Congratulations on your promotion to President of Infiniti of North America, now how do you save the company?

"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout) 10/07/2019 at 09:30 • Filed to: None

1

56

Your role: Save the have sunk ship that is Infiniti

Your company’s current status: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ; Your sales were down 43.9% in September and every single model you have suffered a double digit drop in sales.

Your model line up: Bad; your lineup is outdated and out classed. The newest model to come out with your badge is being clobbered.

Your turn around plan: (fill in here)

My plan to turn around this company starts with the QX50 and first I’d junk that overly complicated useless marketing tool of an engine. Second the entire infotainment package needs to be brought into 2019 almost 2020.

Next the QX30 needs a replacement, albeit a little cheaper and better refined. If I can literally shrink a better QX50, then we’re good.

The Q50 needs to be torn into pieces and brought up to spec that rivals Lexus, not Acura. The Sport trim needs to be sporty, the Luxe trim needs to be actually luxury; no more trying to be both. The current “Pure” trim needs to be expanded to encompass a good middle ground between sport and luxury

The Q60 can live on..but I’d consider axing it to focus on models that make money.

I don’t know what to do with the Q70..it’s a pile of poop in a busy market. Axe it for a year and bring it back with a much needed full rebuild.

The QX60 and QX80 need to both die and in their place need to come a proper and better looking 5 seater luxury SUV followed by a 7 seater. Neither can look like melting fish or Japanese battleships.

Final verdict: We’re doomed

jimz > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:39

8

pack it in. Infiniti got its start by riding Lexus’s coattails and re-working JDM vehicles theretofore unavailable in the US; Q45= Nissan President, M=Leopard/Gloria, J= Nissan Primera, etc.  But they’ve since lost any “why buy” cachet.  What, exactly does Infiniti bring to the table to make them worth considering?  

BahamaTodd > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:41

1

The QX30 just goes to show that its all about the badge. Based on a Mercedes and still didn’t sell, and now its been discontinued after 3 years.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:42

2

Nobody:

Infiniti:

E90M3 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:45

11

I’d stop making cars, and start making actual trash cans, since there’s actually a market for those. Everyone needs a trash can; no one needs a trash Infiniti. 

PS9 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:46

6

Plot twist; it’s not just infiniti that needs saving. The whole industry is crashing right now. The best plan would be to cut back the models that drop the most and try to ride out the storm.

...but one change that is going through immediately is we ditch this dumb, stupid, idiotic, no good, very bad nomenclature. I’d blame the decline on it. ‘Q’ is dead. Our cars will have cool names related to japanese swords now , starting with the two door coupe. Introducing; the Masamune.

Aremmes > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:47

3

First of all, stop calling every model Q. That was an extremely dumb move and it needs to get binned with prejudice.

Second, hire new designers and keep their designs exclusive to Infiniti. Their cars look too much like the mainstream Nissans they're based on.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:47

1

Tailfins and chrome. If it works, I’m a genius. If it doesn’t, it’s funny. In either case, free press.

InFierority Complex > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:49

3

Just say to hell with it and accept my golden parachute?

Tripper > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:54

2

You are not kidding! I red the FP article and went right to the Infiniti site to see what they had to offer and oooof! If I won one of those cars I wouldn’t even drive it home! You can spend fifty six thousand dollars on a Q50 which competes with what exactly?

A few years ago three mid level manager buddies of mine really needed to ditch their college cars for mid level manager cars. Naturally I steered them all toward a 3 series. One of them ended up with a base 330, another got some Infiniti thing that was far better and cheaper than the BMW “on paper”. Which happens to be my motto for Infiniti “looks great on paper”. The last guy is very practical, so I ended up steering him away from a 3 series and into a slightly used Lexus IS350, which he ADORES, haha.

Anyway, the point is that the guys used base 3 seires was so much nicer to live with and drive when compared to the brand new Infiniti. I can’t believe they’re still in business without a popular CUV.

Infiniti guy has some Chevy nothingmobile now. 3 series guy is leasing a new 3 series every two years. As you would probably guess, Lexus guy still has and loves his car. Beige as it may be, he has had no issues whatsoever (4 yearsish now). Sounds about right, right?

fintail > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 09:55

3

If I am into silly old superstition, pray and pray hard, as it will take a miracle.  I used to joke about Acura being irrelevant, this is on another level.

