Sold as the Nissan Skyline in Japan, the Infiniti Q50 rolled out in 2013 for the 2014 model year. Not long after, the compact executive sedan received a performance-oriented setup in the form of a 400-horsepower V6, hence the Red Sport 400 handle.
Toque peaks at 1,600 through 5,200 revolutions per minute to the tune of 350 pound-feet (475 Nm), and most of these resources get to all four wheels by means of a seven-speed automatic. A rather old automatic, that is, a torque-converter auto that Nissan subsidiary JATCO has produced since 2008.
Pictured at the Dunnville Autodrome in Canada, the black-painted Q50 Red Sport 400 in the video below tips the scales at 4,043 pounds (1,834 kilograms). By comparison, the C 43 is rated at 3,870 pounds (1,755 kilograms). The bad news doesn't end here, though, because the Merc also features a better tranny (nine-speed auto with a wet start-off clutch instead of a torque converter) and AWD system (4MATIC+).
Worse still for the Infiniti, the German challenger is more powerful (402 ponies) and torquier (369 pound-feet or 500 Nm) despite hiding a four-pot turbo under its hood. Its predecessor used to pack a twin-turbocharged V6, albeit not a true AMG engine.
This fellow is assembled by hand in Affalterbach. Instead of a conventional turbo, it flaunts a Formula 1-inspired electric exhaust gas turbocharger. Of course, it also runs a mild-hybrid system that includes a belt-driven starter generator. The ISG alone can supply a 10-kW boost in certain driving scenarios.
As the headline implies, the C 43 ran the quarter mile in a very respectable 12.4 seconds. The Q50 Red Sport 400 clocked 13.0 seconds flat, which is also commendable. After all, it's a very old design against Mercedes' all-new equivalent to the M340i xDrive.
With or without launch control, automatic or manual shift mode, the AMG makes it look easy. On the other hand, the Infiniti does make the better noises. It's also worth noting that Nissan's twin-turbocharged V6 is much easier to modify than the hand-built I4 engine from AMG for more oomph, and the aftermarket for the VR30DDTT has plenty more goodies in store.
Also shared with the Q60 Red Sport 400 (discontinued at the end of the 2023 model year) and Nissan Z sports car, the VR30DDTT rocks an open deck as opposed to the closed deck of the VR38 in the GT-R. Speaking of which, can you believe the R35 will celebrate its 16th anniversary this winter?
Turning our attention back to the compact executive sedans, the Red Sport 400 retails at $56,500 in the United States. If you want all-wheel drive, that would be $58,500 plus $1,025 for the destination charge. The C 43 comes standard with 4MATIC+ AWD, yet costs more, for it starts at $59,900 at press time.
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. Full profile
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