- The Infiniti G will get a four-cylinder engine from Mercedes.
- Look for the engine to be smaller than the 2.5-liter V6 in the upcoming 2011 Infiniti G25.
- Mercedes has said it may again offer a four-cylinder C-Class in the U.S.; the C is a likely donor for the G.
PARIS — As part of the sweeping alliance with Daimler announced Wednesday, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said the Infiniti G will get a Mercedes-Benz four-cylinder engine.
Infiniti currently offers only V6 engines in the G sedan, coupe and convertible. It's likely that the Mercedes four-cylinder engine would have a smaller displacement than the entry-level 2.5-liter V6 in the 2011 Infiniti G25 .
Though the partners did not specify, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is already offered with several four-cylinder engines in Europe. Perhaps the mostly likely donor model is the C180 Kompressor, which uses a gasoline-fueled supercharged 1.8-liter inline-4 rated at 154 horsepower.
Mercedes-Benz executives have said they plan to offer four-cylinder engines in future U.S. versions of the C-Class, which is slated for a refresh in the 2011 model year. Mercedes has tested a supercharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder in C-Class prototypes. And you'll recall that the company offered a four-cylinder C-Class as recently as the 2005 model year.
Infiniti also plans to collaborate with Mercedes-Benz on development of a new compact series slotted below the G and aimed at the Audi A1 and the BMW 1 Series.
During the global conference call, Ghosn said: "There are some specific projects we are studying [with Mercedes].... Even though we are very cautious in making sure there is no confusion for the customer, we also know that, between Mercedes and Infiniti, there is little cross-shopping in the United States. The guy walking into an Infiniti showroom rarely has Mercedes as an option."
On mixing the two company cultures and components, Ghosn observed: "I'm sure the German approach is going to be complementary. We are eager to use these differences to enrich our products."
Inside Line says: Whether they're homegrown or sourced from Mercedes, Infiniti will need some smaller, more efficient engines to put in its G sedan in the face of tightening U.S. fuel economy requirements. — Anita Lienert and Paul Lienert, Correspondents
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zd1 says:
07:10 PM, 10/24/2010
Sign me up for this one!
Next Generation Infinity G Coupe with Mercedes V6 diesel(3.0 or higher). AWD and 7 or 8 speed automatic.
Torque- better mileage-high speed long distance crusing in a fine looking grand touring vehicle!
98millenias says:
04:29 PM, 09/21/2010
What about the 170-horse I-4 from the Altima ?? You can make it more refined to befit the G...
diehard1 says:
02:05 PM, 09/03/2010
4cyl engine in an Infiniti?... Please don't do this!!
mazzman says:
12:11 PM, 08/06/2010
The lead-in article mentioned a 1.4-liter supercharged engine that might be used in the 2011 Mercedes-Benz C-class cars... Maybe this is what Ghosn wants to put in a new, smaller Infinity,
a a G14 so to speak, as the cirrent Nissan 2.5-liter engine, downsized to well-under 2 liters might
impose too large a weight penalty. That said, I still think it would be a mistake for Infiniti to use Mercedes engines. Despite what Mercedes-Benz (and lots of it's owners) think, their power plants are *not* the best things out there, especially when you factor in build and service costs, and general reliability. If Infiniti/Nissan really needs an efficient, small-displacement four, I would think an inhouse, "clean sheet" design would be the way to go. Also, when you consider that M-B has AMG to do its high-performance engine work, while Infiniti/Nissan does theirs in house, it would seem to make sense for Infiniti/Nissan to design and build a new small-dislacement four-cylinder engine, and then license it to Mercedes-Benz!
---Mazz
jscion says:
02:10 PM, 04/10/2010
A Nissan-built 4-cylinder would certainly prove to be more reliable than a Mercedes 4. This is very weird!!! Why not just use the Altima's I-4 which would give customers the option of having a rear-drive 4-cylinder sedan! Not a bad idea I think! As for a small entry-level Infiniti...WHY?????
charlesb says:
10:10 AM, 04/09/2010
Exactly what Nissan's luxury division needs, a four banger to really amp up the prestige factor.
iskch says:
08:57 AM, 04/09/2010
Weird.
eric_l says:
07:05 AM, 04/09/2010
The comments that Renault would likely benefit from this alliance more than Nissan makes sense to me. Nissan's recent 1.8L GDI turbo in the Juke (180+hp) would seem to already trump whatever Mercedes has to offer. I'm not sure Infiniti would benefit from an entry level vehicle - why dilute the lineup with a lower vehicle? The dilineation between Nissan and Infiniti is very good right now, and I prefer no overlap.
sniperruff says:
06:22 AM, 04/09/2010
From what I've been reading, there is no indication that it will be for the "G":
"In a conference call with reporters today, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn confirmed that Infiniti will get an inline four-cylinder engine from Mercedes-Benz as a result of their newly-formed alliance announced yesterday. "
My guess would be a compact luxury, much like the TSX or the new Lexus whachama call it hybrid.
zoomzoomn says:
04:55 AM, 04/09/2010
I don't get it. Nissan has a truly peppy, if not entirely smooth four cylinder in the 2.5L. They'd do better working to smooth that engine out and give it direct injection for higher efficiency and power. Maybe even a turbo version of that, or their 2.0L is a viable solution. I don't know. I'm just not a fan of MB since the whole Chrysler debacle.