The Sebastian Vettel Edition Infiniti FX50 became official back in September last year, featuring a 414-hp V8 powerplant, improved aerodynamics, 21-inch wheels, and carbon fiber components.

It now has an alarming price tag of an around €120,000 which equates to roughly $155,000 based on recent conversion rates. There is still no confirmation if the special Sebastian Vettel edition FX SUV will make its way to America, but Europe will be getting 50 units and apparently nine of them are already spoken for. The first of those nine of course will go to F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel himself.

The Vettel edition FX50 will begin production in October later this year, with deliveries starting in early 2013. It will come in a pearl white finish instead of the matte white we saw in concept form.

GALLERY: Sebastian Vettel Edition Infiniti FX

[Source: Autocar UK]

Last month, we got word that Sebastian Vettel was working on filming a film titled Kung Fu Vettel: Drive of the Dragon. Now Infiniti has launched the official film starring its Formula One champion and Hollywood actress, Celina Jade.

‘Drive of the Dragon’ is essentially a short film staring martial arts as its focal point, but the Infiniti FX is showcased in it. Ironically, Vettel isn’t the one behind the wheel. The film premiered on the night before the Spanish Grand Prix at Catalunya and we can’t help but wonder if Vettel’s fellow competitors might poke a little fun of him for going so Hollywood.

Infiniti is also giving away ten limited edition film posters at its website along with a chance to win a t-shirt signed by Sebastian Vettel.

Watch Kung Fu Vettel: Drive of the Dragon below

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We knew that Nissan was working on an Infiniti compact, but we just didn’t know when it would reach production. It’s all cleared up today as the Japanese automaker has confirmed that its Infiniti Compact will enter production in 2014.

“This new vehicle represents a significant opportunity for the Infiniti brand to reach new consumers and grow in key markets such as Western Europe,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan executive vice president.

The news comes straight from the company today, as it inked a tentative deal with Magna Steyr, a division of Canadian automotive parts supplier Magna. This would be Magna Steyr’s first vehicle assembly agreement.

The new vehicle is slated to be based on the Infiniti Ethera Concept, and will be built in Austria by Magna Steyr. This new entry-level vehicle by Infiniti will be priced and sized under the current Infiniti G sports sedan.

This vehicle also represents another element of Nissans partnership with Mercedes, as this new compact will be based on the German automaker’s MFA platform, which is used in Mercedes-Benz’s A- and B-class vehicles.

Nissan is planning to significantly increase its electric car offering over the next three years, introducing three all-new models and an updated version of the original Leaf EV.

Set to arrive this Fall at the Paris Motor Show, the Leaf will receive updates and is expected to get varied price levels which should help make it more attainable for those on a tighter budget.

Next to arrive will be the e-NV200, based on the concept car with the same name, first shown at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. It’s expected to go on sale in late 2013.

Following closely afterward will be the production version of the Infiniti LE Concept, which was only recently unveiled at the New York Auto Show . Also based on the Leaf powertrain, the LE Concept makes use of much lighter components to help improve performance and stay true to the Infiniti brand mandate. It’s also expected to be the first production electric car to come with a wireless charging pad.

Finally, in 2015, Nissan will take a big step in expanding its EV offerings with a new car code named “Symbol”. A youth-oriented commuter car, it’s expected to draw heavily from Nissan’s PIVO concepts, the most recent of which (the PIVO 3) was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show and which can even valet park itself.

Absent from the list, however, is an electric sports car, based off the Esflow concept, suggesting Nissan may have either de-prioritized production of that model or halted development entirely.

GALLERY: Nissan PIVO 3 Concept

GALLERY: Nissan e-NV200 Concept

GALLERY: Infiniti LE Concept

[Source: AutoExpress]

The Infiniti Emerg-E was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as Infiniti’s first mid-engine sports car, but not previously disclosed was that the base of concept was actually the Lotus Evora 414E Concept. 

This borrowed design resulted from Infinti developing the car in partnership with Great Britain’s Technology Strategy Board, a government agency which supplies funding for companies looking to make advancements in new car tech that is focused on reducing emissions. Involved heavily in this organization is Lotus, so the company’s technology was offered up as a study for Infiniti to develop its new car.

The design of the car is all from Infiniti, who were trying to capture a fluid design to give the car an air of graceful power, rather than the Lotus which is a little more aggressively styled. The interior is also a complete Infiniti design, going for a more luxury feel than the Lotus ever did. However, this is where the changes stop.

The chassis of the Emerg-E and the Evora is made from all aluminum sections bonded together to form a rigid lightweight assembly that weighs in at 450 pounds. The suspension and brake systems use all lightweight metals, and are also identical between the Evora and the Emerg-E. Powering the car is two electric motors and a single gas motor, with each electric engine hooked to one of the rear wheels driven through a single speed transmission, making a differential  unnecessary. A small 3-cylinder gasoline engine will assist the electric motors, enabling the Emerg-E to make the 0-60 mph sprint in four seconds according to the company.

This platform sharing makes the Emerg-E a much more likely candidate for production because the tool and die sets to make the vehicles platform already exist, cutting down significantly on initial start up costs. Infinti also announced that more than one of these cars was put together for testing, signifying a stronger need to test the vehicles capabilities in the real world.

Infiniti made its debut in the Chinese market with its new M Long Wheelbase model which will be sold in hybrid and naturally aspirated models.

Long wheel base models are extremely popular in China, where a large percentage of vehicle owners prefer to be chauffeured than driving themselves. The global debut of the Infiniti M Long Wheelbase was at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show, where the luxury Japanese automaker announced that it’ll come in M35hL hybrid and M25L models.

