Infiniti and Diaoyutai make perfect match

Infiniti Q70L Hybrid and QX60 Hybrid models form the green fleet of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.[Photo / China Daily]

Dongfeng Infiniti and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse announced a strategic partnership on Friday, a key move as the premium carmaker and China's prestigious guesthouse are stepping up their efforts to protect the environment and promote their brands.

The Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is using the latest Infiniti Q70L Hybrid and QX60 Hybrid models in its first green fleet, offering its guests superior comfort while being environmentally friendly.

Environment-friendly endeavor

Zhang Junsai, director general of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, which is under China's Foreign Ministry, said, "Forming a green fleet with Infiniti's advanced hybrid models is like adding wings to our environment-friendly endeavor.

"Infiniti's pursuit of excellence in quality and its environmental awareness perfectly match our philosophy. Our joint efforts will definitely contribute to improving the environment in Beijing and China."

Situated in a former royal garden, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse was established in 1959 to host state leaders from around the world visiting China to celebrate the country's 10th anniversary. By July 1 this year, the State Guesthouse had served 1,297 leaders and heads of state.

The China Development Forum organized by the Development Research Center of the State Council has also been held there every March since 2000. Infiniti has participated in the forum for the last two consecutive years.

Daniel Kirchert, president of Dongfeng Infiniti Motor Co Ltd, said, "It is our honor to provide the all-new Infiniti Q70L Hybrid and QX60 Hybrid as the green vehicles for Diaoyutai, and to give a future-oriented mobility experience to the honored guests from around the world."

According to the agreement, the State Guesthouse will help Infiniti to host events on brand building, product promotions and top-notch customer experiences. They will work closely on major conferences, high-level forums and guest experiences.

"We are looking forward to starting each part of our strategic cooperation with the State Guesthouse, and to have more friends sense the inner beauty of the most emotional premium auto brand," Kirchert said.

The strategic cooperation between Infiniti and the State Guesthouse follows the automaker's successful sponsorship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in Beijing in November.

The latest partnership between Infiniti and Diaoyutai highlights the recognition extended to the premium auto brand by the political and business elites.

Quality model

The all-new Infiniti Q70L Hybrid launched on the Chinese market on May 22. The new model, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid powertrain, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, but even though a full-size sedan, it consumes only 7.3 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers.

A "forest" air conditioning system significantly reduces PM 2.5, a worry for people living in polluted cities such as Beijing, and releases the delicate fragrance of trees and leaves that imparts to the driver and passengers a pleasant atmosphere as if strolling in a forest, according to the company.

The QX60 Hybrid SUV has a 2.5-liter supercharged high performance hybrid powertrain, which is equivalent to a 3.5-liter aspirated engine. It has an extended driving range of 800 km, and consumes only 8 liters of fuel every 100 km.

Infiniti's Chinese mainland sales volume in the first seven months of 2015 totaled 21,662 units, 33.3 percent more than the same period a year earlier, a growth many of its peers will envy given the overall premium automotive market is slowing down and has posed serious challenges to some brands.

The China-made QX50 and Q50L models have been contributing half of all sales achievements since April, after local production began in the fourth quarter of 2014 in Xiangyang plant, Hubei province.