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<title><![CDATA[Tokyo green news: Infiniti M35 Hybrid]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - The badge doesn't say 'Infiniti' - but we all know what this is. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:36:53 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti G37 Coupe : MEDIUM RARE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Infiniti is taking a softly, softly approach to cracking the European market, so its G37 Coupe will have exclusivity on its side. Steve Walker reports.For many coupe owners, their cars are as much about looking good as they are about going quickly and it's much easier for a car to look good if the person doing the looking hasn't seen five of them already that day. A little bit of exclusivity can go a long way towards getting your car noticed and the Infiniti G37 Coupe is a model that, in the short term at least, is going to have plenty.Infiniti will be a new name to many in the UK. It's the luxury brand of Nissan cars, so the relationship bears a lot of similarity to that between Toyota and Lexus. Infiniti cars have been on sale in the America and other markets since 1989. The brand punched through the 100,000 annual sales barrier in the US in 2003, so it's been a major player in the prestige car market over there for quite a while. It arrived in Europe with a well developed product range including a couple of SUVs and the G37, a compact executive saloon which is also offered as a convertible and the coupe we feature here. The G37 underpinnings and engine are lifted from the Nissan 370Z sportscar which bodes very well for this sporty coupe version, even if wide ranging alterations have been made to give the Infiniti a more luxurious flavour than Nissan's headbanger. The 3.7-litre engine is the very same that's found in the Nissan 370Z but it's been de-tuned slightly to generate `only' 320bhp. This is where you should divorce the two cars in your mind because the while the 326bhp Nissan is 4250mm long and 1525kg, the stretched chassis of the G37 is 4,660mm and 1706kg. It's a far larger proposition with more of a focus on comfort and refinement. That said, it will still complete the 0-60mph sprint in under six seconds and lock horns with its speed limiter at 155mph. A more fitting comparison, and one that the G37 development engineers doubtless had in mind, is with the BMW 335i Coupe (306bhp, 1,600kg, 5.5s, 155mph). Like the BMW 3-Series, the G37 Coupe is rear-wheel-drive. Unlike it, the Infiniti can be specified with a four-wheel steering system. This works by applying small amounts of steering to the rear wheels in order to assist those that the front. It aids manoeuvrability, tightening the turning circle at low speeds, and increases stability at high speed. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual but there's also Infiniti's ASC Adaptive Shift Control automatic which has seven speeds and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Compared to the less sporting saloon variant, the G37 Coupe has been altered to produce a more sporting exhaust note and more reassuring brake pedal feel in a bid to appeal to the keener driver. "â€¦the Infiniti can be specified with a four-wheel steering system"The styling job that's been done on the G37 Coupe is enough to make it the most attractive model in the Infiniti stable. The shape is classic 3-door Coupe with its long bonnet and roofline rapidly dropping away towards the tail. There are elements of 370Z in the swept back headlights and the chunky rear end but in general the car is more about its cohesive shape than any standout details. Infiniti played it quite safe with this early effort for Europe and rightly so. The interior hosts a four-seat layout and a 275-litre boot. The cabin of premium coupes is a vital area for it's here where owners must be reminded that the premium they've paid over more proletarian models has been worthwhile. As you'd expect from a Japanese brand, the build quality is hard to criticise but there are lots of buttons cluttering up the fascia and the cohesion of design that the leading brands achieve isn't quite there. Infiniti makes a valiant attempt at compensating for any shortcomings with an equipment list as long as your leg. Three trim levels are at the disposal of G37 Coupe customers. There's a standard model, then comes the GT which adds a little more luxury and the S serves as a sporty range-topper. That's not to say that any Infiniti customer is likely to feel shortchanged. Standard stuff includes an electric sunroof, Bi-Xenon cornering headlights, speed-sensitive power steering, electric front seats, parking sensors, I-Key smart entry, a six CD stereo, Bluetooth connectivity and 19" alloy wheels. For £1,300 more, The GT adds leather trim and electric heated seats. The S model has four-wheel-steering, a limited slip differential, firmer suspension, sports seats and upgraded brakes for just under £2,000 over the GT. The competition for the Infiniti G37 Coupe will be tough. The likes of Audi's A5 and BMW's 3-Series Coupe aren't about to lie down and give a newcomer breathing space. The Infiniti is a little cheaper than the versions of these rivals with equivalent power but it's a lot better equipped so the value proposition could prove crucial. Infiniti will also be banking on the G37's relative exclusivity to give it an edge and