Infiniti released the first image of its 2017 Q30, a small hatchback developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz parent, Daimler. The front-quarter photo shows a butched-up adaptation on the Q30 Concept that debuted about two years ago. But it’s faithful to its forebear, with roughly the same face and even similar interplay along the door’s cut lines.
Related: Infiniti Q30 Hits U.S. Mid-2016
The major differences, at least up front, involve the bumper’s lower portals. The Q30 Concept bore a toothy smile similar to the Hyundai Elantra; the Q30 production car has an open frown. Maybe it got up on the wrong side of the bed.
Developed in Europe for drivers who want “urban individuality,” the U.K.-built Q30 is still on schedule to arrive at U.S. dealers around June 2016 as a 2017 model, an Infiniti spokesman told us. He confirmed the Q30 would have a front-drive platform. And given that Infiniti and Daimler have already confirmed a joint effort of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder for the Q50, we’d expect that to be the main drivetrain for the Q30.
Stay tuned for full details on the Q30 at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.