LONDON: Infiniti’s first premium small car, the Q30 hatch, has broken cover early thanks to a leaked image surfacing ahead of the car’s Frankfurt Motor Show debut.
Previewed in concept form in 2013, the production Q30 maintains much of the complex surfacing seen on the concept. Details such as lights, mirrors, and door handles have been made more user, and production-friendly.
Infiniti has chosen to give the Q30 a taller than normal ride height, not dissimilar to Citroen’s high-riding DS 4 hatch. Despite this, and the Q30’s black-lipped guards, a more rugged QX30 crossover is still expected to join the range later.
As with the larger Q50, the Q30 will borrow from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin. In this case the MFA architecture that underpins the A-Class and B-Class will sit beneath the Q30’s skin.
Engines and transmissions are also likely to come courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
Clearly visible in the leaked image is a ‘2.2d’ badge on the front guard likely indicating a version of the engine seen in the A 200 CDI (soon to be renamed A 200d) will sit beneath the bonnet.
Production for the Q30 is set to take place at Nissan’s Sunderland plant in the UK, and will be joined later by the QX30. The pair will be the first Infiniti models built in Europe.
After the Frankfurt debut the Q30 is expected to be available in Europe before the end of the year. An Australian debut for the Q30 has yet to be confirmed.
