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Infiniti to Build Premium Compact Hatch in the UK

Infiniti has announced that it will be building a new compact hatchback at its Sunderland plant, in the UK. The factory would require a £250-million investment, in order to accommodate the extra production, and it would also create 280 jobs at the plant itself, and 1,000 in total.
Infiniti Etherea Concept 1 photo
Photo: Infiniti
The car, previewed by the 2011 Etherea hatchback concept will most likely use a Mercedes-Benz-derived platform - the front-wheel drive one used to underpin the A-Class and B-Class. Engines wise, Infiniti will probably carry over the same engine range available for the A-Class, which includes 1.6- and 2.0-liter turbo petrol units, as well as 1.8- and 2.2-liter diesels - all-wheel drive will probably be optional, as it is on the A-Class and B-Class.

No exact date has been specified, but production is slated to begin in 2015, and the factory will churn out cars at a rate of 60,000 per year. This is the first time in the last 23 years that a new automotive brand announces large-scale production in the UK.

However, this announcement means that Nissan’s Golf rival, which was set to be built in Sunderland will now have to be made elsewhere, and we expect Nissan officials to make an announcement, in order to clear up the matter, soon. Also, with the additional 60,000 units per year, the UK car plant will build more than 500,000 units per year.
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