#InfinitiG25

The pre-G35 era of Infiniti vehicles were a tough sell but the brand bounced back with its rear-wheel-drive sport sedan in 2002. Can the next generation of Infiniti sports sedan repeat its past glory?

Nissan is planning a dozen new cars for the next few years, including redesigned Altima and Sentra sedans, some new trucks, and an electric vehicle for Infiniti.

Okay, maybe we’re reaching a bit with these “debuts” but that’s how Infiniti is billing the American auto show unveiling of the new G25 sedan at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today. Of course, we’ve seen this G25 before, but…it’s a perfectly fine looking sedan so we’ll humor them here a bit. As its name implies, the G25 is powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 that produces 218 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque. Pricing will start $30,950.

Infiniti‘s entry-level G25 sedan will go on sale this in October with a starting price of $31,825, $1325 less than a BMW 328i. An all-wheel drive G25x will start at $34,825. In between the two will be a G25 Journey, priced at $33,225.

Along with three new Nissan models, the Japanese automaker is also planning to showcase another trio of debuts for its premium Infiniti brand at the LA Auto Show later this year. Included in the list are the Infiniti M Hybrid, the G25 Sedan and the IPL G Coupe.

Infiniti is adding an entry level G25 model to its G Sedan range. Virtually identical to the G37, the G25 gets a 2.5L V6 putting out 218 horsepower, versus the G37’s 328 horsepower.

There have been numerous rumors that Infiniti would launch a G25 model and now there’s proof, with photos popping up online of a G25 at a dealership in China. Using a version of the VQ-Series V6, the 2.5-liter engine makes 232-hp and 190 ft-lbs of torque.

The Infiniti G will in fact be powered by a 4-cylinder engine in the future says company CEO Carlos Ghosn, and that four-banger will come from Mercedes. Earlier this week when Mercedes parent company Daimler and Renault/Nissan announced a new partnership, the deal included the use of both 4-cylinder and V6 Mercedes powerplants in Infiniti models. One could presume these would be for the G, although there’s also speculation that the 4-cylinder could be used in a new entry-level model that Infiniti is reportedly planning.

Later this year, Infiniti will launch a turbocharged 2.5-liter version of its G sedan. This new model will directly target entry-level luxury competitors like the BMW 328i, Lexus IS250 and AudiA4 2.0T.