The all-new 2018 Infiniti QX50 premium mid-sized SUV has been revealed. The new QX50 is built on a new platform and features new engine technology and modern design.
The QX50 will have a hard time of things, it will compete against the new BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Audi Q5 and Lexus NX300.
Infiniti Global Division Vice President, Christian Meunier, said, “The QX50 is the most important vehicle we have ever launched, and it embodies everything the brand stands for Beautiful design, advanced technology and empowering performance. As a premium, mid-size SUV, it’s the right vehicle at the right time in one of the world’s fastest-growing segments.”
The Infiniti QX50 is the first production vehicle to offer a production-ready variable compression ratio engine. The 2.0-litre VC-Turbo engine is able to adjust its compression ratio to deliver more power and efficiency than ever before. Offering a compression ratio ranging from 8:1 at the peak performance end of the scale to 14:1 at the efficiency end, the engine harnesses the power of a 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine and the torque and efficiency of a four-cylinder diesel engine, dispelling the notion that only hybrid and diesel powertrains can deliver high torque and efficiency.
The engine in the QX50 offers 200kW of power and 380Nm of torque and is paired with an XTRONIC continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with manual shift mode. The QX50 is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Supporting the new engine is an all-new platform with a front-engine, front-wheel drive-based layout. The new platform allows for better rigidity, interior space, refinement and efficiency.
The QX50 utilises Super High Formability (SHF) 980 MPa high-tensile steel which is a first for the automotive industry. Through the use of this material weight is saved, rigidity is improved and noise inside the cabin is reduced.
Adding to the list of new and improved is the new ProPILOT Assist technologies. These technologies help the driver to control acceleration, braking and steering during single-lane highway driving via the push of a button. The aim is not to be fully autonomous, rather to ‘co-pilot’ the vehicle and provide more enjoyment for the driver.
The QX50’s design is a reinterpretation of Infiniti’s Powerful Elegance design language with cues from signature designs in the SUV segment. Measuring up to 1,679mm in height an elevated seating position is afforded the driver providing maximum visibility of the road and surroundings.
Aerodynamics were also a key consideration with the drag coefficient reduced by 6 per cent over the outgoing model. The hood, bumpers, A-pillar, tailgate and underbody have also been designed to manipulate the airflow to improve aerodynamics and reduce turbulence.
With a sliding rear bench, the QX50 offers plenty of flexibility with between 895 and 1,048 litres of cargo storage available. Clever under-floor storage is also available allowing stowage of items completely out of sight.
Infiniti has confirmed the new QX50 will be added to the Australian portfolio in mid-2018.
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