Infiniti adding turbo four-cylinder to Q50 sport sedan

Following the lead of just about every other manufacturer of compact sport sedans, Infiniti says it will–finally–add a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to its Q50 lineup this winter.

The addition will finally bring the compact sedan in line with competitors like the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Volvo S60, Lexus IS… you get the point. Interestingly, rather than develop its own motor, Infiniti has chosen to use Mercedes-Benz’s 2.0L turbo four. Interesting, but not surprising, as this is the same engine that will power the QX30 compact crossover, which is essentially a rebodied Mercedes-Benz GLA. While it makes 208 hp and 258 lb-ft in the B-, CLA- and GLA-Class models (and probably the QX30, too), expect the Q50 to use a version tuned similarly to that in the Benz C 300, which makes 241 hp and 273 lb-ft. That both the C-Class and Q50 already both use seven-speed automatic transmissions is a happy coincidence, as we understand the 2.0L Q50 will also get the Benz transmission, while V6 and hybrid models will carry on with the same one used in the existing model.

Around the same time as the 2.0L’s introduction, Infiniti says it will show an revised (which no doubt means improved) Q50 at the Detroit auto show in January.