– Detroit, Michigan

The 2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 is trying so hard to lure car enthusiasts. It’s got the staple red-and-black color scheme, an enticing biturbo V6, carbon fiber accents, sport-tuned suspension, and rear- or all-wheel drive. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as promising as it sounds, the Q50 Red Sport is plagued by its steer-by-wire tech that keeps it from feeling like a true enthusiast’s car. There are very promising pieces to the Q50 Red Sport, but a few critical things hold it back from being a competitive sports sedan.

Pros

Muscular styling. The Q50 Red Sport looks straight-up menacing. Angry LED eyebrows in the headlights give the Q50 a devilish appearance. It’s curvy and angular in all the right places. Out back, there’s a sporty, body-colored rear diffuser between two Red Sport-specific exhaust tips. Unique 19-inch wheels with red brake calipers hiding behind them further differentiate the Red Sport from other Q50s. Optional carbon fiber bits on the mirrors and decklid spoiler are just icing on the cake. Pony up $400 and the front Infiniti badge even glows at night – a bit excessive for some, but something I grew fond of.

Sweet, sweet power. Mash the throttle and the biturbo 3.0-liter V6 launches the Q50 with authority, putting out 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission responds well to throttle inputs and can be manually operated with the magnesium shift paddles behind the steering wheel. Throw it i...