Just over a month ago Infiniti->ke36 unveiled its new Q60 concept in Detroit. It's a 2+2 sport coupe using Infiniti’s current design language, that will be positioned against the likes of the BMW 4 Series, Audi A5, Cadillac ATS coupe, Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe and the Lexus RC. At the time, we heard it would be powered by a newly downsized 3.0-liter V-6 with new pair of turbos, but power was still a question mark.

Speaking with an anonymous source within Infiniti at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, our friends at Auto Guide recently learned that the new road-going Q60->ke36 will produce 400 horsepower, with a sportier version to follow, producing as much as 450 horsepower. It’s the first we’re hearing of a hotter Q60, but we would like to think it will follow a template similar to the Nissan GT-R->ke1592-powered Q50 Eau Rouge, with sportier suspension, more aggressive transmission mapping and some suitably angry-looking body work. Maybe even name it after another famous racing corner, say, 130R at Suzuka or Parabolica at Monza.

Whatever happens, it looks like we’re going to be waiting a while. The new Q60 isn’t expected to land in dealerships until late 2016. Frankly, that can’t come soon enough. The current Q60 is starting to look a bit dated in the face of much fresher competition within the segment.

Click past the jump to read more about the future Infiniti Q60.

Why it matters

The good news here for Infinity is that the new Q60 should beat just about everything else in the segment in horsepower. Not counting the much more expensive wares from BMW’s M division and Mercedes AMG, the base model Q60 should produce roughly 100 horsepower more than any of its competitors and 70 horsepower more than the current Q60.

The bad news, as mentioned, is that we’re still about 18 months away from the arrival of the new Q60. The current Q60 is still essentially the same car as the G37 coupe introduced way back in 2008, and a replacement can’t come soon enough. It’s also reentering an incredibly competitive segment where it will take more than some extra horsepower to cut it. Let’s hope Infiniti gets it right.

Infiniti Q60