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Autocar spoke to Infiniti Europe vice president, Jim Wright, to find out a little more about the firm’s plans.
The key battlefield for Infiniti is market-leading customer service, says the straight-talking Scot. Wright won’t go quite as far as saying “we’re going to out-Lexus Lexus”, instead promising “a significant stand-out offering that no-one else currently has.”
Key details are yet to be decided, but to match Lexus, Infiniti will have to offer a 60,000-mile warranty and full European RAC breakdown cover for the first three years and extended maintenance intervals for expensive items like cam-belts, currently 90,000 miles on some Lexus engines.
Owners will need to be pampered at hand-over and service time, too. A new Lexus is handed over with favourite radio stations and phone contacts programmed in, for example.
The foundation of Infiniti’s class-leading customer service in the UK will be a completely new network of dealers featuring striking interior design, modelled on sites already open for business in Russia.
The UK network will mirror Porsche’s strategy of out-of-town sites on major trunk routes in the suburbs of major cities and will be rolled out across the UK gradually from 2008.
A single dealer group will shortly be appointed UK distributor.
All the new Infinitis
October 2008 - G37 Saloon and Coupe
A sporty BMW 3-series competitor powered by a 3.7-litre V6 driving the rear wheels. Rave press reviews in US rate the G35 as superior to the BMW 330i. Coupe is snappily-styled two-door variant.
October 2008 - new FX 4x4
The 2008 Geneva motor show next year will be the location for the launch of Infiniti’s flagship 4x4. The dramatically styled, coupe-look FX is tipped to become even more futuristic. Engines will be V6 and V8 petrols.
Early 2010 - new 3.0-litre V6 diesel
Until Europe gets this all-new Renault/Nissan oil-burner, Inifiniti will struggle in sales charts. Expect 250bhp, Euro5 emissions and low C02/fuel consumption. Nissan recently unveiled an experimental V6, a test-bed for the in-line installation in Infiniti.
2011 - new M45
Infiniti’s 5-series challenger will be re-tooled for the end of the decade. Expect more radical styling, V6 and V8 petrols; and a V6 diesel.
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