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Infiniti QX30 Spied For the First Time, Will Enter Production in 2015

When Infiniti presented the world with the Q30 Concept compact hatchback, many of us gearheads were like “LOL, that looks like a tarted up Nissan Pulsar, yo!” Then followed the Infiniti QX30 Concept compact crossover SUV and we were under the impression this is a sort of déjà vu, albeit with a jacked-up ride height in the posh vehicle’s defense.
2016 Infiniti QX30 24 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
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But Nissan’s luxury division wanted to introduce a C-segment hatchback and crossover for a long number of years now and we’re happy to announce the green light has been given for both of them. Earlier this year, Nissan informed the motoring media that it’s going to invest and adapt its Sunderland plant to assemble the Infiniti Q30 starting from mid-2015.

Yup, you heard that right. Infiniti vehicles made in Her Majesty’s United Kingdom. That’s how globalization works, folks! Furthermore, we’ve learned the QX30 will also be built there, with production slated for fall 2015. Hip hip hooray! It’s not like there weren't a lot of premium crossovers around...

Still, Infiniti may know something we don’t

We suppose that’s the popularity the QX30’s niche is enjoying nowadays. Think about it for a moment - if the Mercedes-Benz GLA is around, why wouldn’t Infiniti try to capitalize on its share of the segment’s pie? Simple as that! The 2016 Infiniti QX30 is still a big mystery at the present moment, with the shots below being the first ever of it. Nevertheless, it’s as clear as day what's going on underneath that camo.

Expected to boast with a 2,700-mm (106.3-inch) wheelbase, the longest in the segment, the QX30 is also going to be a pretty fancy-schmancy machine in terms of cabin comfort and gadgets. You won’t see the six-speed manual of the Pulsar offered as standard, but the revised, smooth-shifting Xtronic CVT box.

We’re not sure if the Renault-sourced 1.5 dCi turbo diesel will be offered, but the 1.6 DIG-T turbo petrol with 190 horsepower on tap certainly will. But wouldn’t it be more fab if the performance-oriented model would boast with the newly-developed 1.8-liter turbo mill expected to churn out 266 ponies?
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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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