The 2028 Infiniti Q50 might be the perfect choice for Nissan’s luxury arm to bring more fun and swag to the road. Would you drive it?
Automakers often learn from each other and sometimes copy what others are doing. Often, the second, third, or fourth to copy the first takes steps to improve upon what the first did. Not long ago, Acura brought the Integra Type S back with the same powerplant as the Honda Civic Type R. It seems the team at Infiniti saw this and the market reaction, and they want a piece of that pie.
The 2028 Infiniti Q50 could take a huge slice of luxury performance pie
Let’s face it, the Nissan Z isn’t exactly a practical car, and you might not want to pull it out of the garage every day, especially if you have to bring a few other passengers along for the ride. However, what happens if you take the Nissan Z engine and put it in a sedan, such as the Infiniti Q50? Infiniti wants to bring back the fun with a 2028 Q50 sports sedan featuring a twin-turbo V6, rear-wheel drive, and possibly a manual transmission. Is this the enthusiast sedan comeback we’ve been waiting for?
If you thought Infiniti was gone, think again
Although the modern Infiniti lineup only has two SUVs to offer, the brand is poised for a comeback or resurgence, depending on how you want to look at it. A manual transmission sports sedan could be the perfect ticket for the Infiniti Q50 comeback, and a shot in the arm for the brand. Toss in the impressive twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan Z, and you’ve got a sedan that will grab much more attention than the Infiniti Type S ever had. This new performance sedan should arrive for the 2028 model year, which sounds perfect for a comeback tour.
Infiniti is already expanding before the Q50 arrives
The 2028 Infiniti Q50 isn’t the only new vehicle coming to the brand’s lineup, and it won’t be expected to carry the weight. Two new SUVs, one of which will be a hybrid model, are being added to the mix between now and when the new Q50 arrives. That said, SUVs, even hybrid models, are becoming white noise in the automotive industry. They might be the top-selling vehicles on the market, but it’s hard to get excited about them, especially when a high-performance rear-wheel drive sedan is on the horizon.
The 2028 Infiniti Q50 will inject life into the brand
If the Infiniti brand is basically on life support, the new Q50 will give it the shot in the arm that will make enthusiasts stand up and take notice. Sure, the Integra Type S came in with 320 horsepower, but this new Q50 will give you 400, and it comes from a V6 engine, not a small four-pot. If that’s not enough for you, the Q50 will have an available manual transmission, giving you the old-school driving experience you’ve longed for, especially if you’ve been stuck driving an SUV with a boring automatic transmission or CVT.
The new Q50 uses the same platform as before
The Q50 was shuttered after the 2024 model year, but the FM platform lives underneath the Nissan Z. That means the same platform can be utilized for the 2028 model, giving you a gorgeous and impressive sports sedan that should be a lot of fun to drive. Because they share a platform, and the new Q50 will have much more of a performance bend, you should expect to see widespread parts sharing between the two cars.
Could the new 2028 Infiniti Q50 receive NISMO tuning?
The Nissan Z comes standard with 400 horsepower from the incredible engine, but the NISMO model turns things up to 420. Could the new Q50 also offer a tuned-up version, and if so, what would it be called? The only knock on the NISMO has been the lack of a manual transmission, but Nissan has changed this, and that could mean some shoppers may have the choice of a higher-output Q50 with a manual transmission to give them the most exciting and engaging setup possible.
The new 2028 Infiniti Q50 seems to be exactly what the brand needs. Forget the hybrids, EVs, and SUVs for a while and get ready to experience a new performance luxury sports car that should get you excited for some driving fun. The only drawback is that you have to wait until the 2028 model year to have your own Q50, but patience often pays off.