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Infiniti coming to Australia

By Alborz Fallah |

At the recent launch of the Nissan 370Z Roadster, Nissan Australia CEO and MD Dan Thompson told CarAdvice that he has a team of staff working full time to bring Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti to Australia in the near future.

Infiniti has been a big success in the United States in recent years and is Nissan’s Lexus. The Luxury marque will compete with Lexus and of course, the European brands as well.

No exact timing was revealed but the likelihood of the brand surfacing in Australia over the next 36 months is reasonably high.

Infiniti has built its reputation on creating beautiful, feature packed cars and Nissan is determined to expand its global share of the luxury market.

Do you think Infinity will work in Australia?


 
  • vti07

    Apart from Lexus, I cannot see the point of bringing these brands (Infinity, Acura et al) to Australia. The market is way too small. Anyone remember Mazda’s Eunos brand?

    • Myke

      Eunos failed because Mazda was attempting to rapidly increase its brand to match Toyota, Honda and Nissan and was meet by the Asian Financial Crisis. Plus most of their cars were heavily based on Mazdas unlike Lexus and Infiniti. I agree that Acura wouldn’t do well here, many of their products aren’t a huge step up from Honda and some are rebadged in Australia (think Legend and Accord Euro). All Infiniti’s vehicles are RWD-based and they have made a good attempt to distance themselves from Nissan products.

    • Baji

      Eunos was just a spin-off of mazda, which sold supposedly ‘luxury’ and ‘up-market’ variants of mazda models. The Mazda equivalent to Infiniti, Acura, Lexus etc would have been Amati. The initial Amati range would have included the Amati 500 (mazda millenia/eunos800), a luxury sports coupe based on the Mazda Cosmo and the Amati 1000 (a rear-wheel drive V12 successor to the Mazda 929)

      If you take a look at the Mazda Millenia and the Cosmo, you can tell that they’ve been developed for a different audience from regular mazda customers as they’ve been engineered to a far greater degree and quality.

      Like Myke said, any attempts at a luxury marque for mazda failed because of the Asian Financial Crisis. Had mazda been successful, i could only imagine what they would have been able to produce. :-)

  • Shak

    It will definetley work. If people are willing to pay $200 000 for jacked up Toyota’s then why not that much for a brand that is actually sporting.

  • Hung Low

    About time! They have a great range and Lexus will look 2nd rate in comparison, so will the Toe-rag with the FX!

    • Baddass

      I agree 100%. Infiniti is a great brand, with daring and handsome styling, good dynamics and real luxury over all it’s models. This is the best news I’ve heard all day!

  • The Oracle’s Teacher

    Now all nissan need to do is stop sending us their other rubbish and update. The Tiida needs replacing ASAP. The Infinty range has some stunning cars. If the price is right they will sell.

  • Dennis

    Awesome! We will finally get the skyline back! (re-badged as what i don’t know)

    The V36 Sedan and Coupe are really nice cars…

    • Patrick

      G Sedan or G coupe. We have Infiniti in Canada.

  • Innova

    Hope they dont delay the time like Cadillac. I have always been a big fan of INFINITI. EX35, FX50, G37, M45 they are all great cars.
    So, where is Acura? (Dont tell me they are Accord Euro and Honda Legend).

  • XYZ

    Infiniti was in Australia in the past. Did not last long. When it packed up and left, resale value for the few owners fell like a stone (might not even find a buyer for the used cars). I doubt it will last long this second time. Lexus is now very established (resale values are better than Audi) and will bring in the highly acclaimed IS 350 later this year.

    • HyundaiSmoke

      Oh dont worry Lexus values are starting to drop in many places, mate.

      Of course someone will state that Im talking absolute rubbish, however that doesnt negate the fact that its true.

      Audi is kicking ass in many markets including the US. Audis March upmarket is working like gangbusters, and so is VWs too.

      I think Infiniti is working on a new look combined with the right powertrains, etc.. will make plenty of money for them.

      • Hung Low

        Changes including a Hybrid line up!

    • Hung Low

      Back then, there was only one model the Q45 which despite being a great car had the visual stimulus of a Skoda and the market was totally dominated by Ford and Holden. Times have changed, the current Infiniti range is stunning and highly regarded worldwide.

  • punkzappa

    infiniti will succeed with the right dose of marketing, price and range.

    not like when they only released the q45 (i think) ages ago which didnt have any of the above to help break into the market.

  • http://Audi Robj

    Finally, we get Skyline.

  • Tbs2010

    Finally now there is no need to have to import them. Price it right though fx vs prado and mitsubitshi, skyline vs is300 ect.

    • yowza

      For those people rejoicing because the V36 Skyline can be sold here without importing are delusional.

      Currently You can import a V36 Coupe for $40K, pay the $2K compliancing etc… you have a 200+ kW coupe that is handsome and brilliant.

      WHEN Infiniti comes…. you will pay $80K for it, as its going to be taxed differently.

      If 370Z is selling for 75K, then what would a 4 seater/luxury version sold for?

      And dont give me that “insurance” “parts replacement” crap argument… you can always get replacement parts through import places, they even help you find second hand…. all for cheaper than what “Infiniti” would charge you when they officially sell cars here.

      Bottomline, if you put the extra effort on importing, you can get the V36 for $45K…. once Infiniti is for sale here retail, Importing them will be banned… and you’d pay $80~90K for 1.

      Bad news really…

  • Valet Dabess

    well i, don’t think their cars look all that great

  • Al Juraj

    Infinitis are great cars, possibly a notch higher than Audi an only a few lower than BMW. They are seriously competitive in design and performance. But the marketing needs to be done properly for this to succeed. Crap cars that sell are better than good ones that don’t. It’s about time the really worthy vehicles are bought for a change.

    • JEKYL & HYDE

      there is your reason it won’t be a success…marketing!nissan don’t know how,and don’t give a stuff…

      • scottwheels

        Amen! Nissan do an abysmal job of marketing in this country! Over the years they have had some seriously good vehicles, let down by poor marketing. Toyota have their position through strong brand management, although the facade is starting to crumble…

    • yowza

      Audi is not inferior to Infiniti.

      Infiniti makes good cars better priced than Audi. But Audi is not inferior.

      I’d take Audi over BMW… BMW is over rated in Australia, outside the M3/335i, Audi has a more attractive range and better styled too.

  • hazyman

    I love this brand, and Nissan believed to be Japan’s most technically advanced manufacturer.

    • cruickster

      Hey I like the infinti’s too but I think the mantle of Japan’s most technically advanced manufacturer would sit with Honda not Nissan.

    • yowza

      Nissan isnt the most tech advanced..

      BUT they are the most fun loving… they make the most exciting cars out of Japan.

      Honda and Toyota are most advanced tech wise… Honda are gadgety etc… but Toyota are slightly more advanced in electronics.

      Nissan’s power train/engine department gets a lot more freedom than Toyota or Honda… thats for sure.

      And yes Nissan would be my fave Japanese manufacturer too.

  • bulldogs

    finaly bring on Infinitis.