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(from Infiniti Press Release) Infiniti today unveiled the latest expression of its “Inspired Performance,” the all-new 2009 Infiniti G Convertible , at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show . The first-ever Infiniti G Convertible builds upon the performance legacy of the Infiniti G line, with the liberation only a convertible with the top down can provide. It is scheduled to go on sale at Infiniti dealers in North America in the spring of 2009, followed later in other Infiniti markets around the world. “Designed to rejuvenate the spirit, the G Convertible adds an open-air soundtrack to the G’s legendary driving exhilaration,” said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, speaking before automotive media at the vehicle’s world debut. “This new G has dual beauty – it looks as good with the top up or down – along with a beautiful, leather-appointed interior that is meant to be experienced wide-open.” The new G Convertible offers a three-piece folding steel top and a special convertible...
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Meet Infiniti ’s answer to the BMW 3-Series. Nissan’s luxury brand launches next spring, and the G37 is being billed as an alternative saloon for buyers wanting something distinctive on their drive. All models in the Infiniti range use a 3.7-litre V6 engine with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed auto gearboxes, as well as four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. Standard equipment is generous, too, with only top-end goodies such as intelligent cruise control, brake assist and a Bose stereo system as options. Infiniti has been firmly established in the US since 1989, and with its wide grille, odd-shaped lights and jutting rear bumper, the G37’s American influence is clear to see. Inside, the cabin is well built, but the dash and steering wheel plastics feel cheap and can’t match the standards of rivals. Another niggle is with the boot. There’s plenty of space inside, but there’s no external release on the bootlid – you have to push a button on the dash even if the whole car is...
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The FM platform, like the perennial Ward’s 10-Best-winning VQ engine, has been one of Nissan’s true hits. Supporting innumerable models from crossovers to sports coupes to sedans and more, the front-midship chassis has proven a winner in nearly every vehicle it touched. But it’s going on seven years old now, and that’s beginning to show through. The Infiniti M45 is the largest of the sedans based on the platform, and the Sport variant, badged with a red ‘S’, is the most driver-focused version of the M45, so it’d be reasonable to think this was the best car you could buy on the FM platform. But you’d be wrong. Equipment and Features The M45 has a range of fairly basic equipment that other cars should, but often don’t, have. The backup camera with the animated overlay that shows not just where the car is, but where it’s going to be based on steering input, is a tremendous aid. The simple navigation system that shares the same screen is itself really quite good, despite a display of only average...
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(from STRUT Site) STRUT Infiniti FX Ginza Options - Primary Grille - Front Air Dam Intake © Source: seriouswheels We need your comments below >>
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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...
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NEW-to-the-UK Infiniti is planning a performance saloon based on the GT-R supercar from parent firm Nissan. And it looks set to be named the R50. The model has been championed by enthusiasts at Infiniti’s new European division, who had hoped that the GT-R would wear the luxury badge. A source told us, “Launching new cars these days is all about recouping investment costs. Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn wouldn’t have approved the GT-R if its hi-tech chassis and transmission were not going to be used in some way in other models – including products from Infiniti and [sister firm] Renault. It’s the only way of making it pay. So building a performance Infi-niti saloon is perfect business sense.” Our spies have revealed that the newcomer will be underpinned by a stretched version of the GT-R platform. Engineers currently have a choice of two powerplants. Most obvious is the GT-R’s 473bhp twin-turbo 3.8-litre V6 – although they may be forced to use the 5.0-litre V8 unit recently unveiled in Infiniti...
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Nissan’s luxury division has unveiled the 2009 Infiniti FX50 performance luxury crossover SUV at an after-hours debut at the Geneva Motor Show.This is the second-generation of Infiniti ’s FX series, and will be offered in three model grades, including a new 5.0-litre V8-equipped Infiniti FX50 . Built on a sports sedan platform, the FX50 features ATTESA-E TS Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, 4-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension and large 4-wheel disc brakes. Also available is Continuous Damping Control (CDC) suspension, Rear-Active Steer, Intelligent Brake Assist and 21-inch aluminum-alloy wheels designed by Enkei. The 5.0-litre 32-valve DOHC V8 develops 291kW and 500Nm with a V6 engine to be released at a later date. The transmission is a 7-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Control and solid magnesium paddle shifters.Standard features include fog lamps and Bi-Xenon headlights, a DVD based navigation system, Around View Monitor parking aid, self-healing scratch resistant paint, Intelligent...
