Autoblog Editor Mike Austin checks outs the almost-self-driving moves of Infiniti's entry-level sedan.
TranscriptMICHAEL AUSTIN: Hi. I'm Mike Austin with an Autoblog Daily Driver from the 2015 Infinity Q50S. The Q50S starts at $44,645. Our car has a few options on it. But the main one we're going to talk about is the $3,200 technology package. And that's what lets me do this.
As you can see, I'm driving without my hands on the wheel, and I haven't careened off into the ditch yet. This is really autonomous driving in its infancy. It's kind of if you compare smart cruise today to an old-fashioned, traditional cruise control. People say, oh, my god, I can't believe you're taking your hands off the wheel. Well, it's kind of the same as saying, oh, my god, I can't believe you're taking your feet off the pedals.
With cruise control, people just know, hey, you've still going to hit the brakes. Even with the smart cruise system, it's the same with the smart steering. You can't let over-- you can't let total control go to the computer and read a book. In terms of the systems, this has the full suite that you'd find on any other high-tech car. It has lane keeping assist. It has blind spot warning. It has forward collision assist and that smart cruise control.
Like I said, this one will go a little step further and actually control the distance to the car in front. A couple of other cars do that, but I feel like this one is special. One thing it doesn't have is automatic parking, which seems kind of funny for a car that can steer itself.
What makes all this electronic wizardry possible is steer by wire. Steer by wire has a few advantages. For one thing, you don't have to deal with all of the noise, all the bumps and shimmies in the road. You get at the wheels, you can choose what you want filtered out into the steering wheel. And an electronic power steering system can do a little bit to damp that. But steer by wire, you have a complete choice.
I drove this over a whole weekend. And if you have the system off, it really just feels like a pretty run-of-the-mill electronic power system steering you have now. So perhaps this car got a bad rap early on because people weren't quite sure what they were actually doing with the car. But aside from that intelligent steering, The Q50S is a perfectly nice midsize luxury car.
I like the materials in here. I think the engine makes good power. Some people don't like the coarseness of the Nissan VQ engine, but I think it's well muted here. Everything else drives well. One really notable thing about the Q50S is the dual-screen function on the infotainment system.
So now you've got-- the top is basically just an app screen. That's all it does. And then the bottom is used for input and extra buttons. There is a hard button for audio, a hard button for a home screen, and a hard button for climate. You've also got a row of climate buttons on the side to deal with that as a shortcut.
I drove four hours home from Northern Michigan this weekend, a lot of it with my hands off the wheel-- again, paying full attention to the car, nudging it as necessary, taking corners as necessary. And I have to say that it really does reduce fatigue. And I think that's the promise of the piloted driving future, is less fatigue, fewer accidents, greater safety. The Infinity Q50S is a really good peek into that future.
For Autoblog, I'm Mike Austin, and keep your eyes on the road.
The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander adds another three-row SUV to its line-up that fits between the smaller Highlander and the larger truck-based Sequoia. It features styling closely related to the RAV4, with a wide stance and crisp lines. Three powertrains are available including a non-hybrid turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a hybrid …
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 is a big, lovable luxury beast. Under the hood, it’s packing a biturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 making 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, propelling this three-row SUV from 0-60 miles per hour in a swift 4.1 seconds. But it’s not all about speed. With an …
The winner of Autoblog’s 2023 Technology of the Year competition is Mercedes-Benz’s Dolby Atmos audio system. It defeated a number of impressive other new technologies like BMW’s Theater Screen, Ford’s Remote Rev and more. Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio has been present in theaters and home theater setups for quite some …
The 2023 Lotus Emira is finally here! Arriving now in limited quantities after multiple supply-chain delays, this V6-powered First Edition gets 400 horsepower out of its supercharged Toyota engine, which is mated to an old-fashioned, six-speed manual transmission. The engine's mounted in the middle -- right where you want it …
The 2024 Honda Ridgeline is getting the TrailSport treatment along with a number of key interior updates for the entire lineup. The big news is obviously the new Ridgeline Trailsport, which adapts many of the same elements of the all-new Pilot TrailSport and the recently revealed updated Passport TrailSport. That …
The Maserati MC20 represents a rebirth of the Maserati brand. It’s the Italian marque’s supercar and represents a true flagship product that will get folks excited about every other new Maserati on its way. Everything about the two-door coupe, from how it looks, to how it drives, passes the supercar …
For 2024, the Honda Passport picks up some improvements for the off-road focused TrailSport trim, as well as a style-focused Black Edition. The TrailSport's upgrades include all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels as well as retuned shocks, springs and anti-roll bars for better off-pavement performance. The Black Edition is the new …
The 2024 Honda Prologue will be Honda's first widely-available electric car available in the U.S. While it is based on the Chevy Blazer EV, it has a number of unique qualities, starting with its unique exterior and interior styling that are much cleaner and more reserved than the Chevy. Honda …
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S is the Acura branded variant of the Honda Civic Type R. It gets the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and six-speed manual transmission with 320 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It does have a number of differences, though. The design is different with a …
The F150 is a significant refresh for 2024 and features a new tailgate, bed dividers and an updated design. The tailgate can now swing out -- Ford joins the tailgate wars with Ram and GM -- and the headlights give the F150 a fresh look. The Tremor and Raptor are …
Ford brought three trims of its refreshed 2024 F-150 to the Detroit Auto Show, including the Tremor, Raptor R and Platinum. The Tremor shows off Ford’s fancy, new Pro Access Tailgate and a new modular bumper with a Ford Performance winch kit on it. Meanwhile, the Raptor R showcases Ford’s …
The 2025 Ford Mustang GTD is the most extreme Mustang and also one of the most extreme road cars ever made. Its body is largely made out of carbon fiber, and it's rocking a 5.2-liter supercharged V8 under its hood that is promised to make over 800 horsepower. Ford created …
The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic SUV is a very pleasant luxury EV to pop around in, and while it isn’t particularly sporty to drive, it sure is a relaxing space to spend time in. The EQE SUV is a similar size and class as the gas-powered GLE, though its …
