Infiniti research
Infiniti history: Nissan’s luxury brand from the 1989 Q45 to today
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury car brand. It grew out of Nissan’s secret Horizon Task Force, formed in 1985, and went on sale in the United States on November 8, 1989, when 51 dealers opened with the Q45 sedan and M30 coupe. Infiniti moved to Q names for cars and QX names for SUVs starting with the 2014 model year.
Infiniti history timeline
Milestones link to a full history page with years and production numbers, key variants, what changed and what to check before you buy one.
1985
The Horizon Task Force
Nissan formed a top-secret Horizon Task Force to create a new performance luxury brand from scratch, studying service companies outside the car business to shape the buying and ownership experience.[1],[2]
1987
The Infiniti name
The Infiniti name was chosen in July 1987. Infiniti says the badge’s two central lines lead to a point on the horizon, symbolizing a brand always looking forward.[1],[3]
1989
Q45 and M30 revealed, then on sale
The Q45 sedan and M30 coupe were introduced on January 11, 1989, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Sales began on November 8, 1989, when the first 51 US Infiniti dealers opened.[1],[2],[3]
1990–1996
G20, J30, I30 and QX4
The G20 compact sedan was unveiled to customers in September 1990, the J30 sedan arrived for the 1993 model year, the I30 went on sale in 1996, and the QX4 became Infiniti’s first mid-size luxury SUV. The M30 was dropped along the way.[1],[2]
2002–2003
G35 and FX
The G35 sedan was introduced in March 2002, the G35 Coupe in November 2002 and the FX crossover in January 2003. Infiniti sales passed 100,000 for the first time in 2003, reaching 119,000.[1],[4],[5],[6]
2004–2007
QX56, M and EX
The full-size QX56 SUV arrived in January 2004, the M sedan in May 2005 and the EX35 crossover in December 2007, as the I35, QX4 and Q45 were phased out between 2003 and 2006. Cumulative Infiniti sales passed one million by 2004.[1]
2012–2014
Q for cars, QX for SUVs
In December 2012 Infiniti announced that, starting with the 2014 model year, cars would carry a Q prefix and crossovers and SUVs a QX prefix, each followed by a two-digit number for its place in the range. The all-new Q50 sedan was the first.[7],[8]
2016–2017
Red Sport 400
The 2016 Q50 Red Sport 400 brought a 400-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, priced from $47,950. The all-new 2017 Q60 coupe added its own Red Sport 400 from $51,300.[9],[10]
2019
VC-Turbo and 30 years
The all-new 2019 QX50 brought the VC-Turbo engine, which Infiniti calls the world’s first production-ready variable compression ratio engine. Infiniti marked its 30th anniversary that year.[2]
2023–2025
A product renaissance and an all-new QX80
In October 2023 Infiniti announced four new models, including a next-generation QX80. The all-new 2025 QX80 has a 450-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 and was priced from $82,450 before destination.[11],[12]
Old Infiniti names and their Q/QX replacements
| Previous name | New name | First model year with new name |
|---|---|---|
| G Coupe (G37 Coupe) | Q60 Coupe | 2014 |
| G Convertible (G37 Convertible) | Q60 Convertible | 2014 |
| M (M37, M56) | Q70 | 2014 |
| FX (FX37, FX50) | QX70 | 2014 |
| EX (EX35) | QX50 | 2014 |
| JX (JX35) | QX60 | 2014 |
| QX (QX56) | QX80 | 2014 |
| G37 sedan | Q40 | 2015 |
| None (all-new car) | Q50 | 2014 |
Full detail and buying advice: Infiniti’s 2014 Q and QX renaming history.
Infiniti launch models (1989)
| Model | Body | Engine at launch | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q45 | Full-size sedan | 4.5-liter V8, 278 hp | No traditional grille; available full-active suspension, which Infiniti calls a world first in a production car |
| M30 | Coupe (convertible added for the second model year) | 3.0-liter SOHC V6, 162 hp, 4-speed automatic | Adjustable suspension |
Full detail and buying advice: The 1989 Infiniti launch: Q45 and M30 history.
Every Infiniti model history
The launch
- The 1989 Infiniti launch: Q45 and M30 history (1985–1990)
Names and model lines
- Infiniti’s 2014 Q and QX renaming history (2012–2015)
- Infiniti G35 and G37 (the G-line era) history (2002–2015)
How to check a Infiniti's factory build
Standardized 17-character VINs began with model year 1981[14]. For a 1981-or-later Infiniti, CarWhere can check a VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, list the equipment the vehicle was built with in plain English: see the Infiniti build sheet by VIN. Coverage varies by VIN and model year. Earlier vehicles are identified by their original serial number, vehicle data plate and engine stampings instead.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Infiniti?
Nissan. Infiniti is the premium brand of Nissan Motor Company, created by Nissan’s Horizon Task Force in the 1980s. Infiniti Motor Company is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and its vehicles are assembled in Japan, North America and China.
When did Infiniti start?
Infiniti sales began in the United States on November 8, 1989, when its first 51 dealers opened. The brand had been announced at the Detroit auto show that January.
What was the first Infiniti car?
Infiniti launched with two cars: the Q45 full-size sedan, with a 278-hp 4.5-liter V8, and the M30 coupe, with a 162-hp 3.0-liter V6. The Q45 was the flagship.
Why are Infiniti models called Q and QX?
For the 2014 model year Infiniti gave cars a Q prefix and crossovers and SUVs a QX prefix, followed by a two-digit number showing each model’s place in the range. Infiniti said the Q nods to the original Q45 flagship.
What did the Infiniti QX80 and QX60 used to be called?
The QX80 was the QX56 and the QX60 was the JX35. Both took their new names for 2014, along with the FX (now QX70), EX (QX50), M (Q70) and G Coupe and Convertible (Q60).
What was the Infiniti G35?
A rear-drive sport sedan introduced in March 2002 with a 260-hp 3.5-liter V6, followed by a 280-hp G35 Coupe in November 2002. Infiniti sales passed 100,000 for the first time the following year.
More Infiniti research
Sources
Production figures, dates and ratings come from Infiniti AG and Infiniti of America press and heritage materials, official race results and reputable automotive press wherever available. References marked secondary are encyclopedic or enthusiast sources used only where a primary figure was not available. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- INFINITI History — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI: 30 years of challenging convention — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI Marks 25th Anniversary of Official Brand Announcement at 1989 North American International Auto Show — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- 2003 INFINITI G Sedan Press Kit: At A Glance — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- 2003 INFINITI G Coupe Press Kit: At A Glance — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- 2003 INFINITI FX Press Kit — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI Announces New Naming Strategy (December 17, 2012) — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI: What's New for 2014 — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI announces U.S. pricing for 2016 Q50 Red Sport 400 — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- INFINITI announces U.S. pricing for the all-new 400-horsepower 2017 Q60 Red Sport 400 — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- Four new models signal INFINITI product renaissance (October 24, 2023) — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- All-new 2025 INFINITI QX80 reimagines the luxury SUV (press kit overview) — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- 2015 INFINITI Q40 Press Kit — INFINITI USA Newsroom
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by INFINITI or Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. INFINITI and the model names are trademarks of their owners.