The Infiniti Q50 has only been around since 2013, but for the 2016 model year, Infiniti->ke36 decided to give its compact luxury sedan->ke142 a little makeover. The makeover didn’t yield any impressive results outside really, but it did bring an updated infotainment system, revised suspension, and some provocative changes in the drivetrain department. The best part about the 2016 update, however, is the new range-topping trim – the Q50 Red Sport 400.

As you probably guessed, the “400” stands for 400 horsepower, which is, well, amazing. It’s not as bad ass as the 560-horsepower Q50 Eau Rouge concept, but it’s still pretty damn good. In addition to having 400 horsepower, the Q50 Red Sport 400 is available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, because who want’s 400 ponies going to just the front wheels? That much power deserves at least rear-wheel treatment. Randy Parker, the Vice President of Infiniti Americas, said, “The Q50 Red Sport 400 carves out a unique space in the sports sedan segment – with no other rival offering this much horsepower priced under $50,000.”

The Q50 Red Sport 400 boasts more than just power, though. It also has a number of enhancements only available to this upper-trim line. If you’re planning on comping a Q50 for yourself, this is the one you want to get. So, with that said, let’s take a good look at the Q50 Red Sport 400 and what makes it stand out in the Q50->ke4742 line.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400.

What makes the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 special

Naturally, the best feature of the Red Sport 400 is that 3.0-liter V-6 that delivers 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. That’s right; this baby puts out more power than BMW’s range-topping, non-M, 3 Series 340i xDrive, which only delivers 320 horsepower. It falls just 25 horsepower shy of Bimmer’s famous M3. Infiniti has yet to release official performance figures, but you can bet it will hold its own against the 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class, for that matter. All that power can be sent to the rear wheels, but the Red Sport 400 can also be optioned with all-wheel drive, so pick your poison.

As I said before, the engine isn’t the only thing the Red Sport 400 can brag about. On the outside, it has a sport-styled front fascia that is more aggressive than that found on the lesser Q50 trims. It also has exclusive Red Sport 400 brushed-finish exhaust tips and exclusive Red Sport 400 aluminum-alloy wheels that are 19-inches in size. On rear-wheel drive models, the model has staggered tires, with 245/40-series tires in the front and 265/35-series tires in the rear. All-wheel-drive models have the same tires size all the way around. Rounding out the exterior are chrome-finished “S” badges on the rear decklid and the front fenders.

On the chassis side of things, the Red Sport 400 comes equipped with sport brakes that utilize four-piston calipers in the front and two-piston calipers in the rear, and sport-tuned Digital Dynamic Suspension. The range-topper comes standard with a new, rack-based Electronic Power Steering system, but can also be optioned with Direct Adaptive Steering. Put all of this together and you have a car that can easily unleash its 400 horsepower, and keep it under control at the same time.

Inside, the Red Sport 400 gets all of the goodies that the rest of the trim levels have for 2016, so it features dual touch-screen displays, Infiniti’s navigation system, Sirius XM traffic, and voice recognition. Those dual screens measure eight-inches and seven-inches respectively, for a total of 15-inches of screen real estate – that’s comparable to the massive display in the Tesla Model S. Features that are exclusive to the Red Sport 400 include leather-appointed sport seats, aluminum-accented pedals, and solid magnesium paddle shifters, which isn’t bad for a compact luxury sedan.

Of course, the Infiniti Q50 starts out at $33,950, but going for the range-topping Red Sport 400 will set you back $47,950 in rear-wheel drive configuration or $49,950 if you want Infiniti’s road-gripping all-wheel drive system. All told, this isn’t a bad setup at all, and definitely deserves its place on the throne as the Q50’s range-topping trim level.

Infiniti Q50

The Q50 is actually an evolution of Infiniti’s G-Series model line that hit dealership showrooms in 2013. It boasted a new name, but still brought the appearance, technology, and decent performance of its predecessor. That said, the Q50 is now Infiniti’s best-selling model in North America, which is why Infiniti went above and beyond with the 2016 update. The aged 3.7-Liter has been replaced by a more powerful 3.0-liter V-6, and the base-level Q50 uses the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder that you’ll find in the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The Q50 starts out at $33,950 in rear-wheel drive and $35,950 in all-wheel drive, while the range-topping Red Sport 400 models go for $47,950 in rear-wheel drive or $49,950 in all-wheel drive. The Q50 competes directly against the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class, and for 2016, it brings even better competition to market of compact luxury sedans.

Read our full review on the Infiniti Q50 here.