The History of INFINITI

INFINITI Motor Company, commonly shortened to just INFINITI, is Nissan's luxury brand, and it has quite a storied history. After years of secretive preparation, the INFINITI brand debuted in the United States in 1989 with the Q45 and the M30. An elite team was formed within Nissan to build a performance luxury vehicle that could challenge other prominent American and European luxury brands. While these vehicles had previously been sold under the Nissan label in places like Japan, the idea was for these luxury models to stand out in the US market.

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Because of INFINITI's ties to Nissan, the history of INFINITI, in some ways, starts before 1989. Perhaps the most interesting facet of this is the Skyline. This famous vehicle is the predecessor of INFINITI's Q50 sports car.

The Nissan Skyline

The Prince Motor Company debuted the Skyline in 1957 and produced it for ten years before merging with Nissan in 1967. In the decades after the merger, the Skyline became a famous racing car; it has been featured in movie franchises like The Fast and the Furious. The Skyline did not make it over to the US until it was imported as the INFINITI G in the 1990s. Due to the car's popularity, the Skyline is one of the most popular used vehicles imported to the United States.

The Nissan GT-R is a well-known sports car that is descended from the Skyline. However, INFINITI has also retained some of the Skyline's legacy in modern INFINITI vehicles.

The Early Years: How it All Began

Starting out as a small, elite group within the Nissan Motor Company, the INFINITI division held the goal of creating a performance luxury sedan that could challenge the premium car market. They chose the name INFINITI to capture a sense of purpose and embody the endless possibilities that lie down the road ahead. The INFINITI logo followed shortly after, an oval depicting two central lines that stretch towards the horizon.

In 1989, INFINITI launched its car brand officially at fifty-one dealerships across the United States. INFINITI introduced two options of vehicles: the roomy Q45 sedan and the sporty, performance-based M30 coupe.

Very shortly after INFINITI released their first two models and the INFINITI Total Ownership Experience, the company gained recognition as a leader in customer service and satisfaction, beginning the history of INFINITI as a well-respected and customer-centric brand.

The INFINITI Total Ownership Experience

The INFINITI Total Ownership Experience is a promise to drivers that INFINITI retailers will provide the highest level of personal care and amenities, with plenty of benefits that push the goal of maintaining maximum comfort for drivers and performance for vehicles. While this started with the brand, it is still in effect today to help customers when they need it.

This promise includes benefits such as:

• INFINITI Courtesy Vehicle: A complimentary INFINITI Courtesy Vehicle whenever your INFINITI is in for warranty repair
• Roadside Assistance: Roadside assistance from anywhere in the continental United States, 24 hours a day, 356 days a year.
• Trip Interruption Benefits: In the unlikely event that your INFINITI vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from home, a representative can authorize benefits that cover costs like transportation, lodging, and meals for you and anyone stuck with you.
• And more!

The Debut of the V6 Engine in 1995

In 1995, a new V6 engine was introduced in the VQ series. This new, thrilling engine was designed for the optimal blend of power, torque, and fuel consumption, ranking as one of Ward’s Ten Best Engines for the next 14 years, an achievement that is unrivaled in the automotive world.

While the WQ is no longer in service, it acted as the predecessor for the current INFINITI Twin Turbo V6, one of INFINITI’s four engine options. The Twin Turbo is the lightest, most powerful, cleanest, and most fuel-efficient engine that INFINITI has introduced so far.

In addition to the Twin Turbo, Nissan introduced three other engine options, including the VS Turbo, the Direct-Injection V6, and a V8 engine.

The Early 2000s and a Road of Advancements

Starting at the turn of the century, INFINITI introduced a variety of safety and technology features included on INFINITI models that have pushed INFINITI sales sky-high. In 2001, for example, INFINITI introduced Intelligent Cruise Control, a feature that detects the vehicle in front of you so that you can retain your desired driving distance. 2001 also saw the introduction of the RearView monitor, a backup camera with an in-dash display.

From there, subsequent years saw new features as INFINITI unveiled features like INFINITI Voice Recognition, Lane Departure Warning, a Lane Departure Prevention system, Backup Collision Intervention, and the world’s first Around View Monitor and first Blind Spot Intervention system.

