You know you’ve made it when car park attendant Phil asks what is the car he has been puzzling over for an hour or so in the car park he has looked after for 20 years at Port Eynon, Gower.
“Never had one in my car park before,” he announced when I explained.
He has seen nearly everything, but it was his first Infiniti Q70. Infiniti really is going beyond expectations of some people.
In a highly competitive executive market it is gaining strong sales world-wide and the rapid rise is partly down to the introduction of the new 2.2 diesel.
Initially, Infiniti was a petrol-only product launched in 1989, but once sales moved outside the United States where they started there was a real need to meet demand for diesel power, and its paid off. Handsomely.
There are currently five saloon, coupe and crossover models in the range and later in 2015, Infiniti Q30 models will be made in North East England and this is expected to further boost their British success through a handful of dealerships. Year to date growth in UK is 100% and that includes a 350% boost in March over the same month a year ago.
The latest Infiniti Q70 diesel delivers all the refinement we have seen in the petrol models but with a really modest 45mpg consumption and emitting 129gkm CO2 it is cleaner and more efficient than the previous 3.0V6 diesel.
Sourced from Mercedes-Benz, the four-cylinder engine is highly developed and refined, perfectly fitting matching the sophistication of the Q70 with its leather and wood trimming and high technology equipment. It was matched to a seven-speed automatic box for effortless driving.
There’s standard with full LED headlights, chromed accents on the front grille, a rear-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, with standard Connectiviti+ navigation, 18-inch wheels and leather seats with ventilation, in what is a typically generous Infiniti standard specification. It’s expected to become the best selling Q70 model in the seven-car range, including the new hybrid.
All the mechanical changes have been for the better. There is no loss of smoothness and a lot of noise reduction methods mean it is very quiet at speed, the most noticeable intrusion being the faint rumble of road under big tyres.
It is brisk from standstill, and if you use the kick-down or manually shift ratios it is quick through the gears when overtaking.
I liked the balance to the steering, the precision and power of the brakes and the generally smooth ride over any surface. It is a big car but it corners well with little body roll and a safe surefooted character.
It’s easy to get into and out of and the boot holds 450 litres behind a high sill with a good sized opening as well. Leather seats are big, well shaped and adjusted over a good range to give excellent comfort to all but the tallest people who may wish for more thigh support.
Visibility is very good through the windows with big front wipers and bright LED lights, backed up by front and rear sensors and cameras.
When so many drivers look to the German brands for an executive high mileage car, the Infiniti Q70 stands out as being desirable because its different to the rest and gives away nothing to them.
You are going to see a lot more of the Infiniti badge in director’s parking spots, and probably in Port Eynon as well.
Fast facts:
| Infiniti Q70 Premium Tech Auto | Price: £37,500 exc. optional sunroof and met. paint |
| Insurance group: 35E | Mechanical: 170PS 2143cc 4-cyl turbo-diesel, 7sp auto |
| Max speed: 137mph | 0-62mph: 8.9sec |
| Combined mpg: 45mpg on test | CO2 emissions: 129gkm |
| BIK rating: 20% VED band D | Warranty: 3yrs/ 62,000 miles |
