Looks like Infiniti->ke36 is already testing its upcoming 2016 Q30 luxury crossover->ke505 on the street of Europe. The compact crossover/hatchback is set to help fill in Infiniti’s smaller end of its SUV->ke145 and Crossover->ke288 lineup, falling below the QX50.

You might be wondering why the Q30’s name doesn’t include an X, designating its crossover status. Well, Infiniti is planning on adding that X to the Q30’s name when a second, higher-riding soft-roading version comes to market. Combined, the Q30 and the QX30 will fill both the hot hatch->ke304 and subcompact crossover segments.

The Q30/QX30’s identity crisis actually stems from its foundations. Riding under that Infiniti bodywork in a Mercedes-Benz GLA, complete with its 2.0-liter, turbo four-cylinder. Like the GLA’s two iterations, the taller GLA 250 and the sportier GLA 45 AMG, the Q30 and QX30 will likely have just as much separating in their intent.

While the word is still out, it’s possible the sportier Q30 could get a similar version of the turbocharged, 2.0-liter engine as the GLA 45 AMG -- the one that makes 355 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque -- while the QX30 would get the GLA’s less-powerful 2.0-liter that makes 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

Besides the greasy bits, the Q30’s shape looks rather similar to the GLA’s,->ke4658 especially from the rear quarter view. The Q30 will also get Infiniti’s large corporate grille and a QX50-like C-pillar kink.

We can expect the Infiniti Q30 to debut in time for the 2016 model year.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Infiniti Q30.

Why it matters

Infiniti is working hard to expand its lineup of moneymaking crossovers and is letting Mercedes help it. The two automakers have teamed up in building an engine factory about 90 minutes southeast of the Nissan USA headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. The plant is manned by Nissan employees and builds Mercedes engines for use in both automakers’ vehicles. The factory is just a small part in the global collaboration that will help both parties over the long term.

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