With constant innovation that brings some of the best and newest features when it comes to technology and safety, INFINITI is more than just a luxury sports sedan company. INFINITI’s new car sales are always booming with features in a sport coupe that you won’t find for years in other luxury vehicles produced by the automotive industry.

INFINITI Today

INFINITI has been producing great vehicles for more than three decades. Every year, it sells hundreds of thousands of vehicles, mostly in the United States, Canada, Japan, and China. It started as the fastest-growing luxury brand and remains at the top when it comes to driver-centric design, driver technology, and customer satisfaction, all the while boasting exceptional performance.

With innovative technology, from parking technology like the rearview monitor to driver assistance features like direct adaptive steering and lane departure warning, INFINITI is constantly pushing technology to the next level.

The 2024 INFINITI Lineup

The current INFINITI lineup includes the following vehicles: the sporty Q50, the QX50 and QX55, the QX60, and the QX80. Both of these last two are three-row SUVs, while the QX50 and QX55 are crossover SUVs.

In short, INFINITI today produces vehicles that can fill almost any role that you need. At Evans INFINITI of Dayton, our professional staff will be thrilled to help you pick out the INFINITI that is best for you and your loved ones. Come visit us in Centerville, OH, today, where we'll take great care of you. After all, your experience is our priority!

The INFINITI Q50

The 2024 INFINITI Q50, a classic four-door sports car, is most certainly a direct relative of the famous Skyline of years past. In fact, more modernly, the Q50 is sold in Japan as a Nissan Skyline! Release first in 2013 and still a part of the 2024 INFINITI lineup, this sleek vehicle gets 300-hp on the 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbocharged (2997cc) 24-valve engine or 400-hp when paired with the 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbocharged (2997cc) 24-valve engine.

With amenities like standard heated front seats and steering wheel and leather-appointed seat fabrics, there is certainly a lot to enjoy in this vehicle. The Q50 compares favorably with other luxury cars from brands like Acura and Lexus.

The INFINITI QX50

The 2024 INFINITI QX50, with a starting MSRP of $41,000, is the next in the lineup. With a 2.0 VC Turbo engine producing an estimated 268 horsepower and a towing capacity of 3,000 pounds, this SUV packs a punch.

This INFINITI model offers 7- and 8-inch touchscreens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an available navigation system with real-time traffic information, an available Bose Performance Series 16-speaker sound system, and more.

The INFINITI QX55

The 2024 INFINITI QX55, another SUV, boasts a 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder engine that offers 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. This SUV comes with standard all-wheel drive and amenities like Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control, the aforementioned Bose audio system, available Semi-aniline leather-appointed seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and more.

The INFINITI QX60

The 2024 INFINITI QX60 is the next SUV in the lineup. When you pop the hood, you can find a 3.5-liter V-6 engine producing an incredible 295 horsepower, 270 lb-ft of torque, with 6,000 lbs of towing capacity. Also available is Intelligent AWD.

The QX60 is packed full of technology, with a wireless smartphone charging pad, up to 7 USB ports, a 12.3” high-definition display, available Backup Collision Intervention, and an available Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection.

The INFINITI QX80

The 2024 INFINITI QX80 is the last and largest vehicle on this list, powered by a 5.6-liter 32-valve V8 engine paired with a 7-speed Automatic Transmission with Adaptive Shift Control that outputs a staggering 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque to do anything an everything you want to do.

An available 4WD and available Hydraulic Body Motion Control system offers Ohio drivers better cornering capabilities and a smoother ride while you enjoy top-of-the-line audio through the Bose 13-speaker Premium Sound System.

Get Your INFINITI Today at Evans INFINITI of Dayton

The history of INFINITI is pretty interesting, with a clear commitment to power and performance and a driver-centric design. INFINITI vehicles have always been innovative and luxurious, effectively achieving the goal that INFINITI founders set all those years ago.

Check out Evans INFINITI of Dayton for all of your car-buying needs. Check out our current selection of new and pre-owned vehicles. While you’re on our website, explore our Service Department and Finance Department to see some more of the services that INFINITI can offer!