Infiniti Q50 Red Sport
Powerhouse engine looking for a place to call home
SPIRATION: we’re always
told to use it to better
ourselves and aim for
aleaguehigherthan
which we currently occupy. Infiniti
has employed this ethos with the Q50
Red Sport. The Japanese-built Infiniti
is going after zee Germans. Hence, the
$79,990 Red Sport has the undercard
performance variants – like the BMW
340i, Audi S4 and Mercedes-AMG C43
- in its cross hairs.
Since its launch in 2014, Infiniti has
sold about 1000 Q50s (all variants)
Down Under and it has refreshed the
range. The Red Sport gains updated
19-inch alloys, red brake calipers, red
stitching, new steering wheel (with
shift paddles moved from the column),
gear lever and LEDs feature.
Mechanically, Infiniti has made
refinements to the infamous
ENGINE2997ccV6,DOHC,24v,twin-turbo/POWER298kW @ 6400rpm/TORQUE475Nm@1600rpm/WEIGHT1784kg/0-100KM/H5.1sec (estimated)/PRICE$79,990
First Fang
New. Fast. Driven.
A
byTRENT GIUNCO
Direct Adaptive Steering as well
as incorporating Dynamic Digital
Suspension (Infiniti-speak for adaptive
dampers) to increase the sportiest
variant’s credentials.
From the get-go it’s hard to ignore
the twin-turbo V6, especially when
it produces a significant 298kW of
power and a hefty 475Nm of torque.
After all, the 3.0-litre boosted six is
from the same VR engine family as the
mighty R35 GT-R, so it keeps venerable
company. Sending all the power to the
rear wheels via a relatively intuitive
seven-speed automatic translates to a
0-100km/h time of about five seconds.
Its full head of steam comes on
from just 1600rpm and it feels every
bit as strong as the outputs suggest.
The Red Sport is properly rapid and,
on the run at least, it will trouble
many performance-orientated, luxe
competitors. When traction isn’t a
factor, the in-gear acceleration from
the VR30DDTT is comically addictive.
What detracts from the impressive
oomph is the open differential and
electronic nannies that want to take
away your sweets before you’ve even
thought about putting them in your
mouth. Turn the traction control
off and get on the power too early
when exiting a closed-radius corner
and the unloaded inside Dunlop SP
Sport Maxx is fried faster than a
dagwood dog at Summernats. Leave
the poorly calibrated ESC system on
and it’ll curtail any power being sent
to the rear 245/40 RF19s, intrusively
intervening at will. Accessing the
mumbo in dry conditions is hard, but
add water and it becomes a fruitless
mission. It really needs a proper LSD.
Despite being version 2.0, the Q50
Like
Engineisa
powerhouse;
exterior stylingSTAR RATING
Dislike
Steering; needs a
proper diff; ride
quality; ESC3.0
Beauty is in the eye
of the beholder, but
the svelte Red Sport’s
lines and proportions
make it a looker32 january 2018 motormag.com.au