Tripper > jimz 10/07/2019 at 09:56

2

Nothing

Tripper > E90M3 10/07/2019 at 09:56

2

Trying to work for this guy

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:03

3

Fold it into ball, throw it under the table & forget about it.

Maxima Speed > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:15

0

Ooh!! I’ve actually got a plan here. I’ll type it up later when I get the chance (am at work).

way2blu does a rev update > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:17

2

Stop being “the Cadillac of Imports” (that’s what I’m calling Infiniti now) and GIVE US THE GODDAMN CONCEPTS

They even teased us with a Vettel-edition FX suv. In an X6 ///M & Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupé  market, this would print enough money to make the other concept-tease-mobiles too. Ugh!!

Arrivederci > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:23

4

Sweet. I recently turned around Nissan, so why not get a chance to do the same with Infiniti.

First, at great expense, let’s relocate our offices to Hong Kong New York , actually, let’s just leave ‘em right where they are.

Lineup Changes
Q50 - schedule for an immediate refresh. Emphasis on functional tech and all trims will be a PHEV. Pure will maximize EV range/economy and be basic luxury, Luxe will be luxury, stepped up and Sport will use the PHEV drivetrain to improve performance. AWD option on all trims.
Q70/Q70 L - Discontinued until the market improves.
Q60 - Discontinued until the market improves.
QX30 - Already discontinued. We will replace this with a PHEV CUV as entry-level luxury into the brand. Basic luxury, world-class infotainment. Great candidate for a subscription service.
QX50 - Carried over aside from vastly- improved infotainment. PHEV replacement goes in the pipeline.
QX60 - This should be our bread and butter. If development costs can bear it, it needs to be divorced from the Pathfinder. All trims will be PHEV, world-class infotainment, AWD standard. Benchmark the Lexus RXL and Lincoln Aviator.
QX80 - Carried over aside from vastly- improved infotainment. Starting MSRP drops at least $10k.

Dealership Changes
If there are an excess of dealers in metro areas, they will be culled. Remaining dealers will be upfitted with new elevations and all new showrooms to separate the purchase experience from the Infiniti of the past. Service areas will be upfitted to handle work on new PHEV vehicles. Sales staff will be appropriately trained and we’ll invest in improving the CPO program.

Marketing Changes
Given the emphasis on PHEVs, we’ll be the electrified luxury brand. We’ll market the availability of fuel plus the economy of electricity wrapped in a luxury package.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:34

3

Liquidate the whole thing and burn the plans and tooling for the VQ so nobody ever has to hear another one again.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:36

1

Let’s start by re-naming the entire lineup to cash in on brand equity . The QX50 becomes the EX (no engine denomination) , the Q50 and Q60 become the G35 (do what BMW did and add half a litre of displacement for turbos ) , the QX60 goes back to JX35 and the QX80 goes back to QX56.

Let’s start with the EX . It needs Android Auto and Apple CarPlay badly, so a new infotainment interface is necessary. Its biggest problem is promotion, there just isn’t any awareness of it .

The G35 sedan and coupe ? Stick the Red Sport 400 engine and a vLSD in every trim level and ditch steer-by-wire. Port the new infotainment interface to those too and add a page for boost, g-force and instant horsepower and torque . Add the tail lights and rear fascia from the new V37 Skyline onto the sedan and add more dash trim and exterior colour options . The big advertising push would be getting a 400-horsepower luxury car for the price of a 250-horsepower luxury car, which is part of why the original G35 sold so well. Throw a CD009 in the top S trim level too in order to pander to enthusiasts and magazines.

Kill the Q70.

JX35 gets similar new touchscreen infotainment with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Promote lease deals because it’s really priced in-line with a nicer Highlander.

QX80 gets the 9-speed from the new Titan and the new infotainment .

Use advertising to position Infiniti as a performance luxury brand. Sometimes it’s about going back to what worked in the past.

nermal > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:40

3

Simple - Offer 0% financing for 96 months on every model. Everybody approved!

Nothing can possibly go wrong with my plan. 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:44

3

Just start being honest with advertising with Title Max and payday loan store esque ads. “WE’LL APPROVE APPROVE APPROVE” “BAD CREDIT, NO CREDIT, APPROVED” “HOME OF THE 10 YEAR, 30% FINANCING!”

