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Infiniti has built an M3-baiting, 400bhp Q50 saloon

Posh Nissan’s new 2016 four-door saloon gets brand new twin-turbo V6

Published: 16 Dec 2015

Infiniti – that’s Nissan’s luxury arm – has made some upgrades to its Q50 saloon. You might not find this very interesting. Except the bit about a version with a brand new, twin-turbo V6 with 400bhp.

Yup, 400 horses from a 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged sixer, dubbed ‘VR30’. That’s knocking on the door of BMW’s own M3, courtesy of a brand new engine, only available in that ballsy level of tune.

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So, alongside 400bhp comes 350lb ft of torque, and while no 0-62mph figure is yet quoted, it should be suitably brisk. The car also comes with improved electronic steering – with the option of Infiniti’s digital steering system – as well as digital suspension featuring many modes.

You’ll still be able to spec a Q50 with lesser engines, including a hybrid V6, and sensible four-cylinder unit. But we're most excited by this V6 range-topper, and can’t help but think it reignites the possibility of a hardcore Q50 in the vein of the ‘Eau Rouge’ concept.

That car remember, used the GT-R’s 3.8-litre twin-turbo V6 and all of its 560 horsepowers to become a bona-fide M5 rival. While Infiniti won’t yet commit to such a car – as we told you here – the increasing sales of the Q50 might help change their minds.

Would you be interested in a hardcore, four-door, GT-R-powered Q50?

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