Of course the Nissan fans said I was making this up when I said this months ago.

http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/05/26...powerful-cars/

Yes, the Europeans are luckier than Americans when it comes to cars. Heck they are even lucky when it comes to getting the hottest cell phone technology. Infiniti is ready to launch in Europe, and Nissan engineers are making about 300 to 500 modifications on each car to prepare it for launch in October.

To name a couple of changes we may not be too pissed off about; the push-button switches on the center console will be replaced by ***** like the ones in a Mercedes or BMW. They will also get a new heated-seat system and stronger windshield wipers. Not that bad right? Those are things that we can possibly live without having here on the stateside. Well wait until you read about what else the Europeans will be getting.

Infiniti European models will be fitted with new stabilizers and bigger brakes than their American counterparts. Nissan will also introduce a new 7-speed automatic transmission along with a V6 diesel engine around 2010 when the next-generation ‘M’ arrives.

Not only that, Infiniti’s V6 engines in Europe will be more powerful. While we see a 3.5 liter unit here on the G35 sedan; Europeans will enjoy a slightly larger 3.7 liter V6.

Why? Infiniti says that Europeans supposedly driver faster and they need cars that stand up to more high-speeds and wind noise. Yeah okay, that’s our ‘we believe you face.’ More like you need to stand strong next to Mercedes and BMW.

 

This is old news and why the winky?

It's only a matter of time before these European enhancements make their way to the US. Infiniti is simply starting the upgrade in Europe instead of the United States. I see no problem with that. Models get upgraded and updated every few years. This is normal.

 

I agree it'll trickle stateside. They're readying the launch in Europe so they want the best they can offer when they do launch and not have a 6spd 3.5 and a year later decide to replace it with the 7spd 3.7.

 

Good Stuff.......

 

I assume they are trying to get it right when they first release the models out in Europe. They don't want to screw up like how Lexus introuduced the third gen GS 300 then a year later a GS 350.I'm sure all those Euro upgrades will eventually make it to the US models too.

 

I'm surprised that Nissan wouldn't simultaneously release those same upgrades to it's cars made for America. Isn't their largest market here in the US? Why wouldn't they hit us with their best stuff here, first?

 

We always get the obese and sluggish versions of automobiles...Take the Pontiac GTO and G8 for example... they are just slower versions of the Holdens.

 

Right now in Europe there's uncertainty regarding the future of powerful cars. All this talk about emissions and global warming has gotten people freaked over here.

The trend is to buy luxury cars with sensible engines: 4-cylinder gas and diesels and small-displacement 6-cylinders are what people generally want and go for her.

Infiniti should enter the market from day one with efficient yet zippy motors and not powerful but fuel inefficient ones. They're essentially doing the same mistake that Lexus did when entering Europe. First impressions tend to last and Lexus completely lacked sensible engine options for the European market - and they still do aside from the IS220d and IS250.

 

it would be ok if Europe was it's Infiniti's primary market.


unfortunately, North America is Infiniti's ONLY market, and to turn around and let the Europeans have the upgrades before your biggest and only market....doesn't sound like a decision made to keep their existing customers happy.

 

I think you make a good point, this is a very difficult time to be entering the European market with high displacement petrol engined cars.
A lot of the changes to Infinitis for the European market are to do with the quality of plastics and fit and finish which, frankly, for a supposed luxury marque are not acceptable and needed to be sorted out.

 

Actually...north america ISN'T Infiniti's only market. Infiniti exists in the middle east, taiwan, china, russia, canada, korea and soon Europe.