Los Angeles motor show - Infiniti delay

Infiniti, Nissan's luxury car division, has postponed its arrival in the UK by a few months.

The original plan was to launch here in autumn 2008. This has now been put back to early 2009.

One reason is that the company, which has only operated in America until now, has revised its dealer strategy.

The plan to put one top-class dealer group in charge of UK sales has proved 'unrealistic' and Infiniti now intends to appoint what it calls 'regional expert groups'.

What this means is that different dealer chains will control sales in different parts of the country and will then be free to sell through more than one site.

'We would expect dealerships to be located near main metropolitan areas,' said a company spokesman. 'Infiniti will still be an exclusive brand.'

The company is promising BMW driving dynamics with Lexus levels of customer attention and service.

It will arrive in the UK with a four-product line-up. The G35 saloon and G37 coupe will be pitched against BMW's 3 Series salolon and coupe; the EX35 compact 4x4 – given its first public airing at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week – is a natural rival for the BMW X3 and forthcoming Audi Q5; and there will be a larger 4x4, to be badged FX.

This is due to be launched at next spring's Geneva Motor Show – the first time an Infiniti has been revealed outside America.

The G35 and 37 will be the first ever cars with rear-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, while the FX will make extensive use of aluminium.

Infiniti claims it will therefore be lighter than any rival car.

The dynamics of the European Infiniti range are currently being honed in the UK and Germany, while a lot of time is being spent on the cars' interiors.

Even the seat heater switches will be ringed in aluminium and the upholstery leathers softened to make sure every last detail meets European expectations.