Infiniti Keeps The Momentum With The QX56 -
2009 Infiniti FX50
2009 Infiniti FX50
The 2009 Infiniti FX50 was unveiled not inside the Geneva Motor Show’s exhibition hall but instead at an improvised night club on the outskirts of the city. A huge, high-ceiling room painted all in black was the setting for a big, black catwalk that held four Infiniti vehicles: the all-new FX50, the EX crossover, and the G37 sedan and coupe. Nissan Motor Company president and CEO Carlos Ghosn introduced the new FX to a capacity crowd of more than 500 journalists, and the occasion also served as the coming-out party for the Infiniti brand in Europe, where sales of these four products will begin this October.
But first, Americans get the second-generation FX beginning this June. The name change, as you might imagine, indicates a bump in engine displacement for the V-8 engine, from 4.5 to 5.0 liters. Horsepower also increases dramatically, to 390 hp, and there’s now 369 lb-ft of torque. The engine, which redlines at a lofty 6900 rpm, is mated to a new seven-speed automatic transmission with downshift rev matching and, of course, paddle shifters. Nissan won’t reveal details yet about the V-6 engine, so we don’t know whether it will also rise in displacement from its current 3.5 liters to 3.7 liters like the engines in the G37 coupe and sedan have. More information is expected later this month at the New York auto show. The FX will also be offered with a diesel engine in Europe by 2010. Will it come to America? We’d think so, since Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Cadillac all will be offering diesel engines by then, if they aren’t already.
Infiniti wisely chose to make the styling of the new FX an evolution of the first-generation vehicle’s “bionic cheetah” design ethos, and although one heard the inevitable grumblings from some members of the press corps that the new vehicle is “not as good as the original,” we think it’s a striking design and a worthwhile follow-up to the iconic first-generation vehicle. The FX50 displayed at the Infiniti party sported metallic purple paint, as purple seems to be the launch color for Infiniti in Europe. (The urinals in the men’s room at the party were painted purple, purple velvet drapes framed the entrance to the bar, and the head of PR for Infiniti Europe, Wayne Bruce, was wearing a purple shirt.) The FX45’s optional 20-inch wheels, which seemed so huge when that vehicle debuted five years ago, have been supplanted by 21-inch Enkeis in the FX50, where they’re accented by more muscular wheel wells. The headlights, like those of any self-respecting new car these days, are carved into a tortured shape that would not have been technologically possible to manufacture a decade ago. Here, they seem like sharply arched eyebrows above the large new grille, which is blacked out.
Another design cliché that Nissan could not resist including in the 2009 Infiniti FX50? Front fender vents, just behind the front wheels. At least they are functional; Infiniti claims that they reduce front-end lift by five percent. The overall coefficient of drag has been reduced from 0.37 to 0.35. Front/rear weight distribution is 54/46 percent, and the front track is two inches wider.
The FX’s previous front strut-type suspension has been replaced by a control-arm (wishbone) setup, while the rear multi-link setup carries over from before, with some refinements. The electronically controlled suspension dampers can be set to “auto” or “sport” by the driver. Smart cruise control and brake assist are standard. The rear-biased all-wheel-drive system returns.
The 2009 Infiniti FX50’s interior is a big step up from the FX45’s, with the same sort of “double-wave” instrument panel that has appeared in other recent Infiniti products like the G37 and EX crossover, new front seats with inflatable side supports (like Mercedes has offered for a while), and, to continue the purple theme, white-and-violet-colored electroluminescent gauges.
Click the link below for high-resolution FX images.
Photo Gallery: 2009 Infiniti FX50 - Latest News, Reviews, and Auto Show Coverage - Automobile Magazine
2009 Infiniti FX35 and FX50 Wallpaper Gallery
2009 Infiniti FX35 and FX50 Wallpaper Gallery
2009 Infiniti FX35
2009 Infiniti FX35
The 2009 Infiniti FX will continue to use a 3.5-liter VQ engine to power the base model. Some speculated the 3.7-liter engine found in the G37 would appear under the hood of the FX to distance it from the new EX35, but that won’t happen. Instead of a slight difference in displacement, the V-6 crossovers will be separated by only a few horsepower and a pair of gears in the transmission.
To be specific, the FX35 will produce 303 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of 28 hp, but a loss of 6 lb-ft of twist compared with the outgoing FX35. Both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models use a new seven-speed automatic transmission with manual override and rev-matching downshifts. Magnesium paddle shifters are available for those who wish to maximize the effectiveness of the manu-matic option.
The FX35 will not be available with the 21-inch Enkei rims found on the FX50. Base models make do with 18-inch alloy wheels, but 20-inchers with a metallic finish are available. Another difference between the FX50 and FX35 is only the FX50 will have the option of active rear wheel steering.
Inside the FX, the V-8 model has an 8.0-inch information display to the V-6 model’s 7.0-inch display. Features like heated and cooled seats, driver’s seat memory function, aluminum pedals, and Bluetooth capability are optional on the FX35, but standard on the FX50.
Click the links below for high-resolution FX images, as well as our coverage of the FX50 that was recently unveiled in Geneva.
Photo Gallery: 2009 Infiniti FX35 - Latest News, Reviews, and Auto Show Coverage - Automobile Magazine
2008 Infiniti EX35
2008 Infiniti EX35
One spouse prefers SUVs; the other craves classic sport-sedan driving delights. While satisfying both prerogatives sounds like a job for Dr. Phil, walking the perilous line between sport and utility is precisely what the Infiniti EX35 accomplishes.
