Really excited to share this one with you all, because it really was a charm to drive - and it was a beautiful car, in and out.
Last year's launch of the all-new Q60, the third generation of INFINITI's iconic sports coupe, provided a worthy stable mate to the popular INFINITI Q50 sports sedan. Sharing many of the same advanced technologies, the Q60 stands apart with its stunning coupe design and tailored, driver-centric interior. It's honestly such an exciting car to get into because of it's stunning interior. The driver gets an empowered feeling behind the wheel, thanks to the interior's elevated qualities (the Bose sound system adds a nice touch too)
The Q60 brings INFINITI's powerful design language into the sports coupe segment with remarkable success, through daring curves, deep creases, and flowing lines intensifying a low, wide, powerful stance. The look is progressive and modern, yet dynamic and moving.
It's a car that really stands out because of it's bold exterior features. I had a few people come up to us while shooting the content ask a bunch of questions, because it really caught their attention (so now you know this bad boy will turn heads). INFINITI has really done a great job with the overall appearance of the vehicle by making it lower and wider than its predecessors. This expresses a powerful elegance through its daring proportions and striking silhouette, ultimately emphasizing the Q60's position as a powerful sports coupe. All models are equipped with the 3.0-litre V6 engine (the lightest, most powerful, cleanest and most fuel efficient V6 turbo engine that INFINITI has ever offered + VR30 DDTT V6 provides potent and immediate power delivery, available with either 400 or 300 horsepower), which features an Active Grille Shutter to balance the engine's cooling requirements with the desire to enhance aerodynamics. Under normal use, the shutter remains closed, opening when greater performance is required.
The Q60's wild stance gives an impression and feel of stability, control and foremost driving potential, while its low centre of gravity has a positive overall effect on driving dynamics. To be fair and honest, I drove it mostly on Eco mode (to save gas) but when I shifted to Sport and Sport + modes - it blew my mind. The car's acceleration is phenomenal, but it doesn't completely throw you off because of it's sustained comfort - however it's worth mentioning that it becomes SO empowering to drive on those modes. You have to be careful though because it does go really fast pretty quickly (the one thing I did notice though is that there is some noticeable turbo lag when you hit the accelerator at high speeds, but not at low speeds).
Another fun thing to note is the overall feel while you're in the vehicle. INFINITI engineers ensured that the Q60's noise, vibration and harshness levels are among the best in the segment, making you feel as if you're in a luxury vehicle, without the noise of an overpowered sports car. It's something that I didn't expect, considering the overall power of the car. It still has the exhilarating experience of driving a coupe, but you're not overwhelmed by excessive noise or rumbling (some drivers do enjoy that though). The suspension insulation and rigid cross-members provide Active Noise Cancellation; which is fitted to all Q60 models – effectively helping to prevent negative engine noise frequencies from intruding on the calm of the cabin.
It was a real treat spending some time with the Q60. It's another one of those cars that I wish I had more time with, but it has left a lasting impression on me. I'm very happy I gave the INFINITI Q60 a chance, since I haven't driven any INFINITI cars beforehand, and now this has changed my perception on the brand. The overall experience made me feel like a kid all over again!
All opinions expressed in this piece are my own
All photographs are courtesy of Patrick Ryder (@patryderr).