Where better to unveil a rival to the Audi A3 and VW Golf than in the middle of Germany, where these marques are built?
A concept version of the Infiniti Q30 will be revealed to waiting motor press at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, following a long period in which only a concept illustration was available to whet interested parties’ appetites.
The new product from Infiniti – whose parent company is Nissan – will be built in the Japanese car giant’s Sunderland plant, creating around 280 jobs in direct production, and an estimated 700 in the supply chain.
Taking some styling cues from the previous Essence, Etherea and Emerg-e concept models, the Q30 is thought to be a toned-down version of the dramatic sketch seen above.
Production of a new model was announced last December, with an expected to-market launch date sometime in 2015.
The Q30 will use some of the same build designs as the Mercedes Benz A Class, following a technology sharing deal between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Alongside cars such as the Audi A3 and the Golf, it is thought that the Q30 will provide competition for the BMW 1-Series.
Some may ask whether or not there is space for another premium brand hatch in the market. But with a nominally resurgent UK economy, and with huge demand for luxury Western cars in the East (although the Infiniti’s heritage is technically Japanese), the Q30 production line may well be a very busy one.
Breakdown Cover from 
