Dynamic Digital Suspension, Direct Adaptive Steering, Active Lane Control, and a Drive Mode Selector with more than 300 possibilities. These are all available on the updated 2016 Infiniti Q50. But can a sport sedan with so many electronic nannies have a soul? I traveled to San Antonio, Texas, to drive the new Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400 and find out.

The Q50 isn't all that new for 2016. It was completely redesigned for the 2014 model year and at the time it received an all-new platform, led the way with a new corporate face, and added several of those electronic aids. The 2016 model gets three new engines, the Dynamic Digital Suspension, a retuned version of the Direct Adaptive Steering system, and even more safety technologies. The body and interior carry over virtually unchanged.

It has a heart

The new engine lineup includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and a pair of twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6s. The V-6s are the first two engines in the new VR family that replaces the aging but still competitive VQ 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V-6. In base form, the VR makes 300 hp and 295 lb-ft  of torque. In the Red Sport 3.0t 400 models I drove, it spins out 400 hp at 6400 rpm and 350 lb-ft all the way from 1600 to 5200 rpm. 

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Both engines use 85 percent new parts versus the VQ. Variable valve timing carries over, but they add direct injection. The exhaust manifolds are integrated into the heads, which helps reduce total weight by 40 pounds.

The differences involve the turbochargers. On the 300-hp version, the turbos spin out 8.7 psi of boost. Turbine speed sensors on the 400-hp version allow the turbos to spin faster and create 14.7 psi of boost.

On the road, the 400-horse VR is a delight. It provides willing, easy power and lets out a muffled howl when pushed. Power is accessible across the rev range, making highway passing a breeze. Zero to 60 mph takes less than five seconds, probably around 4.8 with rear-wheel drive and as low as perhaps 4.5 with all-wheel drive. If you are looking for reasons to buy the Q50 Red Sport, this engine is it.

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

But it has a bigger brain

Aside from the engines, the most important 2016 changes are the new Dynamic Digital Suspension (DDS) and the revised tuning for the "steer-by-wire" Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS).

DAS is the most controversial feature of the car. Infiniti says it has been revised to improve handling and impart a more natural feel. The brand also boasts that it can respond faster because there are no mechanical linkages, and it is very customizable. In fact, it is available in seven settings.

I tried the DAS in the Standard and Sport+ modes. Even within those modes it can be adjusted for weight and responsiveness. In the Standard mode it feels much like any other electric-assist power steering system, except there isn't as much feedback from the road. Infiniti put together an exercise to show how small bumps don't upset the steering wheel as they do in a system with linkages, claiming that this reduces fatigue. While that may be true, it also doesn't provide some of the feel that can make steering satisfying.

In the Sport+ mode DAS does many of the things you'd want from a steering system. It gets heavy and slower (read: stable) at highway speeds, wants to return to center, and gets quicker at low speeds. In fact, the ratio varies between 12:1 and more than 20:1.

I encountered a few issues, though. First, I could feel the ratio change as I sped up, and it felt pretty artificial. Second, the ratio at low speeds was so quick that I over-steered for a low-speed corner. And third, in Sport+ on the highway the weight was too heavy and the steering was too darty. I didn't find any of these issues to be off-putting, but I can't say that they add to a feedback and feel you'd want in a sport sedan.

The base steering is a rack-based EPS system with a 15:1 ratio in the Red Sport. It feels noticeably lighter than the steer-by-wire system but a bit more natural.

The new Dynamic Digital Suspension also has its pluses and minuses. It uses dampers with electronically controlled valves that get stiffer in Sport or Sport+ modes. The ride is firm but livable in the Standard mode--as it should be in a sport sedan--and the Sport modes make it a bit jiggly while helping to reduce body roll through corners. I wouldn't recommend either of the Sport settings for highway cruising but they do help the car respond on twisty roads.

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Speaking of modes, the Q50's Drive Mode Selector offers a ridiculous total of more than 300 personalized settings that alter the engine, 7-speed automatic transmission, DAS, electric power steering, DDS, and electronic stability control. My advice is to try the various settings, personalize them down to one that you like, and just use it.

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400

2016 Infiniti Q50

2016 Infiniti Q50

It's not a track car

Infiniti says the Red Sport 400 is aimed at the BMW 340i. Pricing hasn't been announced, but it will start below $50,000 and run up to the mid $50,000s nicely equipped. While the BMW would be perfectly at home on a racetrack, the Red Sport isn't.

That's a bit odd because it comes with big tires, 245/40R19s up front and 265/32R19s out back. The problem is the tires themselves. They are Dunlap SP Sport Maxx 050 summer run-flat tires that don't provide a lot of grip. With 400 horsepower on tap, I found it is easy to break the rear tires loose in situations like punching it for passing or adding a bit of throttle in a turn. A grippier tire would go a long way toward making this car feel sportier and get around a track quicker. 

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The brakes also haven't been upgraded. They are the big enough, with 14-inch diameter rotors front and 13.8-inch rotors rear, but we've have seen in the past that Infiniti brakes are often not ready for the rigors of track duty.

So, soul or no?

The question remains: Does the Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400 have a soul? Well, I do see a glimmer of a soul. While the tire and brake issues mean this car isn't as fun to drive as it could be, the numerous electronics also sap some of its feel. However, Infiniti is at the forefront of steer-by-wire and other handling and autonomous technologies, and therefore its engineers should be among the first to program the feel that sport sedan buyers want in their cars.

For now, though, the 2016 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 3.0t 400 is no R&B singer when it comes to soul, but it is a beautiful, powerful, and fine handling car with at least some rhythm.