As promised earlier this year, Infiniti has premiered its Q30 active compact at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The vehicle is Infiniti's first entry into the premium compact segment and the carmaker has given the vehicle what it calls a "bold character and daring shape" based on the original 2013 concept.
The Q30 active compact measures 4,425-mm (174-in) long by 2,083-mm (82-in) wide. Depending on the model, it has a height of between 1,475 mm (58 in) and 1,495 mm (59 in). None of this is especially unusual for the premium compact sector, but the Q30 active compact does have a striking look nonetheless.
There is a muscularity to the sleek design, as well as a sense of movement-when-stationary that car designers so cherish. The sculptural lines running down the side of the vehicle doubtless contribute to this and one could argue that these are a touch overwrought, or that the vehicle looks slightly stretched, but it is nonetheless something of a looker.
Infiniti would argue that these design nuances are borne from the Q30 active compact being "a new type of premium vehicle for a new type of consumer." It references generations X and Y, in particular, as demographics it is targeting and says that the vehicle will form a vital part of its plans for global growth. It is not, therefore, designed to be a fading wallflower.
There are both petrol- and diesel-engine versions of the Q30 active compact available. The 2.2-l diesel version is the most powerful, kicking out 125 kW (170 ps) and 350 Nm of torque. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission is reported to pre-select gears for smooth up- and down-shifting.
Customers will benefit from a plethora of technologies aimed at improving the driving experience. There's a parking assist function with views from around the vehicle shown on a screen up front and detection of moving objects for added safety. A blind-spot warning system is aimed at keeping the driver aware of other vehicles out of their line-of-sight, while Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking and Intelligent Cruise Control help drivers to avoid rear-ending other road-users. All this, and the vehicle's infotainment system is controlled via the driver's touchscreen interface.
The Q30 active compact is available as a base model, as well as Premium and Sport models. The Premium model is slightly taller than the others, providing easier access to and from the vehicle and a higher driving position. It also features LED front fog lamps, body-colored and heated door mirrors, chrome dual rectangular exhaust finishers and 18-in alloy wheels.
The Sport model sits a little lower on the road and has 19-in alloy wheels for better agility and handling. It has a bespoke bumper, gloss black front grille, custom body-colored sidesills, a sporty rear bumper and dual rectangular exhaust finishers.
Inside, Active Noise Cancellation sound-waves are emitted from the door speakers and sound-damping materials are also used to minimize noise. Infiniti says that this results in a 10 percent improvement in conversation audibility over the vehicle's leading competitor at a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
The interior is designed to be modern-looking and luxurious, with super-soft and tactile materials used to line key areas of the interior, such as door trims and the center armrest. Suede-like Dinamica material is used on the roof-line and pillars. There are a variety of trims from which to choose too, including "City Black," which mixes black upholstery with purple stitching, "Cafe Teak," which mixes brown and black upholstery with black stitching, and "Gallery White," which mixes white leather with red accents.
The Q30 active compact will go on sale in selected markets later this year.
The video below provides an overview of the design process.
Source: Infiniti
