Last month, Nissan unveiled restructuring plan that called cutting costs, closing plants and eliminating models.
Reports indicated Infiniti would be hard hit by the changes and they could eventually drop rear-wheel drive models as part of the switch to a “Nissan plus” strategy.
Fast forward to today and Infiniti’s new chairman, Peyman Kargar, has elaborated on what to expect. Speaking to Automotive News, Kargar said Infiniti will transition to a “sustainable business” which is profitable and offers an assortment of premium products.
Also Read: Infiniti Details Their Dual Electrification Strategy, Announces Gas-Powered EV With Up To 429 HP
While a number of Nissan models will be dropped, Kargar said Infiniti is “not going to shrink or reduce the lineup.” However, it’s worth noting the company has already phased out the Q70 in North America.
Kargar also teased there are a “lot of good things are in the pipeline that are not visible today.” He didn’t elaborate, but the company is preparing to introduce the QX55 crossover coupe later this year.
Speaking of upcoming models, the executive confirmed they will offer multiple powertrain options including internal combustion engines, electric vehicles and “high-performance” e-Power variants. The company has previously described the latter as gas-powered EVs which will have a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine and a small battery pack with a capacity between 3.5 and 5.1 kWh.
The petrol engine will generate electricity for electric motors which will have combined outputs ranging from 248 hp (185 kW / 251 PS) to 429 hp (320 kW / 435 PS). However, unlike plug-in hybrids, the e-Power models won’t have charging ports.
The idea is kind of crazy, but Infiniti has previously said gas-powered EVs combine the best parts of electric and ICE vehicles. In particular, the company has said they’ll offer instantaneous acceleration without recharging or range anxiety.
Kargar didn’t talk about the more controversial elements of the plan, but he noted Infiniti will have closer ties to Nissan. This has fans worried as future Infiniti models are expected to share platforms and powertrains with Nissan vehicles. This could potentially result in the Q50 being heavily based on the Nissan Altima.