the firm has made great claims concerning the special quality of its customer service. The big V6 in the G37 Coupe returns around 27mpg on the combined cycle, with accompanying CO2 emissions in the region of 248g/km. This equates to hefty running costs which might be a deterrent to some. Residual values will be a major determining factor in the G37's fortunes in the UK and it may take a while before the market settles on how it's going to value Infiniti products in comparison to rivals. If the Nissan 370Z was well fed, watered and left to mature for a few years, then put through a high class finishing school to have its hooligan tendencies well and truly ironed out, it would most likely end up looking much as the Infiniti G37 Coupe does. The two cars are quite different but share basic underpinnings and Infiniti will be hoping that the G37 can mimic some of its cousin's success. The package certainly looks strong on value and with the novelty value of the Infiniti name and the classy customer service offering, the car should have a chance of meeting its modest sales targets.Facts At A Glance CAR: Infiniti G37 Coupe PRICES: £31,950 - £35,150 on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 19 CO2 EMISSIONS: 248g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.8s / top speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 26.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ABS, ESP, pop-up bonnet WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4660/1820/1400]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:29:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti G37 Convertible : G WIZZ]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Can Infiniti's open-top make it big in the UK market? Steve Walker reports.People who drive convertible cars tend to think a little bit differently from the average motorist. They might well be more interested in a car as an experience and a style statement rather than just a means of getting from home to work. They're also likely to be unafraid of standing out from the crowd. In fact, some attention of the right kind is probably far from unwanted by individuals who crave a cabriolet. Infiniti is hoping that the adventurous spirit of the UK's drop-top drivers will extend to them considering a car from a brand they may never have heard of. Infiniti is Nissan's luxury car arm and the G37 Convertible is one of the models tasked with gaining it a foothold in Europe.There are saloon and coupe versions of the Infiniti G37 but it's the convertible we're interested in here. Infiniti is being modest with its sales targets for all its cars, avoiding the kind of PR bluster about outstripping Lexus or challenging the German hegemony that might come before a major fall. Instead, it's positioning itself as a thinking person's alternative to mainstream premium models. An alternative that comes bundled up with sparkling customer service. The G37 Convertible seems to fit into all this rather well, a distinctive and luxurious folding hard-topped car providing a less obvious option to those considering a BMW 3 Series Convertible or the Audi A5 Cabriolet. The G37 has somewhat unlikely roots being based on a stretched version of the Nissan 370Z chassis. It also uses a de-tuned version of the 3.7-litre V6 engine found in Nissan's hardcore sportster. That's the extent of the similarities, however, as the G37 is no track day tearaway. It's a considerably larger car with a focus that's more on comfort and refinement, although it can still turn in some lively performance figures thanks to its 316bhp powerplant. The 0-60mph sprint takes 6.2s and top speed is limited to 155mph."You certainly do get a lot of kit for the money but only time will tell if that's enough"With rear-wheel-drive and over 300bhp, at least some fun is certain to be on the agenda. Compared to the coupe, the convertible G37 has modified rear suspension to help cope with the extra weight of the three-piece folding hood and a wider track to enhance road-holding. The standard gearbox is a six-speed manual but the optional seven-speed ASC automatic is sure to be popular with its magnesium paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. The task of integrating a folding hard-top roof into a sleek, well-proportioned bodyshell is one of the toughest that can confront a modern car designer this side of removing a polo-necked jumper without dislodging a pair of steel-rimed spectacles. It's hats off to Infiniti's pen men, though, because the curvy G37 looks good with the hood up or down. The transition from coupe to convertible takes 25 seconds and can be performed from inside the car or by pressing a button located on the door handle. The three-piece hood disappears into the boot where it limits that available luggage space to a modest 70 litres and the car's practicality is further limited by rear seats that aren't particularly generous. The cabin of premium convertible cars is a vital area for it's here where owners must be reminded that the premium they've paid over more proletarian models has been worthwhile. As you'd expect from a Japanese brand, the build quality is hard to criticise but there are lots of buttons cluttering up the fascia and the cohesion of design that the leading brands achieve isn't quite there. Infiniti makes a valiant attempt at compensating for any shortcomings with a lengthy equipment list. Two trim