So what is with the Infiniti on the Red Bull car?
"Red Bull Racing have agreed a four-year extension of their partnership with Infiniti, the premium automotive brand from Japan, which first began in March 2011. The increased agreement will see Infiniti become title partner from 2013, meaning Red Bull Racings team name will become Infiniti Red Bull Racing from the start of next season. " Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website
Infinti was created for the USA market. Infiniti cars were sold as Nissan everywhere else. Only in the last few years have they decided to push into other markets so they made a deal with RBR back in 2011 to help promote it. The sponsorship deal also means free engines for RBR.
A good friend who bought one of the first Lexus' they brought over and a few more is now an Infiniti guy. Apparently he finds today's Lexus too soft and not a good value.
I am exactly that way, I had four Lexus'es (Lexi?), 3 RXes and an ES, now though I wouldn't even consider one. We do have a G37x Sedan that I absolutely love, the price is extremely reasonable and you get a lot of car for the money. Now I would say that I don't think the Infiniti's are quite as refined on the interior as the Lexus counterparts but the sporty side makes up for it and I'd rather have that.
Why? He's not a cab driver. Although he can afford most any car he steers away from anything that says "money" too loudly.
I understand the relationship with Infiniti. I know about Lexus and Acura and all that. The way it is being marketed is that it appears that Infiniti is the engine supplier for Red Bull Racing. Just wanted to start a thread to make sure I didn't pull a Rip Van Winkle and sleep through something.
I agree, and I think it's another stupid move by Renault. It makes their brand less valuable. Makes you ask yourself what they are thinking...
My answer would not be very informative, but unless "Infinity" is actually putting parts on or supplying parts to the "Red Bull" team I would not even endorse it as a major brand on my car. Makes about as much sense when I noticed NHRA Top Fuel cars going up and down drag strips with "Toyota brands on the Top Fuel Dragsters. I think it's one thing to have a sponsor who is not automotive related and just simply looking for advertising ventures but a completely other to allow an Automotive "Brand Name" on a vehicle that does nothing in terms of automotive technology for the team (Money from endorsement aside). I would rather go out and buy a Renault since they are behind the F1 tech. than say an "Infinity"... (IMO)
Go drive a Lexus and Infiniti back to back. Lexus is just riding the Toyota high that everyone is on. Their current products are mediocre at best. Just like with the 80-00 Ford's and Chevy's, the market will eventually figure this out, just might take awhile.
I do not have a ton of experience with either Infinity or Lexus really but my Aunt & Father both have owned a '03/'04 Lexus SC430 and I will admit it was very nice quality wise, and had decent performance... I will say it was too expensive though for what performance it had being marketed as "Jewel of Lexus"... a stock Ford Mustang GT could outrun it. (And yes I know this as a fact.... I tested it.)
I don't drive Japanese Cars. I used to. But I have not in years. After 3 years everything on them seems dated and the plastic parts lose their color. Plus, there is that thing called Pearl Harbor.
Not so much in the states as everywhere in the world. Agreed about the nouveau rich vibe to Lexi these days now that theyve proliferated the line and hit the used market. My reference was to the days when it first hit the US market. Back then they were seen as the anti German alternative. Less obvious and more reliable.
