Not so much a new model but an entire brand is being launched at Geneva with Infiniti. Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota: a top end luxury brand that builds brilliant products, borrows some proven technology from its sibling but maintains its own strategy, keeping dealerships completely separate.
Inifiniti hopes to start selling cars in Blighty by April next year with a range that is topped by this sporty 4x4 known as FX50. The FX50 is making its global debut here at Geneva and has been designed to go head to head with the BMW X5.
Though this is a five-seater 4x4, Infiniti says the FX50 has been designed with the same philosophy as a sports car. Engineers wanted to reduce the centre of gravity as much as possible so the mountings for the hefty 385bhp 5.0-litre V8 up front have been lowered. The doors, bonnet and suspension have all been made out of alloy to reduce weight and even the tailgate has been moulded out of plastic. Those air vents behind the front wheels aren’t just for show either. They speed up the airflow over the engine which helps to reduce lift.
Even when coupled to a superslick seven-speed gearbox, we expect this V8 petrol unit to be a bit thirsty. So for those of you who appreciate not having to fill up every 75 miles, a V6 diesel that’s been co-developed by Nissan-Renault will be here before 2010. Two years may sound a long way but we’ve been waiting for Infiniti in Europe for the last 20-years.
Prices for the 5.0-litre petrol are expected to sit around £50k, pitching it directly against the £53k X5 4.8i M SportThat sounds a lot but Inifiniti reckons the FX50 is more than a match for the Beemer on quality and performance and will also be significantly better specced.
“the Infiniti range is way too close to Lexus in look and style...”
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