Despite Lost Sales, Infiniti Says Name Change Right Move
10-17-15, 07:10 PM
#31
The BMW 4 series can be had with a hard top vert and AWD and with two power plant options 428, 435.
I agree that it is a niche but as I keep saying, there are folks in cold weather regions with lots of dough and want what they want. The car companies (like BMW) can extract some of that dough by giving the folks what they want.
I agree that it is a niche but as I keep saying, there are folks in cold weather regions with lots of dough and want what they want. The car companies (like BMW) can extract some of that dough by giving the folks what they want.
10-17-15, 07:34 PM
#32
AWD convertibles, while they do exist here and there (Audi, I believe, does a couple of them), are not something that the auto industry, as a whole tends, to put much time and effort into. I don't necessarily agree with it, but the general reasoning behind it, from most auto marketers, is that those who would want AWD do a lot of driving in bad weather and/or conditions that aren't really conducive to top-down driving.
Back to the topic at hand. I've owned at least 9 Infinitis, starting with a '93 J30 and moving through a couple of FX35's, a G37 Coupe, an M45 and two M35s, and now we're on our second G37 Convertible. At one time, I thought they were the best Japanese alternative to BMW. I love the brand, but as someone else stated they just don't have a competitive product anymore. The new CUV and Coupe should help somewhat.
Re: the names, I no longer have any idea what stands for what, so what they have essentially done is alienate their loyal buyers by making the names of the models unrecognizable. I can certainly see how that would hurt sales. I don't see naming everything Q or QX as being comparable to German nomenclature. I guess they are trying to get to the 3 series (QX30), 5 series (Q50), 6 series (Q60), 7 series (Q70) recognition, but it just doesn't work. The guy had a good idea that was poorly executed.
10-17-15, 08:26 PM
#34
Lexus Champion
And you can contrast that with how Hyundai dealt with competing in the mid-lux segment. I instantly know what a Genesis coupe or sedan is. I don't even know where to start with QX nomenclature. I knew what a G or Nissan 300 was. They're in too deep now to change it from the looks of it.
10-17-15, 08:29 PM
#35
10-17-15, 09:05 PM
#37
Lexus Fanatic
10-17-15, 09:10 PM
#38
Lexus Fanatic
And AWD adds significant weight to a car that is already overburdened with the mechanism of a folding hard top. Audi can get away with it because their convertibles are soft tops (but they are still heavy).
Back to the topic at hand. I've owned at least 9 Infinitis, starting with a '93 J30 and moving through a couple of FX35's, a G37 Coupe, an M45 and two M35s, and now we're on our second G37 Convertible. At one time, I thought they were the best Japanese alternative to BMW. I love the brand, but as someone else stated they just don't have a competitive product anymore. The new CUV and Coupe should help somewhat.
Re: the names, I no longer have any idea what stands for what, so what they have essentially done is alienate their loyal buyers by making the names of the models unrecognizable. I can certainly see how that would hurt sales. I don't see naming everything Q or QX as being comparable to German nomenclature. I guess they are trying to get to the 3 series (QX30), 5 series (Q50), 6 series (Q60), 7 series (Q70) recognition, but it just doesn't work. The guy had a good idea that was poorly executed.
Back to the topic at hand. I've owned at least 9 Infinitis, starting with a '93 J30 and moving through a couple of FX35's, a G37 Coupe, an M45 and two M35s, and now we're on our second G37 Convertible. At one time, I thought they were the best Japanese alternative to BMW. I love the brand, but as someone else stated they just don't have a competitive product anymore. The new CUV and Coupe should help somewhat.
Re: the names, I no longer have any idea what stands for what, so what they have essentially done is alienate their loyal buyers by making the names of the models unrecognizable. I can certainly see how that would hurt sales. I don't see naming everything Q or QX as being comparable to German nomenclature. I guess they are trying to get to the 3 series (QX30), 5 series (Q50), 6 series (Q60), 7 series (Q70) recognition, but it just doesn't work. The guy had a good idea that was poorly executed.
I looked up the specs, the IS350c weights the same as the IS350AWD. Adding AWD to the IS350c would tip the scales to over 4000lbs.
10-17-15, 09:15 PM
#39
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
And you can contrast that with how Hyundai dealt with competing in the mid-lux segment. I instantly know what a Genesis coupe or sedan is. I don't even know where to start with QX nomenclature. I knew what a G or Nissan 300 was. They're in too deep now to change it from the looks of it.
10-17-15, 09:59 PM
#41
As Gyrase kindly pointed out, sales are increasing.
The M resign killed that car. They did a refresh during the Q70 period and it is selling better.
The Q50 does ok, not great. Rear seat passengers in the Q50 are a lot happier than those in an IS.
Again, once the little SUV and coupe get on the show room floors, their volume will go up. Simple story.
The M resign killed that car. They did a refresh during the Q70 period and it is selling better.
The Q50 does ok, not great. Rear seat passengers in the Q50 are a lot happier than those in an IS.
Again, once the little SUV and coupe get on the show room floors, their volume will go up. Simple story.
10-18-15, 02:08 AM
#42
Pole Position
That de guy really loves to rename models I guess. Out of all experience with whatever he was doing his stance is to mimic Audi branding. Sometime I wonder how these people get a job after a job. Caddy must have thought that he will bring in some internal info from VW Group so they settled for name change across line up, Then I wonder who runs Caddy and how they still have a job after bringing this de guy on a job after a poor job he did at Infiniti.
Lack of hyped product is Infiniti's Achilles right now but renaming was just the cream on top. We had discussion a while ago but its worth revisiting. If they wanted to rebrand why not rebrand with letter G, their most valuable letter, the best selling and the most recognizable model that has made Infiniti what it is today instead of Q that's been retired for over ten years now.
If Lexus is to consolidate their lettering across the board would they name all of their SUVs LX or RX? If this de guy was in charge it would probably be LX.
Lack of hyped product is Infiniti's Achilles right now but renaming was just the cream on top. We had discussion a while ago but its worth revisiting. If they wanted to rebrand why not rebrand with letter G, their most valuable letter, the best selling and the most recognizable model that has made Infiniti what it is today instead of Q that's been retired for over ten years now.
If Lexus is to consolidate their lettering across the board would they name all of their SUVs LX or RX? If this de guy was in charge it would probably be LX.
10-18-15, 04:27 PM
#44
Lexus Fanatic
Usually (but not always), a good lease deal means low projected depreciation of the vehicle involved. Accords of course, are known for their popularity and good resale value, so if you can get a similar deal in an G37 (BTW, the G37 is now known as the Q50), that would probably be a good deal in my book.
10-18-15, 06:26 PM
#45
The G37 became the Q40 prior to phase out.
I believe the cheap leases were a mix of, hey this car costs us not too much to make so let's move en for cheap at the end of the run and the, we want as many folks as we can get associated with the brand. Giving them cheap leases on the Q40 will likely get then back in the store to pick up something else in the future.
I believe the cheap leases were a mix of, hey this car costs us not too much to make so let's move en for cheap at the end of the run and the, we want as many folks as we can get associated with the brand. Giving them cheap leases on the Q40 will likely get then back in the store to pick up something else in the future.