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New Models
AUTOS: Infiniti To Rename Its Entire Lineup
The letter Q returns to the Nissan premium brand starting in the 2014 model year; Q will designate all cars and QX will stand for all SUVs and crossovers.
Under the new naming strategy, the popular JX crossover will become the QX60. (Photo: Infiniti)
Infiniti is embarking on a new naming strategy for all its vehicles starting with the 2014 models that will re-visit the premium brand’s original Q designation, the automaker announced today.
Starting with the 2014 models, Q will begin the name for all Infiniti cars and QX for SUVs, with numbers defining the model.
The expansion of Nissan’s upmarket brand into Asian and European markets, as well as future implementation of alternative drivetrains, has prompted the change in naming philosophy, Johan de Nysschen, worldwide president of Infiniti, said in a conference call today.
"Q is an asset that is already very strongly associated with Infiniti," de Nysschen said. "It harks back to Infiniti's first product, the Q45, so it certainly has heritage for us."
The first new vehicle introduced under the new naming system will be the Q50 sedan, which replaces the G sedan and is scheduled to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, de Nysschen said.
According to the new naming system, the current lineup of Infiniti cars will be renamed Q50 for the G sedan, Q60 for the G37 coupe and convertible, and Q70 will replace the M cars name.
For the SUVs and crossovers, the EX become the QX50, the JX becomes QX60, FX becomes QX70 and the full-size QX56 will get a new number, the QX80.
Besides global expansion, another motive for changing the vehicle nomenclature is to get away from tying the names with engine sizes, a longstanding Infiniti practice, de Nysschen said. This becomes problematic as smaller-displacement engines and hybrid drivetrains come into the picture for fuel economy and lower emissions.
Under the current system – in which, for instance, the G37 has a 3.7-liter V6 and the QX56 has a 5.6-liter V8 – the smaller engine sizes would necessitate names with lower numbers. Consumers could equate the lower numbers with lesser vehicles, he said, which would not be the case.
Although buyers in the U.S., where Infiniti now has the overwhelming majority of sales, might be familiar with the current nomenclature, it could cause confusion in the overseas markets where Infiniti is not well known, the brand president said.
The Q designation, he said, is “a very coherent, flexible and transparent naming philosophy.”
“Infiniti today is largely U.S. centric. We are on a mission to become a global brand.”
Infiniti invested in extensive market research before deciding on the Q system, he said. The researchers found there is a strong consumer connection of Infiniti with the letter Q, and that European respondents equate the Q with quality and luxury.
“We did not take this decision lightly,” de Nysschen said. “We have done consumer clinics around the world. The consumer response to the new naming philosophy was overwhelmingly positive.”
Expect more upmarket vehicles from Infiniti, he added, as the brand begins a push into the luxury realm in coming years.
Infiniti worldwide sales during all of 2012 are expected to be up around 10 percent compared with 2011, despite economic troubles in Europe and ongoing disputes between China and Japan. U.S. sales gained 23 percent through November, compared with the first 11 months of 2011.
The new naming system looks to be a good move for Infiniti as it becomes more vested in the global marketplace, according to Jesse Toprak, senior analyst at TrueCar.com.
“The new Infiniti naming convention is intuitive and it will make it relatively easier for consumers to remember the various models in their lineup," Toprak said in a media release. "However, at the end of the day, it’s the consumer acceptance of actual products that will dictate the success of the brand.
“The new Q50 that will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show will have more direct impact on Infiniti’s future performance than the change in their model names.”
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
Starting with the 2014 models, Q will begin the name for all Infiniti cars and QX for SUVs, with numbers defining the model.
The expansion of Nissan’s upmarket brand into Asian and European markets, as well as future implementation of alternative drivetrains, has prompted the change in naming philosophy, Johan de Nysschen, worldwide president of Infiniti, said in a conference call today.
"Q is an asset that is already very strongly associated with Infiniti," de Nysschen said. "It harks back to Infiniti's first product, the Q45, so it certainly has heritage for us."
The first new vehicle introduced under the new naming system will be the Q50 sedan, which replaces the G sedan and is scheduled to debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, de Nysschen said.
According to the new naming system, the current lineup of Infiniti cars will be renamed Q50 for the G sedan, Q60 for the G37 coupe and convertible, and Q70 will replace the M cars name.
For the SUVs and crossovers, the EX become the QX50, the JX becomes QX60, FX becomes QX70 and the full-size QX56 will get a new number, the QX80.
Besides global expansion, another motive for changing the vehicle nomenclature is to get away from tying the names with engine sizes, a longstanding Infiniti practice, de Nysschen said. This becomes problematic as smaller-displacement engines and hybrid drivetrains come into the picture for fuel economy and lower emissions.
Under the current system – in which, for instance, the G37 has a 3.7-liter V6 and the QX56 has a 5.6-liter V8 – the smaller engine sizes would necessitate names with lower numbers. Consumers could equate the lower numbers with lesser vehicles, he said, which would not be the case.
Although buyers in the U.S., where Infiniti now has the overwhelming majority of sales, might be familiar with the current nomenclature, it could cause confusion in the overseas markets where Infiniti is not well known, the brand president said.
The Q designation, he said, is “a very coherent, flexible and transparent naming philosophy.”
“Infiniti today is largely U.S. centric. We are on a mission to become a global brand.”
Infiniti invested in extensive market research before deciding on the Q system, he said. The researchers found there is a strong consumer connection of Infiniti with the letter Q, and that European respondents equate the Q with quality and luxury.
“We did not take this decision lightly,” de Nysschen said. “We have done consumer clinics around the world. The consumer response to the new naming philosophy was overwhelmingly positive.”
Expect more upmarket vehicles from Infiniti, he added, as the brand begins a push into the luxury realm in coming years.
Infiniti worldwide sales during all of 2012 are expected to be up around 10 percent compared with 2011, despite economic troubles in Europe and ongoing disputes between China and Japan. U.S. sales gained 23 percent through November, compared with the first 11 months of 2011.
The new naming system looks to be a good move for Infiniti as it becomes more vested in the global marketplace, according to Jesse Toprak, senior analyst at TrueCar.com.
“The new Infiniti naming convention is intuitive and it will make it relatively easier for consumers to remember the various models in their lineup," Toprak said in a media release. "However, at the end of the day, it’s the consumer acceptance of actual products that will dictate the success of the brand.
“The new Q50 that will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show will have more direct impact on Infiniti’s future performance than the change in their model names.”
Bob Golfen, Automotive Editor for SPEED.com, is a veteran auto writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, with a passion for collector cars, car culture and the automotive lifestyle. SPEED.com fans can email Bob Golfen at
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