Infiniti Q50 has debuted in China with a turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine built by Mercedes-Benz.
The Q50′s new entry-level four-cylinder unit – based on the engine used in the Mercedes-Benz E200 and E250, among other models – produces 157kW of power and 320Nm of torque, the latter from 1250rpm. Infiniti says its engineering division has modified the engine to ensure its response is in line with the brand’s performance characteristics.
The Infiniti Q50 2.0-litre petrol will go on sale in China in the second quarter of 2014 before launching later next year in other markets, where it will become the starting point to the new premium mid-sized range.
Infiniti is yet to announce performance claims for the new 2.0-litre petrol engine, offering only that it is “powerful, economical and lightweight” and will allow for “flexible and efficient driving”.
The turbocharged petrol engine is the second Mercedes-Benz engine to find its way into the Infiniti Q50 under the brands’ technology sharing partnership, following the unveiling of the 125kW/400Nm 2.1-litre four-cylinder diesel-powered model in March.
The new engine is the fourth powertrain option for the Q50, joining the diesel, a 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric hybrid and a 3.7-litre V6 petrol.
The Infiniti Q50 turbo petrol is expected to join the Australian line-up some time after the launch of the range, which has been pushed back from the end of this year to early 2014.
The Q50 will become the first all-new model launched by Infiniti Australia, and will rival the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Read CarAdvice’s Infiniti Q50 Review.