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The official unveiling of the 2009 Infiniti FX in Geneva is just a few weeks away, but prototypes are out and about as we speak, and one of Brenda Priddy's minions caught a copper-colored example in Los Angeles yesterday. While the head and taillights are taped off, not much is left to the imagination. The car's basic overall shape remains the same, but a more pronounced grille opening dominates the protruding nose. It's flanked by angry-looking reshaped headlamps that stretch backward onto the fenders. It's certainly a departure from the more reserved look of the current one's schnoz. The tape running the length of the body obscures a character line that's been seen in other photos. Out back, pointier taillamps mimic the reshaped lighting up front, and the integrated spoiler on the rear hatch is now body-colored, as opposed to the blacked-out piece on the current car. Brenda also reports that the new FX is slightly longer than the one it's set to replace. An...
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Is there still room to fit more crossover SUVs in the market? Sure there is! This month, Infiniti wedges the EX35 into the segment between sporty crossovers such as the Acura RDX and the BMW X3 and sporty sedans such as the Acura TL, the BMW 3 Series and Infiniti's own G35. This ain't no Pathfinder. Like seemingly everything created by Nissan and Infiniti , the EX35 is based on the FM platform, the one that famously rides under the 350Z. That's a strong starting point. Like the Nissan Z, the EX gets a very good engine. This version of the Z's award-winning 3.5-liter VQ35 V6 makes 297 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. A fairly direct-feeling five-speed automatic delivers torque to either the rear wheels or all four wheels, depending on drivetrain choice.The interior is artsy enough, but you may find more room in more ungainly competitors. The EX has plenty of available high-tech features, though. Our favorite was a set of four wide-angle cameras that combine on the NAV screen to...
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We always like when automakers offer more bang for the buck. So when Infiniti announced its M sedans have been extensively revised for the new 2008 model year with new styling and features, we were all ears. Infiniti has also released pricing information so you'll know just how much cash you'll need to put up to get one in your garage. The MSRP for the 2008 Infiniti M35 -- with the 275 horsepower VQ-series 3.5-liter V-6 -- will start at $43,050 . The addition of all-wheel drive in the M35x will set you back $44,800 . If you opt for the 325 horsepower 4.5-liter aluminum V-8 model, the M45, Infiniti will ask for $49,350 with the new ATTESA E-TS-equipped all-wheel drive M45x starting at $51,850 . Oh, and tack on an extra $715 destination charge to all prices listed above. All M sedans are equipped with a five-speed automatic with a manual shift mode that allows rev-matched downshifts. Among the exterior revisions to the 2008 M sedan lineup are redesigned front and rear fascias, grille...
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Summary If its styling agrees with you, then the rest of the 2008 Infiniti QX56 should, too, thanks to an improved interior and plenty of high-tech goodies. Pros High-tech electronic features, powerful and refined V8, impressive balance of ride and handling, massive towing capacity, roomy second- and third-row seats. What's New for 2008 The Infiniti QX56 undergoes its first major freshening since its debut. The 2008 QX56 has subtle styling changes, a significant redesign of its interior and the addition of new standard and optional equipment that brings it more in line with other top, large luxury SUVs. Powertrains and Performance The 2008 QX56 is offered with either 2WD or 4WD with low-range gearing. Power comes from a 5.6-liter V8 that produces a healthy 320 horsepower and 393 pound-feet of torque. The V8 is matched to a standard five-speed automatic transmission. The QX56 is quick for a full-size SUV, going from zero to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds. Towing capacity is 9,000 pounds on rear-wheel...
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We're hammering the 2008 Infiniti EX35 on Mulholland Highway in the mountains of darkest Malibu where the movie people live and we've just passed the Rock Store where bikers profile on weekends. Ahead lies the snakiest mile of the whole road. So we drive even faster. The hard-edged 297-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 spins a little quicker while the front suspension occasionally chatters a little in the hairpins, and a short time later we get to the top in the kind of a rush that makes a whole day of driving worthwhile. Then we look over our shoulder and realize that there's a whole backseat behind us, plus the big cargo compartment and we realize again that we've just done the whole Mulholland drive in some kind of crossover-utility thingy. It's a little unseemly. Who knows what the locals thought? Probably figured we were some kind of Malibu catering service running a party platter to some screenwriters. But of course the 2008 Infiniti EX35 really isn't any kind of crossover at all. But once...
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