The annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is where the world’s wealthiest car collectors go to show off their most impressive possessions. The 2016 Infiniti Q70 Premium Select Edition may not be quite special enough for that company, but it should at least give its driver something to talk about.
Unveiled at Pebble Beach, where Infiniti has a significant presence this year as a sponsor, the Premium Select Edition is essentially a trim package for the Q70, and will become available beginning in November. While the casual observer may not be able to spot the differences, anyone willing to shell out the extra cash for the special edition will likely be happy to point them out.
The exterior features dark chrome trim, a darkened lower rear bumper, and a new rear deck lid spoiler. There are also 20-inch alloy wheels with a design unique to this model.
On the inside, the Premium Select Edition gets Graphite or Stone semi-aniline leather seating surfaces, a “suede-like” headliner, aluminum trim, illuminated kick plates, and floor mats with contrasting piping. It’ll be a shame to get those dirty.
The Premium Select Edition accoutrements can be added to any standard-wheelbase, nonhybrid Q70, meaning buyers can choose between a 3.7-liter V6 with 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, or a 5.6-liter V8 with 420 hp and 417 lb-ft. A seven-speed automatic transmission is mandatory with either engine, and both are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Infiniti gave its midsize luxury sedan a significant overhaul for 2015, adding a long-wheelbase model and restyling the exterior to affect more of a familial resemblance to the smaller Q50. The Q70 remains Infiniti’s de facto flagship until something more impressive comes along.
For now, though, Infiniti is largely moving in the other direction. It will debut the 2017 Q30 compact at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show next month, hoping to appeal to fuel-conscious European buyers and Americans looking to downsize. Only time will tell if any of these Infiniti models are ever deemed worthy of the lawn at Pebble Beach.
