Infiniti is noted for high-quality vehicles but often seems just off the pace when compared to Lexus and German leaders BMW, Audi and Mercedes. But it has taken a few strides forward with its fully redesigned and stunning 2017 Q60. Specifically, the twin-turbo Red Sport 400.
The sweet red luxury coupe is a head-turner with its low, wide stance and broad chrome-lined grille, complemented by vertical chrome blades behind the front wheels. The profile is beautifully sculpted, looking almost like rushing rapids, and the car's sweeping rear pillars and window create an aura of speed.
While it's not the fastest or most powerful in its category (hey, we're talking AMGs and M class here), the Red Sport has the guts to get to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph. This top-line Q60 gets an enhanced version of Infiniti's new 3.0-liter V-6, capable of 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.
Power gets routed to the rear wheels or all four through a 7-speed automatic transmission that's efficient and smooth-shifting. Wheel-mounted paddle shifters are also available but, frankly, are unusually sluggish and best left alone.
So stick it in drive mode and enjoy a fun, brisk ride that dives into corners eagerly while maintaining a secure, confident composure. The ride is a bit firm but it's fine on the open road, where the Red Sport actually is quite comfortable.
There are plenty of options to refine the ride to your liking. Powertrain settings range from Standard and Snow to Sport Plus, which firms up the suspension and improves the engine response. A Personal mode lets you create your own settings and store them.
Also, Infiniti's Dynamic Digital Suspension monitors road conditions and adapts to them accordingly, smoothing out the road's bumps and dips.
And then there's the Direct Adaptive Steering system. This one is designed to cut back on vibrations and respond better to driving conditions, but it also seems to numb the steering and road feel. Might want to test out that option before slapping down the extra $1,000.
Fuel economy for the rear-wheel-drive Red Sport is EPA-rated at 20 mpg city, 27 highway, for a combined score of 22 mpg. Those figures drop just 1 mpg for the AWD.
Inside, a bright, roomy cabin is accented with silver optic fiber trim and has a full complement of tech features borrowed from Infiniti's Q50.
Dual stacked touch screens offer access to the features: The 8-inch one on top is devoted to navigation and vehicle info, and a 7-inch screen below controls audio and multimedia connections. Both screens, unfortunately, don't handle sun glare well, and polarized sunglasses make them even harder to see.
Leather seats up front are supple, supportive and comfortable; rear seaters may find headroom tight due to the sharp slant of the roofline. The Red Sport version also gets power-adjustable driver's seat bolsters and steering wheel plus 19-inch wheels.
High-tech safety features abound, most of them available in two optional packages. The Technology package ($1,850) offers intelligent cruise control, blind spot intervention, and lane-departure warning and prevention. A Driver Assistance package ($2,250) adds forward collision warning, emergency braking with pedestrian detection, Around-View monitor with moving object detection and backup collision intervention.
With all this tech and 400 horses in a hot red coupe, Infiniti has surged a bit closer to the competition. And, if your neighborhood's anything like mine, there will be no shortage of thumbs up in your direction.