The M35hL will be powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to an electric motor for a combined output of 359-hp while the M25L has a 2.5-liter V6 with 232-hp under the hood.

The M Long Wheelbase will go on sale in China starting in June, made specifically for the Chinese market. The wheelbase has been extended 5.9 inches to a total of 120 inches and all the extra space is designed for the passengers in the rear.

“The Infiniti M long-wheel-base – available in M35hL hybrid and M25 normally aspirated versions – is the first high-end Infiniti luxury sedan tailor-made for Chinese customers,” said Nissan’s vice president Andy Palmer. “It strikes a perfect balance between outstanding performance and environmental sustainability and brings a new challenger to China’s premium car market.”

GALLERY: Infiniti M Long Wheelbase

Ward’s Auto has released its top 10 picks for best interior in 2012 today, though in no particular order. Here they are with brief notes on each car’s engine specs and starting price.

The 2012 Mazda CX-5 crossover is powered by 2.0-liter Skyactiv inline four cylinder that makes 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque with a starting MSRP of $20,695 with front-wheel drive.

Infiniti appears to have some impressive products in its pipeline, including a next-generation G powered by a twin-turbo V6 with 530 hp.

The relationship between the Japanese automaker and Mercedes-Benz is picking up full steam and will go beyond the upcoming Benz-based compact. For 2014, Infiniti will be producing next-generation four-cylinder engines for both Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti models at its Nissan Tennessee plant. And as we reported before, the first C-segment hatchback will be produced by Magna Steyr in Austria.

But the big news is that the next-generation G will start production in 2014 and is slated to go on sale by summer of that year. The Japanese automaker’s goals is to build on top of its highly-successful model by launching it in 70 countries worldwide. Apparently the design for the next G was finalized in June of last year and is shared with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class platform.

Overall length and width is expected to stay the same as the current-generation G, but it will have a lower roofline in the style of a four-door coupe. The sedan will debut first in 2014, with the coupe variant following in 2015. Infiniti is also considering a crossover variant, which makes sense.

What has us uber excited is that the IPL-spec G will feature a 3.7-liter twin-turbo V6 powerplant pumping out 530 hp and will probably be priced competitively with the GT-R, if not more In fact, the inside source that reported to Motor Trend compares it to the C63 pricing. The new IPL engine will be hand-made in the same plant where the GT-R is produced out in Tochigi, Japan.

Will this be the new supercar from Japan that will be somewhat affordable?

[Source: Motor Trend]

Formula 1 two-time world champion Sebastian Vettel isn’t having his best year. He hasn’t been able to put the car on pole in qualifying nor has he won any races, but changing to an acting career? That seems drastic.

OK, so the Redbull Infiniti F1 star isn’t actually pondering a career change, but he did recently appear in a martial arts film with the actress Celina Jade.

“Kung Fu Vettel: Drive of the Dragon” is the first of many films Infiniti is planning to launch this year as part of their “Inspired Performers” series.

Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber will appear in a series of movies this year, the first of which will debut at this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. The racer got acting and martial arts lessons from Jade, who will soon be appearing in the Hollywood film “Man with the Iron Fists.”

In exchange, Vettel gave Jade performance driving lessons in an Infiniti G coupe.

“Well that was the first time I’ve acted in a martial arts movie and it was great fun. It was something totally new for me which was good as I always like new challenges and experiences,” Vettel said. “I learned that just like with driving, you need balance, control and technique to be good at Kung Fu, but I think I’ll still stick to my usual kind of fighting on track on Sunday.”

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Over the past few years Lexus has been referred to as a Japanese Buick, with the number one reason being the ES front-drive luxury sedan – a car that drew direct comparisons with the not-quite-Cadillac GM premium brand. To erase those comparos the new 2013 ES gets a more stylish exterior with a GS-themed front nose and a profile more like the flagship LS.

Swapping its Camry underpinnings for an Avalon platform it has, however, grown even more in size – a notable Buick trait. Plus, to challenge the eAssist mild-hybrid LaCrosse, there’s finally now an ES300h hybrid system getting 39 mpg average.

Watch out Tesla. Step aside Fisker. With the reveal of the LE Concept at the NY Auto Show this week Infiniti has confirmed it is preparing to enter the luxury electric car segment.

Those new automakers may already have vehicles on the market, but considering the success parent company Nissan has had with the Leaf as the world’s first mainstream electric car, Infiniti is poised for success. Find out more about the car’s impressive design, premium interior and innovations that include wireless charging in AutoGuide’s first look video below.

GALLERY: Infiniti LE Concept

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The powerful Japanese Yen is pushing Nissan to make some tough decisions, and Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced that Infiniti production will be moving out of Japan.

Infiniti currently exports all but one model from its Japanese production line, but it just doesn’t make sense for the company to keep this setup going. “You won’t have to wait a long time before we make a decision about the new base for sourcing of Infiniti,” said Ghosn. “If you follow our logic, we should make the cars where we sell them.”

Infiniti has already started the move, with the JX35 being built in Tennessee and plans to build a new $2 billion assembly plant in Mexico.

The decisions being made by the Japanese luxury brand are directly influence by German luxury companies, and their move to become truly global companies. ”We’re seeing what the Germans are doing,” said Carlos Ghosn, “the Germans are diversifying their base and they are producing practically everywhere.”

The other big reason for the move is the strong Japanese currency, which Ghosn claims held Infiniti back from its 2011 goal of claiming 10 percent of the worldwide luxury car market.

[Source: Automotive News]