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Most individuals regard the 2008 BMW X6 as being the first crossover-coupe — or “coupeover” in Roadshow parlance — kicking off a pattern that is resulted in all kinds of swoopy SUVs. But the first true coupeover was truly the first-gen Infiniti FX that debuted in 2002. That low-slung, rear-drive crossover had a a lot sleeker roofline than every other SUV on the market, and it set a brand new customary for a way a sporty SUV may look and drive. Now, Infiniti is attempting to capitalize on the FX’s heritage with the new QX55 crossover, which makes its debut Tuesday.
This is basically a “coupe” model of the Infiniti QX50. The firm’s design boss, Alfonso Albaisa, admits that his group made “a conscious effort” to copy the roofline of the original FX and paste it onto the QX55. And I’ve gotta say, it really works. While not as historically coupe-y as some of its competitors, the sleeker greenhouse makes the QX55 look an entire lot cooler and extra trendy than the QX50. The roof curves and tapers properly, and it would not look as tacked-on or compelled as another coupeovers.
It’s not all about the roofline, both. The QX55’s grille is bigger and has a singular sample and vivid end, and the entrance bumper has extra aggressive intakes. The liftgate has a properly built-in lip spoiler and the license plate is relocated down to the bumper, the place it sits in a restyled diffuser. I notably like the new LED taillights, which have a “piano key” design. Twenty-inch wheels are customary, and nothing bigger is on the market.
The QX55 will likely be provided with only one powertrain: Infiniti’s (and Nissan’s) modern VC-Turbo engine that incorporates a variable compression ratio. In the QX55 this turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 makes 268 horsepower and 280 pound-ft of torque, matching the output of the QX50, and it is paired with a constantly variable transmission. Unlike the QX50, which comes customary with entrance-wheel drive, each QX55 will get all-wheel drive.
In phrases of styling, the QX55’s inside is an identical to the QX50’s. The flowing dashboard design seems nice and the supplies seem excessive-high quality, however the terrible twin-touchscreen setup carries over unchanged. The black-and-purple combo you see in these photographs is unique to the QX55 — the solely different inside coloration choices are black and a black/grey — and there are some new trim choices together with darkish brushed aluminum and black open-pore wooden. I want the QX55 had the three-tone blue, cream and brown coloration scheme that the QX50 has; it will undoubtedly match the extra trendy character of the new automobile.
Because the QX55’s roof actually is not all that sloped, passenger house is not as compromised as with different crossover-coupes. Headroom for the entrance passengers is sort of precisely the similar as in the QX50, and there is just one.5 fewer inches of headroom in the again. The QX55’s customary energy liftgate opens to reveal a cargo space that is not an excessive amount of smaller than the QX50’s, both. There’s 26.9 cubic ft of cargo house with the rear seats up, down from 31.1 in the QX50. With the rear seats folded the QX55 has 54.1 cubic ft of room, in contrast to 64.four in the QX50.
One profit of leaping to the QX55 is extra customary options, however that is partially as a result of there isn’t any Pure base mannequin like with the QX50. The QX55 is obtainable in Luxe, Essential and Sensory trims, which suggests there isn’t any prime-finish Autograph mannequin like on the QX50, both. A panoramic sunroof, heated entrance seats, wi-fi charging, wi-fi Apple AutomobilePlay, non-wi-fi Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot and twin-zone automated local weather management are amongst the customary options. Available goodies embrace a 16-speaker Bose sound system, ventilated seats, adaptive LED headlights, navigation, a head-up show and three-zone local weather management.
Every QX55 will get automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and rear cross-site visitors alert with rear automated braking. Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist suite of driver-help tech is elective, which brings fancy adaptive cruise management with steering help and lane centering. You may go for site visitors signal recognition, lane-holding help and rain-sensing wipers.
But this is the factor: Good as the QX55 seems, I am unable to assist however suppose it is a half-assed effort. The original FX (and the second-gen mannequin that adopted) was one thing new and contemporary; it did not seem like every other Infiniti mannequin, and it wasn’t only a sportier model of an current SUV. For the QX55 to simply be an current crossover with a barely totally different roof is variety of a letdown. The FX was an actual sport-changer, and I believe it deserves a greater homage than this. There’s room in the lineup for a real successor, a sporty rear-drive SUV to do battle with the German institution. Sadly, it looks like Infiniti is extra involved with model than precise substance.
The QX55 ought to assist carry new prospects to Infiniti, at the very least. It’s focused at “orphans” of the model, followers of Japanese luxurious vehicles that desire a distinctive coupe-like crossover — one thing that rivals like Acura and Lexus do not provide. Infiniti says the QX55 will go on sale in spring 2021. Pricing hasn’t been launched but, however it ought to be at the very least a couple of grand greater than the QX50 Luxe AWD’s $44,525 beginning value.
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