The exterior is heavily based on the concept shown in 2013, with Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti, commenting: “Q30 makes a daring visual statement through its sculpted, concept-car exterior, unconventional stance and asymmetric cabin design. The car has been engineered to exacting standards to deliver a driving experience that is unmistakably Infiniti. Q30 will accelerate the company’s strategy to become a leading global manufacturer of premium cars.”

Three trim levels will be offered – SE, Premium and Sport. The Q30 Premium includes LED front fog lamps, body-coloured and heated doormirrors, as well as chrome dual rectangular exhaust finishers and 18-inch alloy wheels..

The Q30 Sport brings a bespoke face with its own custom bumper and gloss black front grille as well as body-coloured side sills and a sporty rear bumper with dark chrome dual rectangular exhaust finishers. It also comes with 19-inch alloy wheels. The Sport also offers 15mm lower ground clearance than the SE and Premium versions along with a different suspension set-up for a firmer ride.

Engine line-up includes an entry-level 1.6-litre petrol, with either 122hp or 156hp. A 211hp four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol is also available on Premium and Sport models. Gearboxes include a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a six-speed manual transmission.

Diesel options comprise 1.5-litre and 2.2-litre engines, both four-cylinder, with 109hp and 170hp power outputs, respectively. Fuel economy starts at 3.9l/100km for the entry-level 109hp diesel with 103g/km.

The Infiniti Q30 will go on sale in selected markets later in 2015. In addition to the main Q30 range, Infiniti is launching Q30 City Black Edition – a ‘first edition’ created for European customers as a way of marking Infiniti’s first European-built model.