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Infiniti's Small Car to Get Mercedes Engine

Back in November, Infiniti announced its plans of bringing a compact vehicle to the 2011 edition of the Geneva Auto Show. The vehicle is expected to be a three-door coupe, which will use a similar design to that of the Mercedes CLC.

It seems that the vehicle will also borrow a Mercedes egnine, as autocar reports. The baby Infiniti should be powered by a turbocharge Mercedes four-cylinder unit. The most likely mill to be used by the future premium compact is the 1.8 liter CGI turbocharged unit, which delivers 207 hp while emiting 178 grams of CO2 per km (in a C-Klasse). It is unclear yet what axle will be used to send the power to the road.

"We are looking at the option of sharing and I can’t deny the possibility of front-drive," Infiniti executive Toru Saito said.

The aforementioned source adds that the vehicle should be undrepinned on a new Renault-Nissan platform, which will also be used for the next generation of the Megane.

While Mercedes will offer the aforementioned poweprlant to Infiniti, the Germans should receive acces to Renault-Nissan’s electric developments and global infrastructure, as well as to the alliance’s small-capacity engines.

As for the design part, the vehicle is expected to borrow its styling cues from the Essence concept. Of course, we are talking about two totally different vehicle classes, but if Infiniti manages to pull this aesthetic move, we should get one stunning-looking compact with a Mercedes engine. A fair price (for the premium segment) and this could turn into a bomb.
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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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