INFINITI has been a name long synonymous with luxury and throughout the history of INFINITI, the car manufacturer has been setting and surpassing luxury standards. Despite only being in existence since 1985, INFINITI was quickly able to match, and then exceed, industry standards set by companies which had been in the space for much longer while also providing unmatched innovation to become the leaders in customer satisfaction. Here, we’ll take a deeper look at the history of INFINITI to see what’s made them become an industry leader in high-performance luxury vehicles.
The Beginning
The history of INFINITI begins in 1985 when an elite group within Nissan forms, brought together with the purpose of building a new division of performance luxury vehicles with a more human-centric design that would challenge the prevailing American and European luxury brands that had dominated the space for decades. In 1987, a name was chosen for this new line of performance luxury vehicles and just like that, INFINITI was born. With the feeling of forward movement taking hold, the now iconic emblem was designed, depicting two central lines extending into the horizon. This emblem also paid homage to Nissan’s Japanese origins, with the emblem also resembling the iconic Mount Fuji, and any history of INFINITI would not be complete without mention of Japan.
World, Meet INFINITI
While INFINITI car history dates back to the mid-eighties, it wasn’t until the late eighties that consumers were first introduced to what a human-centric performance luxury car could be. In 1989, INFINITI launched with 51 dealers in the United States and had two models available – the Q45, a convention-defying sedan, and the M30, a performance-oriented coupe. These vehicles, alongside the INFINITI Total Ownership program, quickly made the brand a competitor and in 1990 a third model – the G20 – was introduced.
The VQ Engine
No account of the history of INFINITI would be complete without mention of the VQ engine. In 1995, INFINITI introduced a thrilling new family of V6 engines – the VQ engine – that were optimized for power, torque, and fuel consumption. For the next 14 years, the VQ would rank among the World’s 10 Best Engines, an achievement that has yet to be matched. The VQ engine is the predecessor of the INFINITI Twin Turbo V6 engine and its success is one of the proudest moments in INFINITI car history.
Pioneering Innovation and Growth
INFINITI took a big leap into the new millennium, introducing RearView Monitor in 2001 and INFINITI Voice Recognition in 2002. Using external cameras, the RearView Monitor brought what was behind the vehicle to the in-dash display for an entirely new perspective and the pioneering voice recognition software gave drivers the ability to take command of their vehicle without taking their hands of the wheel. The G35 Sport Sedan and Coupe were introduced in 2003 and laned on Car and Driver’s Ten Best Cars list, a pivotal moment in the history of INFINITI. Thanks to these innovations and the G35 Sport Sedan and Spirt Coupe, the early 2000s were the best years the company has had thus far, and INFINITI car history really takes off after this.
More and More Innovations
The history of INFINITI is ripe with pioneering and 2007 saw two new innovations: the world’s first Around View Monitor and the Lane Departure Prevention system. The Around View Monitor elevated the parking experience, making it easier to maneuver a vehicle in and out of tight spaces, while the Lane Departure System not only alerted drivers if they were about to drift into a neighboring lane but also automatically compensated. In 2010 INFINITI introduced the world’s first Blind Spot Intervention system which senses other vehicles in neighboring lanes and automatically applies the brakes when needed. Then in 2012 INFINITI revealed another world’s first – Backup Collision Intervention, which detects what a driver may miss when going in reverse.
The Revolutionary VC-Turbo
After more than 20 years in the making, the revolutionary VC-Turbo, the world’s first production variable compression ratio engine, is introduced. The VC-Turbo is one of the most technologically advanced engines ever created and is capable of physically transforming on demand to give drivers the efficiency of four cylinders with the performance one would expect out of a much larger engine.
INFINITI car history is far from over, and you can be a part of this history with the purchase of a new or used vehicle from INFINITI OF DENVER. No matter which INFINITI model you choose to make history with, our team of award-winning professionals will assist you along the way.