After a long, multi-year (and multi-concept-car) gestation, Infiniti’s all-new compact Q30 hatchback has finally been revealed. Scheduled to fully debut at the 2015 Frankfurt auto show this fall—so far Infiniti has only released the photo above—the Q30 marks Infiniti’s first foray into the “premium-compact-car” field since the G20. Don’t remember the G20? It vaguely resembled a Tehran taxi, but was somehow even less interesting to look at. Hence why you don’t remember it. The Q30, on the other hand, is quite a different creation.
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For starters, whereas the G20 was based on a humble Nissan, the Q30 is a rather successfully re-skinned Mercedes-Benz A-class/GLA-class, using the same front-drive architecture, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as those cars. (The Benz pieces come by way of a technology-sharing agreement between Daimler and Nissan-Renault.) As promised by company representatives, the final Q30’s bold styling is carried over from the Q30 concept with nearly zero changes. The only standout difference between the two is the production car’s realistically proportioned tire-and-wheel package.
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This being the Q30, not the QX30 pseudo-crossover that will debut slightly later this year, the rocker panels, fascias, and wheels and tires are decidedly street-oriented pieces. The QX30 will add body cladding, unique front and rear styling, a taller ride height, and all-wheel drive to do battle with the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus NX, and Mercedes-Benz GLA-class. We’re told to expect the Q30 and QX30 to feel and drive completely differently from their platform-mates, the Mercedes-Benz CLA250 and the GLA250; Infiniti even went to the effort of making its own infotainment system work with the Benz’s electrical architecture in the hopes of differentiating the cars as much as possible. The only whiffs of Mercedes in the Q30’s interior are the steering-wheel and door-panel switchgear; otherwise, the infotainment control knob is of Infiniti’s own design, as is pretty much everything on the center stack and in the gauge cluster.
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Unfortunately, final Q30 details—beyond a couple photos—will have to wait until closer to the car’s big reveal in Frankfurt this September. The wait for the Q30’s arrival in dealerships will be slightly longer, as the baby Infiniti won’t go on sale until midway through next year as a 2017 model.
-This story was originally published July 21, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., and has since been updated to include discussion and an image of the Q30’s interior.
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