NOT many people have realized that Infiniti and Nissan are the same company with different badging and audiences.
It's not uncommon for an automaker to own different brands, and it's not common knowledge that some brands are the same as others, with different badging.
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For instance, not many motoring enthusiasts realize that Infiniti and Nissan are one in the same, just with different styling and slight upgrades to key areas.
Like Lexus and Toyota being the same in many aspects, Infiniti and Nissan share key components like engines, transmissions, and electrical systems.
Infiniti is the official luxury division of Nissan, like Lexus is the luxury brand by the Toyota Motor Corporation, and was developed in the late 1980s to capitalize on a growing American market for reliable but luxurious vehicles.
Nissan was a respectable brand in the States at the time, being known as a 'mainstream' but fairly basic automaker - and Infiniti would help them break away from that image.
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Around the same time, Lexus was selling their first models, as well as Acura - the luxury division of Honda, another beloved Japanese manufacturer.
The top three automakers of the island saw the opportunity to create these brands after the Japanese government put voluntary export restraints to the U.S. market, making more financial sense to sell more expensive cars.
While Nissan, Toyota and Honda didn't spend a lot of time advertising that their luxury brands were more styling, sporty and expensive versions of their more cost effective models, Infiniti did exceptionally well across the pond.
Key differences between Nissan and Infiniti were styling, interior materials and styling, suspension changes depending on the model, engine tuning differences depending on the model, and drivetrain defaults.
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Infiniti vehicles tend to have a more updated interior design, with materials like wood, shiny chrome, and updated sound proofing material to ward against wind noise while driving.
Sound systems are usually better in comparison to Nissan as well, making the interior experience a lot more luxurious.
Most Infiniti models tend to have more creature comfort and safety options than Nissan vehicles too, similar to Lexus or Acura - but the engines, transmissions, and suspension parts are shared.
Currently, Infiniti is struggling to sell their new models, and haven taken to borrowing strategies from Nissan in order to hopefully regain customers.
Hoping to remind customers that Infiniti is a Nissan brand that comes with the promise of reliability and cost effectiveness with a touch of luxury, Infiniti and Nissan vehicles are being sold under the same roof.
Nissan also recently announced that both Infiniti and Nissan vehicles are being transitioned to a fully electric lineup, which might bring out the key differences even more.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Nissan and Infiniti for comment.
