Nissan delays Infiniti

• Infiniti brand in UK by 2010
• Euro-friendly diesel in development
• 5 Series rival will be Infiniti’s first launch

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Nissan has delayed the launch of its upmarket Infiniti brand in the UK.

The company has been investigating the feasibility of selling the prestige Infiniti brand across Europe. However, the lack of a suitable diesel engine has caused Nissan to reconsider its plans.

The current range of Infiniti models, sold in the US, parts of Asia and the Middle East, only use large petrol engines, making them expensive to run and potentially unattractive to European buyers. A new six-cylinder diesel engine is in development, but is still some way from being ready. As a result, unconfirmed plans for a European Infiniti launch in 2008 is now unrealistic.

Sister company Renault already uses six-cylinder diesel engines in selected models, but they are made by Isuzu and Nissan is reluctant to offer them in its prestige marque.

Nissan is still hopeful of launching Infiniti in the UK before the end of the decade.

The Fuga (known as M35 and M45 in the US), a rival for the BMW 5 Series, will be the first to go on sale. It was unveiled at the New York Auto Show and has only been on sale for a few months in the States. Nissan has so far been pleased with reception it has received.