INFINITI - the luxury arm of Nissan - comes to Britain in April next year, and it will be interesting to see how it fares here against the world's leading luxury marques in what has become a fiercely competitive market.

Sales of Infiniti models will begin throughout much of mainland Europe this October, and will comprise the new EX37 luxury coupe crossover, the second-generation FX luxury sports crossover, the award-winning, second-generation G37 sports saloon and G37 coupe. While the brand cut its away-from-home sales teeth over in America, each Infiniti model will be fine-tuned for European customers' needs.

The four-door G37 is aimed at a sports saloon market that has long been regarded as the preserve of the German manufacturers, and its power is supplied by a potent 3.7-litre V6 engine producing more than 340 horsepower. There is a choice of rear, or all-wheel, drive models, with drive taken to the wheels via a slick six-speed manual or an advanced seven-speed automatic gearbox, and standard safety items include six airbags, and a pedestrian-friendly pop-up bonnet.

Take it as read that all Infinitis will come with absolutely everything when it comes to the equipment and luxuries list.

The G37 coupe gets the same powertrain, but it is much more than a two-door version of the saloon: a long bonnet, short overhangs and dramatic roof line give the coupe a silhouette that sets it apart from rivals who rely more heavily on the design front on their saloon counterparts.

Like the saloon, the G37 coupe gets Scratch Shield paint, which has a special highly elastic resin to resist scratches and chips.

The FX crossover replaces Infiniti's QX as the firm's mid-sized premium crossover, and European engines will probably equal those for the US market, where 3.5- and 4.5-litre units are employed.

But all eyes here in the UK will undoubtedly be on the EX37 coupé crossover, which, the firm claims, is the world's first such vehicle, and also the most powerful compact 4x4, too.

There's a lot of excitement surrounding this particular newcomer, which launches into one of the fastest-growing market segments, not least from within the company itself. "Infiniti prides itself on offering something different with each of its model ranges, but the EX is easily the most different of all," says Jim Wright, vice president, Infiniti Europe. "There's nothing quite like it on the market today."

It will be the first production vehicle ever to get the advanced Around View system that gives the driver a bird's eye perspective of the vehicle while it is being parked, and the 3.7-litre V6 engine gets another outing here, under the EX37's bonnet, this time with seven-speed automatic transmission only.

Also standard will be privacy glass, a six-disc, seven-speaker CD audio system, Bluetooth phone connectivity, cruise control, power seats, auto-dimming rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, six airbags (featuring thorax and pelvis protection) and integrated fog lamps.

With all the very latest hardware employed in the four-wheel drive system, the steering, and suspension, it will have very few peers in terms of technology.

It will be interesting to see how well this Infiniti sells. There's a lot of crossover presence in the market right now, and there will be even more by the time the EX37 appears.

Then again, there were pundits around in 1989 who were quick to dismiss the Lexus brand when Toyota first began marketing its luxury arm's single vehicle, the LS400: just look at how successful that premium marque is today.