Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next gen Q60 Coupe ponders high performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants Weve known since mid-December that Infinitis new global model naming convention would turn the current-generation G37 Coupe into the Q60 Coupe starting next year, but we havent been clear on whether the model-range-formerly-known-as-G would get a successor, especially as its volume has traditionally been a lot lower than its sedan counterpart.

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants grill

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants interior

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants logo

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants headlight

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants door panel

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants headlight 1

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants shiffter

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants wheal

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants side mirrior

Thankfully, Infiniti president Johann De Nysschen (above) has stepped up to confirm that the newly revealed Q50 sedan will receive a two-door counterpart, though perhaps not as quickly as some would like. According to an interview with Australias CarAdvice.com, De Nysschen says "the coupe we can probably expect two-and-a-half to three years down the road." That news also suggests that if theres an eventual convertible version, that its a long way off, too. Why so long? Infiniti has "a lot of priorities" – priorities that undoubtedly include an already-confirmed front-wheel-drive small hatchback/crossover.

The report also indicates that Infiniti has some aspirations for stretching its new Q50/Q60 range in a higher-performance direction to take on competitors like BMW and Audi, the latter being De Nysschens former employer. Theres far from a firm timetable offered, of course, with De Nysschen saying "someday in the future we will be able to offer more high performance versions [of Q50] than we have today... the dynamic capabilities of this platform are very significant. It can handle far higher power than the engines we are using at launch."

Infiniti boss De Nysschen confirms next-gen Q60 Coupe, ponders high-performance variants

Infiniti has long envisioned itself as Japans answer to BMW, and from where we sit, high-performance models would likely help keep the brand focused as it branches out into new segments like that of the JX, a three-row crossover with few sporting pretensions. In addition, its nascent Infiniti Performance Line [IPL] franchise could use the help – weve been underwhelmed with the pricy IPL G Coupe and Convertible to this point, and Infiniti will need to work harder if it truly wants to align its products with its growing Formula One marketing efforts.