WASHINGTON — It might not be the largest luxury automaker but Infiniti covers the bases with a wide range of luxury cars and SUVs. The cars that have always stuck out in my mind are their sporty coupes. While they looked really cool and were very comfortable, they lacked the performance I was looking for.
Now Infiniti makes a more powerful version, the Red Sport 400, and if two doors aren’t enough, later this week we look at the four-door Q50 with this same engine.
The Q60 Red Sport 400 delivers great power with twin turbo V-6 good for 400 horsepower; the all-wheel drive gets that power to the ground effectively. Acceleration is brisk. It sounds good but muted by the turbos that seem to quiet the exhaust more than I like. There is only a seven-speed automatic. Luckily, you also get paddle shifters and the transmission obeys well when you use them. Still, it’s happy to shift for you and do a very smooth job in the normal commute.
Handling for this vehicle isn’t the sharpest in the class but it does a nice job in most corners. My car had the optional Direct Adaptive Steering. That digital way of steering felt mostly normal, if a touch light. The ride is probably a bit more firm due to the lower profile tires of the Q60 Red Sport. Vision is good for a coupe; I could see out the windows, which is something I can’t always say of some other coupes. I managed 22.5 mpg for my week using premium fuel.
Infiniti has really made the look standout for the Q60 and even more so for the top-of-the-line $53,500 Red Sport 400 AWD. Coupes aren’t the biggest seller, so style is so important and this Infiniti does a stellar job of standing out without going too far. Like all cars nowadays, the grill makes a statement but Infiniti didn’t go too large either. There is a cool little crease right in the middle of the front fascia and grill that adds a neat styling touch.
Tasteful mods are used to set this Red Sport 400 apart from other Q60’s. It starts with large 19-inch wheels and larger brakes with red calipers. There are also large exclusive exhaust tips. But there is no big wing or aggressive body kit, just a clean look filled with interesting angles and body lines. This is the first Infiniti coupe in some time that I actually enjoy looking at. Even the rear glass has an interesting angled shape and still flows nicely toward the rear of the car.
Inside the Q60 Red Sport 400 you are greeted by a luxury interior. The semi-Aniline leather, eight-way power seats are very comfortable and they look as soft as they feel. The materials used are top-notch and the two-tone color scheme is a classy touch. The rear seat is best for smaller children as there isn’t much space, but my 9-year-old did fine with the space for a short trip.
Trunk space is adequate for a coupe; two people can take a few suitcases on a long trip. There are two center screens, which can be a bit confusing to use. After using it for a bit, you get used to the touch screen and wheel on the center console to work the lower screen. My car came with nearly $8,000 in options. For this you get a nice NAV system, heated seats and steering wheel and remote start. But other packages really add some high-tech features. The Intelligent cruise control with distance control, lane departure warning and prevention with lane control take a leap toward more autonomous driving. Features such as predictive forward collision warning and emergency braking with pedestrian detection are helpful for safety.
The Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD is certainly a luxury coupe with a bit of an attitude. With 400 horsepower, the performance is real. Yet a luxury interior helps make this coupe a good all-around daily driver that turns heads. If you haven’t looked at Infiniti and you want a comfortable luxury coupe, stop and take a look. You might be surprised at what you see.
Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
