Preliminary details dropped, pending full reveal.
Japanese luxury marque Infiniti has dropped some details and a single official shot of its new QX50, a compact SUV that’ll rival cars like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Jaguar E-Pace, and Lexus NX. Wth dramatic styling and an all-new platform, the QX50 certainly looks ready for battle.
Under the bonnet, the new Infiniti aims to blow away the competition with the first production variable-compression engine, which allows its compression rates to alter based on driver demand. This means that it’ll (theoretically) offer little to no compromise insofar as performance and fuel economy is concerned, perhaps ending a debate that we’re sure every carmaker faces at some point or another.
With 200kW and 380Nm, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine (dubbed VC-Turbo) offers a significant 35% improvement in efficiency over one of Infiniti’s comparable V6 motors, and is mated exclusively to a CVT gearbox. It’s worth noting that that 35% figure is specifically for the front-wheel drive model, though all-wheel drive models still get a 30% saving over the older atmo engines.
The QX50 is built on a brand-new platform for the marque, and allows Infiniti to give the QX50 what it claims to be best-in-class cabin room. Boot space is generous at 895-litres with the seats up, with a full 1,048-litres available with the seats down. Despite that space, the Infiniti is no whale, with 100km/h achievable from rest in as little at 6.3-seconds (for the all-wheel drive model, 6.7-seconds for front-wheel driven cars).
It’s suggested that the new QX50 will be a rather fun drive too, with a 23% improvement in torsional rigidity thanks to ultra high-tensile steel in its construction. The dramatically-styled body also helps the QX50 achieve a 6% aerodynamic improvement over the outgoing model.
Technology is also well catered for thanks to the addition of ProPilot technology, pioneered by parent company Nissan. While semi-autonomous features like intelligent cruise control and lane-keep assist is available on this car, full-autonomy features remain out of reach for the time being, as Infiniti claims that its customers are still keen on being involved in the driving experience.
More details on the QX50 will be revealed at its full public debut at the upcoming LA Motor Show at the end of this month, so stay tuned to CarShowroom as we bring you more updates as they come.
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