The Infiniti QX30 Is Living On Borrowed Time

TheInfiniti QX30 only went on sale a few years ago, but to say the small crossover's sales have been slow is an understatement. Last year, Infiniti only sold 8,101 units in the US. Comparatively, Mercedes sold over 24,000 GLAs in the same period. These disappointing sales promptedInfiniti's new president Christian Meunierto admit the QX30 is "not a very successful product."

"We'll keep selling it for now...but this is not a product that has a future beyond its current life," he toldMotor Authorityat the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. In other words, the QX30 still has a few years of life left in it, but don't expect a second-generation model in the future.

However, while the QX30 won't be returning in its current form, Infiniti isn't abandoning the subcompact crossover market altogether. Instead, Meunier confirmed theQX30 will be replaced by a new modelwith "an all-Infiniti platform." The current QX30 is underpinned by Mercedes' MFA platform as a result of a partnership between the two automakers formed in 2010, but it's unclear if any more vehicles will spawn from this partnership.

Furthermore, Meunier hinted the upcoming replacement for the QX30 could use variable-compression engine technology, which wasfirst used in the QX50 last year in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder enginethat produces 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque.

He added that a smaller-displacement engine is in the pipeline, which could be paired with batteries in the automaker's new hybrid vehicles. The current QX30, on the other hand, is powered by a Mercedes-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that develops 208 hp. Infiniti currently doesn't sell any electrified models, but that will change by 2023 when every Infiniti model on sale will offer an electrified powertrain.