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > jimz 10/07/2019 at 10:48

0

A badge

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > E90M3 10/07/2019 at 10:48

1

Youre hired

nermal > PS9 10/07/2019 at 10:48

2

The industry isn’t crashing as much at it is evolving, along with consumer buying habits.

Less small cars, more CUVs / SUVs / Pickups. September sales #s were off, but the SAAR is still holding up.

Infiniti has bad leadership and bad products with bad marketing and bad dealerships and bad execution of all of the above. Since the product development cycle runs 3-5 yrs ahead of time, the recent sales drops are a result of their activities over the past 3-5 yrs.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Aremmes 10/07/2019 at 10:50

2

So we call every model R now!

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Tripper 10/07/2019 at 10:53

1

The Q50 competes with the TLX, which is the wrong target to aim for

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/07/2019 at 10:53

1

FCA already traded marked that

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > fintail 10/07/2019 at 10:54

2

Acura is above them, which is bad

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 10/07/2019 at 10:54

0

BRILLIANT

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock 10/07/2019 at 10:54

0

Yes

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > InFierority Complex 10/07/2019 at 10:54

0

Enjoy your yacht!

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > BahamaTodd 10/07/2019 at 10:54

0

Badge is everything

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > nermal 10/07/2019 at 10:54

1

YOURE ALL APPROVED

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Maxima Speed 10/07/2019 at 10:55

0

(Hmmm intensifies)

facw > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:56

2

Try to find a Chinese company that wants to launch a luxury line in the US and sell to them? Gives them the dealer network, and since your cars are already outdated, they can slot in new Chinese models relatively quickly and painlessly?

Honestly I don’t think there’s much else you can do but throw in the towel. Infinity needs to redo their entire lineup and even then there’s not much reason to believe that would help them. In some ways they are like Volvo a decade or so ago, except where Volvo had a core brand image with a reputation for safety, and a Scandinavian aesthetic and ethos they could tap into, Infinity has nothing. While Lexus and Acura can get by on being fancy Toyotas and Honda, Nissan isn’t good enough for someone to want a fancy Nissan, if you have enough to cash to go beyond a Nissan, probably you are just going to buy some better brand rather than an Infinity.  

Tripper > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 10:56

0

Haha yea. I also want nothing to do with a TLX but would drive one naked for the rest of my life before buying an infiniti

camarov6rs > Arrivederci 10/07/2019 at 10:59

0

In the pursuit of getting these changes fast tracked and remain PHEV would you keep RWD on things like the Q50?

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:01

1

Then I will take it a step farther, I will only sell upbadged versions of the Rogue, Pathfinder, and Kicks. Just upbadged, same powertrains.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Tripper 10/07/2019 at 11:01

0

*cries in his TLX*

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/07/2019 at 11:01

2

Yes. You’re hired. 

LastFirstMI is my name > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:07

1

Well, since Nissan is basically the GM of Japan, I’d just sell  top trim level Nissans rebadged as Infiniti and every few years convince the automotive journalists that our brand is making a comeback and will soon regain its status as the premiere luxury brand (like Cadillac). Throw in legacy labor costs and chronic mismanagement and you’ve got your business plan. 

For Sweden > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:12

2

Make Lexus crossovers that aren’t ugly

Aremmes > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:17

1

Dress the salespeople up as pirates. I can get on board with that.

Tripper > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:20

1

Why bro? Just because I don’t like it doesn’t make it bad. It’s more likely that it’s the other way around. I will sacrifice reliability for driving pleasure.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > nermal 10/07/2019 at 11:23

2

*insert Oprah gif of “you get a car! you get a car!” here*

Seems like the perfect spokesperson...

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:24

1

The current state of Infiniti is very saddening. They had some great cars, powertrains, and styling, and they threw almost all of it away. It’s not a popular thing to do, but they should go back to hydraulic  power steering and throw away the variable electric steer by wire stuff they have. There’s a reason the G37 is popular among enthusiasts, it looks good, is fast, and handles well. No one asked for a revolution of that model and yet those chose to change it completely.  The new powertrains are good, they just need reworked. Another thing is that their infotainment is horribly outdated. Simplify the system, go down to one screen, and add android auto and apple car play. Additionally, quality of materials has gone down but prices have gone up. Reverse that. After all of that, there might be some hope of being saved, but even then there’s no guarantee

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > PS9 10/07/2019 at 11:28

1

I would love for Japanese brands to start naming their cars with Japanese words.

