(April 8, 2010) Infiniti’s volume line, the G series, will get a Mercedes-Benz engine as part the global alliance between Daimler AG and Renault-Nissan, according to AutoWeek magazine.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Renault and Nissan, said the G will use a Mercedes inline four-cylinder from Daimler to improve fuel economy and cut emissions. He didn’t say when the engine would reach Infiniti production lines or indicate the extent to which it will replace Japanese-made four-cylinder and V-6 engines used in the G sedan and coupe.

Mercedes uses four-cylinder engines in European C-class cars and has talked about bringing a four-cylinder to the United States, but for now, V-6s are the smallest engines here. Mercedes also plans to begin building the C-class in Alabama in 2014.

Ghosn said his data and Mercedes data show there is little cross-shopping between Mercedes and Infiniti U.S. customers and that putting the Mercedes engines in the G is just one part of a varied product-sharing and technology-sharing plan to be rolled out over five years.

Larry Dominique, Nissan North America’s vice president of product planning for Nissan and Infiniti vehicles, said his company also is considering broader use of four-cylinder engines.