During yesterday’s surprise announcement that Infiniti would be changing the names of all its models to include either a Q or QX, the latter representing tall-riding crossovers and SUVs, the brand’s global president Johan de Nysschen explained the move was necessary to ensure customers remained familiar with Infiniti’s range as new models get added to the fold.

“The need for a new identity and direction to promote consumer familiarity with our model range as we expand the portfolio became evident,” was the way he put it.

Unfortunately, there was no mention of what those new models will be, though we know at least one of them will be a new compact car based on the Etherea concept from 2011 and built on a platform shared with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA Class.

A compact electric sedan based on the recent LE concept is also possible, as is a new sports car, which has been the center of much debate over the past couple of years. The last we heard, the sports car won’t be based on Infiniti’s recent Emerg-E plug-in hybrid concept.

According to The Car Connection, Infiniti will add at least one new sedan positioned above the current M sedan, which itself is being renamed a Q70 from next year onwards. This is the first time that we’re hearing about a new range-topping Infiniti sedan since the automaker's former global president Toru Saito said such a vehicle would prove a hard sell.

And in case you’re wondering, the use of the letter Q in Infiniti’s new naming strategy is said to capture the inspiration within the next generation of Infiniti models, whatever that means, as well as provide a link to the heritage of the original Q45 that helped launch the brand more than two decades ago.

The first of Infiniti's new Q models will be the 2014 Q50, which is essentially the next-generation G37. It makes its debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show next month where Johan de Nysschen will also be providing more details on Infiniti's future plans.