Wow, that looks, er, familiar.
Well, yes it might just do - this is the first look at the cabin of the Infiniti Q30, the Japanese luxury firm's first go at a front-drive compact crossover. Now, we knew that it was going to share its chassis and engines with the Mercedes-Benz GLA (thanks to a platform and tech-sharing agreement between Nissan, Renault and Mercedes-Benz), but we didn't realise that it would clearly lift its cabin fittings from the Merc.
While there are strong links to other Infiniti models (the centre console screen and stereo controls), almost all of the switchgear and dials are lifted directly from the A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA. Badge engineering hasn't gone away it would seem...
Infiniti is making a great deal of the car's interior quality and finish though, pointing out that it will use an Italian-made imitation suede called Dinamica, which will cover the roof lining and pillars. It is also saying that the car's h-point (how high the seat sits) is ideally placed for comfort and visibility on both city and country roads.
"Q30's sculpted exterior and asymmetric cabin design are unmistakably Infiniti," says President of Infiniti, Roland Krueger. "With the Q30, we are entering a new segment for Infiniti and broadening the offer to our customers. This vehicle is a vital part of our strategy to be a top tier global manufacturer of premium cars.
Neil Briscoe - 1 Sep 2015