Infiniti has staked out a microscopic site of unclaimed turf in the gridlocked crossover segment. Sizewise, the new EX is a low-riding BMW X3. Stylewise, it’s an Infiniti G35 sedan with a bobbed tail and a hatch. Philosophically, it’s a machine with the uncanny ability to maintain garage goodwill.
Mechanically, this is another shuffle of the Nissan/Infiniti FM-platform components deck. Take a front suspension from the G, bolt on a rear suspension from the FX, stir in a fourth-generation 3.5-liter V-6, and add a smart five-speed manu-matic. Keep the curb weight below two tons, whip the energy supply toward 300 hp, and avoid the severe FX suspension settings that intimidate the weak of spirit. Season liberally with electronic goodies for the gadget-afflicted.
Tidy dimensions keep the EX35 from being the jack of all SUV skills. There is no macho off-road pretense. The back seat is roomy enough for two, although adult-size shoes must be twisted to clear the narrow door openings. While power-folding rear seats make the most of the cargo hold, the 16.8 cubic feet available (with all seats in use) falls short of a sprawling family’s needs. This is an SUV for two camps: those wishing to curb a supersize habit and car folks dipping a toe in crossover waters.
Utility sacrifices are well-rewarded. The EX’s speed-sensitive steering maintains a truthful dialogue with the road, especially when the optional all-wheel drive is eschewed. Thanks to a reasonably low center of gravity, firm dampers, and ample roll resistance, the body never flops like a fish out of water. The automatic transmission offers well-spaced ratios, crisp shifts, an authoritative sport mode, and rev matching on downshifts. The engine loves every unbridled run to its 7500-rpm redline. Driving the optional eighteen-inch, V-rated Dunlop SP Sport tires through their grip limit, it’s easy to forget that you’re wearing crossover attire.
Four interior hues are available with black-lacquered plastic and textured aluminum or real maple trim. The optional navigation system includes a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for music storage. An eleven-speaker Bose sound system offers iPod connectivity via a USB port. Two innovations are an Around View Monitor that mixes four video-camera feeds into one bird’s-eye look at your immediate surroundings and a Lane Departure Prevention system that nudges the brakes to curtail unintended lane changes.
With the long-running sport versus utility dispute solved by Infiniti’s EX35, modern couples may now focus their energy on other pressing issues, such as who’s actually responsible for the laundry.
Photo Gallery: 2008 Infiniti EX35 - Latest News, Features and Auto Show Coverage - Automobile Magazine
Infiniti announces pricing for 2009 FX35 and FX50
Infiniti announces pricing for 2009 FX35 and FX50
Infiniti’s cranked up the content levels for the new 2009 FX sport-utility - and accordingly, it’s cranked up the pricing. A base rear-drive 2009 FX35 stickers at $40,950 - nearly $2900 more than the outgoing model.
Prices for the other models have also shot upwards; the FX35 AWD now retails for $42,350, a $2800 jump. The new all-wheel drive FX50 - surpassing the outgoing FX45 model with a new 5.0-liter V-8 - starts at a whopping $56,700, nearly $6600 more than the FX45 and just underneath the entry price for a Porsche Cayenne S ($57,900).
Granted, that price does get you a top-end FX with virtually no options. In fact, the only add-ons for the FX50 are a rear-seat DVD package ($1600), a sport package ($3000) (including rear active steering, sports seating and adjustable suspension), and a technology package ($2900), which adds whiz-bang features like intelligent brake assist, lane departure prevention systems, adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.
FX35 models can also opt for the Technology and Premium packages, but are also open to a premium package ($2350), navigation system ($2850), and a Deluxe Touring package ($2650) - all of which essentially add features found standard on the FX50.
Look for both models to arrive at Infiniti dealers nationwide starting June 24th.
Photo Gallery: Infiniti announces pricing for 2009 FX35 and FX50 - Latest News, Features, and Reviews - Automobile Magazine
Infiniti G37 Convertible Confirmed for 2008 Launch
Infiniti G37 Convertible Confirmed for 2008 Launch
Yesterday, Carlos Ghosn climbed atop his soapbox to outline Nissan’s GT (”growth & trust”) 2012 plan, outlining how the company plans to remain relevant and profitable over the next few years. We - and all Infiniti enthusiasts - may be most interested at a paragraph buried at the bottom of his release: A G37 convertible is officially headed our way later this year.
Currently offered in both coupe and sedan forms, the addition of a drop-top to the G37’s portfolio allows the car to compete with BMW’s 3-series and Audi’s A4 range. Both ranges offer coupe, convertible, and sedan forms of their mid-sized luxury platforms. Lest you think Infiniti’s completely catching up with the Germans, both brands also offer wagon variants - a model not currently known to be on Infiniti’s radar.
The G37 ‘vert is but one of nine products Nissan and Infiniti will launch in the 2008 fiscal year. We’ve already seen the 2009 FX and Nissan Maxima, but we’re anxiously awaiting the advent of the next Z car (370Z) and a refreshed Cube that will make its way stateside.
Photo Gallery: Infiniti G37 Convertible Confirmed for 2008 Launch - Latest News, Features, and Reviews - Automobile Magazine
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