Infiniti considering front-wheel-drive platform

According to Larry Dominique, Nissan North America’s vice president of product planning, Infiniti is once again considering an entry-level front-wheel-drive vehicle, or a family of models. The Infiniti G and M will be exempt from the strategy.

“The core of the brand is very important to us, this kind of performance sedan,” Dominique said. “Can you have other vehicles in different segments around the core of your brand? Yes.”

Speaking at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, Dominique said that many buyers don’t know or care whether their cars are based on a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive platform. He cited Acura’s TSX and TL models as examples.

“Those buyers are OK with it,” Dominique said.

Today, all of Infiniti’s models are based on a body-on-from, rear-wheel-drive platform. The company used to offer front-wheel-drive models in 1991 and the I35 sedan was the last model to feature the platform before it was discontinued in 2004.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)