Arrivederci > camarov6rs 10/07/2019 at 11:44

0

Yes - RWD standard, AWD optional.  AWD may be AWDe, driven purely by electric motors, whichever offers the best performance.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 11:55

0

Shutter everything, lay offs for everyone, take my golden parachute and enjoy life in a low-cost, no-extradition country...

Oh, you actually want to save the brand???

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 12:12

2

There’s no way I took this deal without a serious golden parachute package, so...

Everything will be a plug-in hybrid, all designs will be as close to concepts as practical. Our flagship will be a BOF diesel-electric hybrid luxury SUV named “Fractal”, utilizing a completely new design that disregards all Infiniti history (I’d also immediately change the name to “Infinity”, because misspellings of real words are painfully outdated ) . This design language, plus the capabilities (where possible), will be downsized to each successive smaller SUV category.

Every c ar would be a sports car or wagon , all hybrid or pure electric.

The problem, of course, is that you’re tied to Nissan, Renault, and Mitsubishi, none of which make anything decent, so you’d be at a huge disadvantage.

Additionally, I’d position the division as the cutting edge R&D for these brands, trickling things down to them.

Basically, be bold, generate a lot of hype, and distance my division from the base brands as much as possible.

Realistically, we’d get folded back into Nissan, regardless of success or failure .

bhtooefr > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 12:17

1

So an almost dead brand has a strength, that a healthy brand doesn’t.

That is, radical hail mary attempts can actually be tried.

Start development of a RWD/AWD luxury BEV platform to replace the Q50/60, Q70, QX50, QX60, and QX80.

Create luxury variants of the LEAF.

That’s basically the whole plan. Switch to being an electric brand, and you might actually carry Nissan through the ICEpocalypse.

HammerheadFistpunch > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 12:39

1

I agree with the QX50, but I would go further and make a market distinction that will take you from last place to leader. The infotainment can’t just be an up to date version of what everyone is doing, it needs to be substantially different and better. instead of a slablet for the IP, use the new organic folding screens and do a single piece folded screen that bisects HVAC and RADIO and NAV functions on the fold. invest in some heavy HP for the infotainment and have it come with every stupid tech gim mick you can think of. OTA updates, voice assistant, etc. Make this the centerpiece of the car. Help people forget they are in a nissan. When you are behind the curve, you can’t just play catchup, you have to jump ahead to get noticed.

Q70 becomes QX70 and it turns into a sloped roof, low sport crossover. Same performance as the Q70, but with a more useful body style and higher H-point. Don’t like crossovers? suck it up.

make a Q50 “sportwagon”. AWD and true wagon body style with slight lift. Give it adjustable suspension and compete with the allroad. Move from “budget BMW” into the “wealthy wagon” crowd.

QX60 needs to be updated, and that’ s about it. The mid-sized luxury 7 seater crossover is the cash cow and it needs to be fresh. PHEV model would be a great place to start.

QX80 is in a tough spot. Too cheap to be crazy lux, to expensive to compete against the armada. My 2 cents are go full navigator

Twin turbo VK45 with 500 hp and 600 lbs-ft. Quilted million way adjustable thrones. That super Infotainment in 2 rows, etc. GO NUTS. Give the 80 some breathing room to the armada. the best part is that you can keep the current trims since that will be the bread and butter but having something the reviewers go nuts over and brings it back into the spotlight are all it needs.  The rest is riding the hype train.  

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 13:36

0

Simple: rebadge a versa and call it the Shitty Infinity.

Rebadge the Altima and call it the Ultimate Infinity.

Rebadge the Frontier and call it the Old Ass Infinity.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 10/07/2019 at 15:15

0

Youre hired

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) 10/07/2019 at 15:16

0

Yes, did you not read the Indeed description before applying?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/07/2019 at 15:18

2

Not as such, no. I just went with the typical CEO plan in such scenarios. 

pip bip - choose Corrour > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 10/08/2019 at 03:24

0

simple, look at the range.

declare it as hopeless and unsaveable/unsalvageable  and shutdown Infiniti