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27/03/2011
By EWAN KENNEDY
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Infiniti is Nissan’s upmarket marque in the same way that Lexus operates to sell top end models in the Toyota empire.
Infiniti tried, with little success to get into the Australia prestige automotive market in the mid 1990s. It imported a large sedan called the Infiniti Q45. The Q45 could easily be mistaken for a Jaguar and was a hit in the USA, but didn’t work in Australia, possibly because of a bizarre advertising campaign that didn’t actually show us what the car looked like.
Personally I’m piqued by the fact that the Infiniti Q45 is one of few cars of any consequence I haven’t driven in close to 40 years in this job. Someone pranged the press review Infiniti Q45 early in the piece and Nissan Australia, aware it had been getting poor write ups at the time of its demise, decided not to replace it.
All that is, as they say, history, and Nissan Australia is looking to Infiniti and beyond as it brings the upmarket brand back to Australia. A new company, Infiniti Cars Australia (ICA) has been set up. While ICA shares CEO Dan Thompson with Nissan Australia, it has employed senior executives from a variety of backgrounds, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Saab and, interestingly, Swatch.
A finance division has also been established in Australia and ICA tells us it will offer interesting new products in credit and leasing as well as providing a range of traditional choices.
It’s still early days for Infiniti Cars Australia and a lot of work has to be done before imports commence midway through 2012. Discussions are taking place with prospective dealers most of whom are already involved in prestige cars. Initially, Infiniti will be sold in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, with other capital cities and major country cities following later.
Rather than concentrating on the luxury models as happened in the 1990s, Infiniti will bring in a strong cross section of automotive styles. These will include the Infiniti FX, a sporting SUV crossover; the Infiniti G37 coupe and convertible, and the Infiniti M luxury performance sedan.
Stay tuned and we will give further information on the new Infiniti marque in Australia as it unfolds. |
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