NASHVILLE, Tenn. – As we look forward to another successful year in 2015, we reflect on 14 memorable moments 2014. Have a safe and happy holiday, from everyone at INFINITI.
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INFINITI won the first-ever People’s Choice Award as part of the 11th annual Los Angeles Auto Show Design Challenge with SYNAPTIQ, a unique answer to this year’s theme of “Sensing the Future: How Will Cars Interact With Us In 2029?” INFINITI designers from its San Diego studio looked toward the future in which augmented reality, 3D hologram and wearable technologies may be a part of the everyday driving experience, creating a seamless interaction between man and machine. |
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Nov. 20 Michael Bartsch, vice president, INFINITI Americas, and Alfonso Albaisa, executive design director, INFINITI Motor Company, Ltd., were at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show to support the North American debut of the Q80 Inspiration Concept. Bartsch and Albaisa discussed the importance of this vehicle as a beacon of design for vehicles that are destined to appear in their dealer showrooms. |
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Nov. 19 INFINITI Motor Company, Ltd. commemorated its 25th year anniversary with a look forward to the future with the Q80 Inspiration Concept, which made its North American debut at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Q80 Inspiration Concept foreshadows the next generation of leading INFINITI technologies. In its brief 25 year history, INFINITI was the first automaker to offer many technologies which are now common, including RearView Monitor, Around View® Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, and others. |
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Oct. 1 Since establishing its global headquarters in Hong Kong and inaugurating INFINITI Motor Company Limited, INFINITI has taken decisive steps to strengthen its brand presence and globalize its business. The relocation to Hong Kong means INFINITI is strategically placed for growth in emerging luxury markets such as China while remaining closely connected to the west. The growth plan is underpinned by a commitment to offer product alternatives for a new generation of young-minded premium customers and to defy the conventions set by the brands currently dominating the premium segment. |
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Sept. 23 Making a world debut in Paris (and a later U.S. debut in Los Angeles), the INFINITI Q80 Inspiration concept is a vision of category-breaking, supreme luxurious driving. It's an audacious and elegant step forward for INFINITI as a global player designed to shake up the status quo in the premium large four-door club – a no-compromise ambassador of driver-centric powertrain and onboard technologies. |
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Sept. 9 Roland Krüger, most recently a senior vice president at BMW Group in charge of the German sales region and with an accomplished track record in the premium automotive business, was appointed president of INFINITI and a senior vice president of the Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., the parent company of the premium brand. |
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July 7 INFINITI announced the winners of its global talent search initiative that will see three engineering students given the career opportunity of a lifetime with World Championship-winning Formula One team, INFINITI Red Bull Racing. After a grueling three-day world final event in the UK which saw 12 hopefuls from around the world competing for victory in the INFINITI Performance Engineering Academy, it was William Priest from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, UK; Eric LaRoche from Hamilton Square, New Jersey; and Jason Zide from Laguna Beach, California who were deemed the winners. Along with a lucrative 12-month work placement with the team beginning in September, the winners received accommodation in the UK, an INFINITI company car and full salary. |
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INFINITI began assembly at the INFINITI Decherd Powertrain Plant, a collaboration between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler AG. The first engine to be assembled at the all-new facility was a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline 4-cylinder developed by Daimler. The engines are to be used in European versions of the INFINITI Q50 sports sedan and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class assembled in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. |
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June 23 The powerful INFINITI Q50 Eau Rouge prototype enjoyed its first dynamic public appearance at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England. The Q50 Eau Rouge Prototype entertained the crowds at the festival as it roared past with its powerful twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine running at full throttle in the hands of Christian Horner, INFINITI Red Bull Racing Team Principal and Sebastian Buemi, INFINITI Red Bull Racing's Test and Reserve Driver. |
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June 8 "I'm a grand prix winner! I think it still seems a bit surreal to be honest, just because it all happened so quickly at the end. I was third for a while, and then it all happened in a really exciting fashion. Once I got past Perez I knew I just had to drive clean and get in Rosberg's DRS zone and, from then on, it was just awesome.” |
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April 21 Edmunds.com named the 2014 INFINITI Q50 among its “Top Rated Vehicles.” The QX60 was also awarded as one of its “2014 Most Popular on Edmunds.com Midrange Luxury SUVs” and the QX80 was named as one of its “Most Popular on Edmunds.com Premium Luxury SUVs.” |
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April 17 At the 2014 New York International Auto Show, the head of INFINITI Americas, Michael Bartsch, talked about delivering on an ambitious growth strategy that has been outlined for the brand. Entering into its 25th year of selling premium automobiles in the U.S., INFINITI is on the move with an updated QX80, the new QX80 Limited, and an updated INFINITI Q70 that comes with the option of a new, extended-wheelbase model. |
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April 17 INFINITI announced a slate of new 2015 models during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show, including exclusive versions of INFINITI's two flagship models – Q70 performance luxury sedan and QX80 Limited full-size SUV. In addition to the new QX80 Limited and Q70L (Long Wheelbase) models, both the QX80 and Q70 were redesigned for the 2015 model year. The Q70, Q70L and QX80 went on sale at INFINITI retailers nationwide in the fall, followed by the new QX80 Limited in the winter. |
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At the 1989 North American International Auto Show, INFINITI pulled the covers off its very first vehicle, the groundbreaking INFINITI Q45 performance luxury sedan. The press conference held at the show created a tremendous stir. Not only was a Japanese manufacturer bold enough to hold its announcement in the heart of the American domestic car industry, it was signaling its intent to challenge the traditional European luxury brands with a flagship sedan capable of going head-to-head in terms of performance and engineering. Even more notable, INFINITI executives announced that the Q45 would do it on its own terms. |
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