What's the news?

Infiniti's president has confirmed that Nissan's luxury brand is developing a new platform with Daimler that will underpin four new models, including a crossover vehicle. No details have been released but the first vehicles using the architecture are due in 2017.

The shared platform is another stage in the collaboration between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Certain Mercedes engines are assembled in a Nissan factory in America and it is expected that the next Smart and Renault Twingo will be built on the same platform.

"Within the cooperation, we are open for new projects as long as all partners benefit from them," Thomas Froehlich, a spokesman at Daimler, said. "We are constantly in talks with each other about many topics. Projects will be communicated as soon as they are approved by all partners."

Anything else?

Nissan will expand its plant in Sunderland to produce the Infiniti Q30; this is built using the MFA platform that also underpins the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The British factory will be the 'worldwide hub' for the model that will come with petrol and diesel power.

Infiniti also has its sights on China with a factory in the country due to open this year. Long-wheelbase versions of the Q50 saloon and QX50 crossover have been developed specifically for that market.