Infiniti Q30 Cup - fun on the Jastrzab track

We went to Tor Jastrząb near Radom to see how the Infiniti Q30 performs in extreme situations. Outside of track testing, we struggled with parallel parking, driving with alcohol goggles, and skid plate exercises. How did this model work?

Although Infiniti itself is only 27 years old, 8 years of which it has been working in Poland, some interesting models have already appeared. The Poles, who are tired of German conservatism, treat this brand with exceptional confidence. How else to explain the fact that our compatriots bought the world's first QX30 - long before the official premiere - and Q60? You have to really love the brand and trust its designers to buy cars blind without driving them or even reading the opinions of other people who would have such an opportunity.

Infiniti Q30 it is a competitor to the BMW 1 series, Audi A3, Lexus CT and Mercedes A-class, with the latter it has a lot of common technical solutions, which can be seen even in the cabin - we have the same on-board computer, door seat settings and the like. The exterior, however, is far more attractive than the competition combined. In the Sport version, engine power reaches 211 hp. and uses all-wheel drive. In the event of a difference in traction, the control system is able to transfer up to 50% of the rear-wheel drive. However, we will get the 4 × 4 drive in the version with a 2,2-liter diesel engine with a capacity of 170 hp. The Q30 is slightly more expensive than the competition because prices start at just PLN 99, but it doesn't differ from them in terms of quality and workmanship.

But how does he behave on the track? We tested this by taking advantage of the invitation to the Infiniti Q30 Cup at the Jastrząb Track near Radom. How was it?

Expect the unexpected

This is exactly the rule that summarizes the testing of the base plate. However, we started calmly - from a straight race. Of course, when you start moving on slippery surfaces. The first start was in the Sport version, the second - in a car with a diesel engine and front axle drive. The difference is obvious - apart from power and torque, of course. The drive on both axles allows you to immediately press the gas into the floor and you will not even notice that it is more slippery than usual. What makes a front-wheel drive car different is that a strong start is a strong wheel slip. Here we can help ourselves by moving carefully and then moving at full speed. The more slippery the surface, the later we can add more gas, until we reach snow or ice, where each more forceful movement of the accelerator pedal turns into a skid of the front axle.

Another attempt was to drive through the so-called. "Jerk", a device that translates the car into a strong skid during oversteer. The stabilization systems work here very quickly and do an excellent job with unexpected and dangerous situations on the road. Of course, our prompt response is still needed. Some of them managed to stay on the track (we were driving straight ahead at 60 km/h), but one driver nearly hit the photographer. It only shows how much we need to focus on driving in difficult conditions - a quick and accurate reaction can save our life or someone else's.

The last attempt on this site was the “elk test” with emphasis. We ran onto the slab at 80 km/h and three slalom-style water curtains appeared right in front of the hood. However, we did not know from which side and when they would appear. Here again, a low bow to the engineers responsible for stabilization systems. Obstacles could be avoided by applying maximum braking force, i.e. Infiniti Q30 he did not lose his stability at all. “It could have been avoided” – but not everyone managed to do it. The instructors explained to us that this test is usually taken by every student if the speed is around 65 km/h. Increasing it to 70 km/h eliminates many candidates, at 75 km/h only a few people pass the test, and at 80 km/h almost no one passes. And yet the difference is only 5 km/h. This is something to keep in mind the next time you try to hit 80 km/h in a city center with a 50 km/h limit.

Parking and slalom in spirit goggles

The parallel parking attempt concerned only the autonomous parking system. We drove past parked cars, and when the system confirmed we had the right clearance, it told us to stop and shift into reverse. It must be admitted that this system works very quickly and parks quite accurately, but it determines the parking space only when driving at a speed of no more than 20 km / h and independently controls the steering wheel up to 10 km / h.

Slalom Alkogoggles is a real challenge. Although they should force the driver, who has 1,5 ppm in his blood, to force the road, the picture looks more like a 5 ppm when he should slowly lie down in the grave. Overcoming the slalom in this condition is not the easiest task, but in the end we had to park in the “garage” of the cones. The orientation is definitely off and it's easy not to fit into this designated space. We also did slalom without alcohol goggles, but backwards, with closed mirrors and rear window. I had to focus solely on the pictures from the cameras. When driving fast, we are forced to look beyond the nearest obstacle. A camera with a wide-angle lens reduces what is in the distance, so at some point it was possible to get lost.

Gas up!

And that's how we get to track testing. We went through the small and large loops of Jastrshab, which was full of tight turns, short straights, a few turns and… a hill ride. The driving style on such a track should be as smooth as possible - who fought with the car and drove through a dynamic, spectacular race, had no chance against the leaders of the classification.

Let's finally move on to how he behaves in such conditions. Infiniti Q30. It would seem that in the Sport version, i.e. with a 2 hp 211-litre petrol engine, dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive, it should meet the specifics of the test. And although there were no major problems with traction or body movements and we could easily devote ourselves to the art of choosing the right track, the gearbox prevented us from doing this. Its character is definitely more road than sporty. Even in "S" mode, it was too slow to keep up with what was happening on the track. By stepping on the gas at the point of contact with the inside of the turn, the Q30 only accelerated in the straight, as it was busy downshifting in the turn. In order to drive efficiently and quickly on the track, you will probably have to step on the gas in the first phase of the turn.

After sunset

In the evening, after passing through all the rehearsals, a gala concert of the managing champions took place. It probably comes as no surprise that Łukasz Byskiniewicz of TVN Turbo has won the most awards – as an active rally and racing driver he was entitled to it.

However, the main character of that day remained Infiniti Q30. What have we learned about him? It can be fast on the road and exhilarating on the track, but in sports trials, in competition with other cars, it will be rather average. Either way, it handles the road really well, offering good performance, pleasant handling, and a luxurious interior. And it's all wrapped up in a very impressive case.