2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400

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Infiniti is starting from scratch with the 2017 model, and the all-new Q60 not only distances itself from the G37, but comes closer to standing out in the luxury coupe segment thanks to a curvaceous sheet metal makeover, a powerful new turbocharged 400-horsepower, V6 engine at the top of the range, and innovative technology. While lower trim levels of the Q60 still offer great value, they can't compete with cars like the BMW 4 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe. But the high-performance flagship Red Sport trim that we tested gives these competitors a run for their money in terms of performance and cutting-edge tech.

Pricing and Design

The 2017 Infiniti Q60 comes in four trim levels—2.0t, 2.0t Premium, 3.0t Premium, and Red Sport 400—all in either rear-wheel (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration and with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0 designation means the car comes with a 2.0-liter, 208-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, while 3.0 denotes that it comes with a 3.0-liter V6 engine with either 300 or 400 horsepower.

The base 2.0t starts at $38,950 in RWD and $40,950 in AWD and comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and fog lights, heated exterior mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, eight-way power front seats, leatherette upholstery, a rearview camera, Bluetooth for phone and audio, the Infiniti InTouch dual-touch-screen infotainment interface, and a six-speaker AM/FM/CD sound system with satellite radio, two USB ports, and an aux-in jack.

The 2.0t Premium starts at $41,300 in RWD and $43,300 in AWD and adds a moonroof, a 13-speaker Bose Performance Series audio system with HD radio, a HomeLink garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a compass. The 3.0t Premium starts at $44,300 in RWD and $46,300 in AWD and adds the V6 engine.

The top-of-the-line Red Sport 400 starts at $51,300 for the RWD version we tested and $43,300 for AWD. It comes with the more powerful twin-turbo 400-horsepower V6 engine, a higher-capacity intercooler, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, adaptive suspension, hill start assist, different exhaust tips and exterior badges, sport brakes, red-painted brake calipers, auto-dimming outside mirrors, a rev-matching steering wheel paddle shifter, leather upholstery, powered driver seat bolsters, a power tilt and telescope steering wheel, driver memory functions, carbon fiber interior trim, and aluminum accented pedals.

Our test car includes an $800 "exclusive paint" option as well as several option packages. The $2,250 Premium Plus Package adds the Infiniti InTouch navigation system with voice recognition, the InTouch telematics system, SiriusXM Traffic, heated front seats and steering wheel, remote starting, and Navi Sync Adaptive Shift Control that adjusts the gear position based on road information from the navigation system. The $2,250 Driver Assistance Package adds rain-sensing wipers, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, backup collision intervention, a 360-degree camera system, and predictive forward collision warning that not only watches the vehicle directly ahead, but one vehicle ahead of that in case it stops suddenly. With a $905 destination charge, the total sticker price of our test car came to $60,355.

The 2017 Q60's exterior styling, particularly in the Red Sport trim, makes it one of the sleekest sports coupes available, and helps it stand out from competitors. The overall design and quality of the interior isn't as stylish as, say, the segment-leading Mercedes C-Class, but the Sport model's special color schemes adds a bit of extra verve. That said, the space for rear seat passengers is a bit tight.

Connectivity, Interface, and Technology

Under the InTouch umbrella, the 2017 Q60 has only embedded, subscription-based connectivity, but a wide range of cloud-based content. A companion smartphone app can remotely lock or unlock the doors, flash the lights, sound the horn, set curfew and speed alerts, and send maintenance reminders. Other connectivity features include traffic, weather, fuel price, stocks, and movie info via SiriusXM. InTouch will also download email, sync with a Google calendar, send destinations found online to the car, track your driving performance, and more.

The Infiniti InTouch interface consists of two in-dash touch-screens—an 8-inch display stacked on top of a 7-inch one—with several buttons and a large volume knob below. The upper screen shows navigation system maps as well as various vehicle functions, while the lower one is a capacitive touch screen that controls the audio system and many of the connected features. It takes a little while to figure out which screen does what, both wash out a bit too easily in bright sunlight. But overall the system is reasonably simple and intuitive to use.

Infiniti has always led the way in driver-assist systems, and the 2017 Q60 has features such as Navi Sync Adaptive Shift Control and Predictive Forward Collision Warning that add convenience and safety. The driver assist features also have an amazing amount of versatility in their levels of adjustment.

Performance and Conclusions

Punch the pedal and the 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400's twin-turbo V6 engine fires the car forward with enough force to easily pin you to your seat. And the sound of the engine smoothly winding through the gears, either through the 7-speed transmission or at the driver's command via the paddle shifters, is music to a motorhead's ears. But this roar is clearly (and somewhat obtrusively) augmented by "fake" engine sounds piped through the car's stereo speakers.

Handling is tight, and the adaptive suspension keeps body motion well controlled through corners. But for everyday driving the ride quality feels a bit stiff.

The 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 is a world-class sports coupe among the best Infiniti has ever built. But it also has tough competition from not only the reigning German luxury trio of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, but also the Cadillac ATS and its domestic rival the Lexus RC. If you want the best performance, luxury, and tech bang for your buck, however, the 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 is hard to beat, and well worth your consideration.

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