Infiniti Q50 Diesel: Geneva Motor Show 2013

The new Infiniti Q50 – the Infiniti G37 as was – has had its European debut at Geneva and the world debut of the Q50 Diesel with Mercedes power.

[nggallery id=1359 template=customlinks]

The new Infiniti Q50, the first new Infiniti to get the ‘Q’ badges and known as the G37 in its previous life, arrived at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

But, as we revealed last year, the new Q50 would make its European debut at the Geneva Motor Show and we would get to see a Q50 with ‘European Power’. A diesel-engined Q50, in other words.

Really, if Infiniti is to have a prayer of making any impact on the UK and European ‘Premium’ market, they need a convincing diesel engine for the Q50. They’ve managed to achieve that by raiding the Mercedes parts bin and have picked up the Mercedes 2.1 litre diesel we’re familiar with from the C Class and E Class.

Fitted in the new Infiniti Q50, the Mercedes diesel offers decent headline economy – 64mpg with 115g/km emissions – and performance, although not startling, is under 9 seconds to 62mph and you can have it with either a Mercedes six-speed manual or seven-speed auto ‘box.

But it won’t just be a diesel Q50 on offer from Infiniti, we in the UK and Europe are to get the Q50 Hybrid too, which offers a 3.5 litre V6 with 359bhp and the promise of 5.5 seconds to 62mph and 45mpg.

We’re not convinced the new Q50 looks ‘Premium’ enough to offer competition to BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Jaguar – or, for that matter, Lexus – but at least they have a chance if they have a model in the range that can be gobbled up by fleet buyers for its frugal diesel lump.

The Infiniti Q50 goes on sale in the UK in Europe. No prices have been revealed yet.