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2017 Infiniti Q30 Feels Organic, Rides High in Frankfurt

What do you do when you want to stand out in the premium hatchback class after the German triumvirate has already ventured extremely far into this territory? Infiniti has used the Frankfurt Motor Show to deliver an answer to this question, one that goes by the name of Q30.
2017 Infiniti Q30 22 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
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Don’t bother sorting out the new and rather tangled nomenclature of Nissan’s upmarket division, we’ll focus on the hatch instead, since this comes as a tempting melange.

The Q30, which shares its platform, as well as its engines with the Mercedes A-Class, wants to leap ahead of its rivals by mixing the space efficiency of a hatchback, the high stance of a crossover and the sporty attitude of a coupe. This may sound a bit like a jack of all trades and a master of none, but, in person, it all makes sense.

The blend feels organic, with the generous ground clearance of the model talking about the practicality of this Infiniti from the moment you see the car.

The engine choices

The automaker has split the Q30 range into three subdivisions. Aside from the standard model, we also get the Q30 Sport and the Q30 Premium.

Under the bonnet of the normal model, we get a range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel units. The first deliver between 120 and 154 hp, while on the diesel front, these sit between 107 and 168 hp (109 and 170 PS).

The special incarnations of the vehicle also offer a 2-liter mill capable of 208 hp (211 PS), with this being the only engine available in the US.

In the gearbox department, the Q30 borrows Mercedes’ six-speed manual, as well as the German carmaker’s Seven-speed dual-clutch tranny, but the American market will only receive the latter. Standard models send their power to the front wheels, but an AWD comes as an option.

The future

The Q30 was fully engineered by Mercedes and is only being built by Infinity, with the vehicle set to be assembled at the Nissan Sunderland site in the UK. And yes, the GLA will also morph into an Infiniti, with this resulting in the QX30. Prepare to meet it in November at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
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About the author: Andrei Tutu
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In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
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