Infiniti boss Johan de Nysschen connected the all-too-close dots during the Detroit auto show, explaining that the new Q50—that’s the G37 replacement, remember?—will be offered in the U.S. with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine designed by Mercedes-Benz. De Nysschen was speaking with Autoweek, and Infiniti reps have since confirmed to us the accuracy of the quotes.
The two companies entered an agreement early in 2012 for Nissan to build Daimler’s four-cylinder engines at a factory in Tennessee. Daimler will use the engines in the next-gen C-class, which begins production later this year in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and potentially in the upcoming GLA-class compact SUV. In addition to the Q50, Infiniti’s future Q40 compact will also receive the Benz-engineered motors; it’s a handy fit, since the Q40’s front-drive platform is borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, too. (More on the Benz/Infiniti platform-sharing deal here.)
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Expect between 210 and 240 horsepower from the 2.0-liter mill. If there’s even a glimmer of hope that Infiniti will offer the Q50 with a manual transmission in the U.S.—so far, the 3.7-liter V-6 and hybrid exclusively mate to a seven-speed auto—it’ll be in the model with this engine. All-wheel drive also will be on the table, we’re quite certain, as Infiniti recognizes that such a setup is necessary to sell premium cars in the U.S. and is even offering it with the Q50 hybrid.