levels are laid on for G37 Convertible customers. They're known as GT and GT Premium, with the latter living up to its name at a premium of £3,000 over the entry-level car. Standard stuff includes full leather trim, heated front seats, Bi-Xenon cornering headlights, speed-sensitive power steering, electric front seats, parking sensors with a rear-view camera, I-Key smart entry, a six CD stereo, Bluetooth connectivity and 19" alloy wheels. The GT Premium trim level adds a 30Gb hard disc navigation system with DVD playback and a touch screen display, air-conditioned seats and a 13-speaker BOSE stereo. Forging a niche in the premium convertible market will not be an easy task for the G37 Convertible but Infiniti's success in the US where it launched back in 1989 gives reason for optimism. The core rivals for the car will be convertibles based on the compact executive platforms of BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. With only a relatively powerful V6 petrol engine to offer, the car is forced to compete at the upper end of this segment and Infiniti will be banking on its generous standard specifications providing an edge over the more recognisable alternatives. The big V6 in the G37 Convertible returns around 25mpg on the combined cycle, with accompanying CO2 emissions in the region of 250g/km. This equates to hefty running costs which might be a deterrent to some. Residual values will be a major determining factor in the G37's fortunes in the UK and it may take a while before the market settles on how it's going to value Infiniti products in comparison to rivals. Infiniti won't be a name that's at the top of the list for many premium convertible buyers but those willing to consider something a little out of the ordinary could find that the G37 Convertible fits the bill. The pricing looks equivalent to some very talented rivals but Infiniti will point to the detailed standard specification of its car. You certainly do get a lot of kit for the money but only time will tell if that's enough.Facts At A Glance CAR: Infiniti G37 Convertible PRICES: £38,900 - £41,900 on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-17 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 255g/km [est] PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.2s / top speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 25mpg [est] STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ABS, ESP, pop-up bonnet WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4770/1770/1450 [est]]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:51:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti G37 Saloon : INFINITI AND BEYOND]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Infiniti has high hopes for the G37 saloon. Steve walker reportsWould you be happy swapping your BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz compact executive saloon for a Nissan? It's a safe bet that the majority of respondents to that particular questionnaire would answer in the negative, even without any indication of how good the Nissan might actually be. This is badge equity at work. We're trained to associate certain things with premium brands and others with the more mainstream ones. All of which explains why Nissan defers its assaults on the premium car market to the Infiniti sub-brand. Would you swap your BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class for an Infiniti G37 saloon? Now there's a question.Toyota has achieved success and respectability in the European market with its Lexus sub-brand and that arrangement draws the closest available parallel to the relationship between Nissan and Infiniti. Infiniti is a name that's well known to American car buyers, the brand having launched there in 1989 and broken through the 100,000-unit annual sales barrier back in 2003. Its journey in Europe is likely to be more taxing, however, particularly for the G37 Saloon which competes in a compact executive car market that's mature and highly competitive. Infiniti needs to build its European brand quickly but carefully and that can only be done through good marketing, good promotion and most importantly good product. So how does the G37 shape up? The G37 is immediately put at a disadvantage by its availability with just one engine, and worse, an engine which isn't a diesel. The all-important oil-burner is in the pipeline but for the time being, the car competes with the 3.7-litre V6 as used to intoxicating effect by the Nissan 370Z sportscar. The engine doesn't lack character in the 370Z, so it should be up to the job in the G37 saloon which runs on similar underpinnings. It develops 316bhp, enough to get the car from standstill to 60mph in 5.8s. That's pace on a par with a BMW 335i and faster than the Mercedes C350. Like the German cars it's targeting, the G37 is has a speed limiter which throws a damp tea towel over proceedings at 155mph."For performance, equipment and price, it looks a strong contender"The standard G37 models are rear-wheel drive but there is an intelligent all-wheel-drive option. A further intriguing possibility is the 4-Wheel Active Steer technology which comes with the sporty S models. This is a system by which the rear wheels turn to assist those at the front when steering inputs are made. They work to enhance low speed manoeuvrability while also increasing composure at high speeds. Two gearboxes are available, a six-speed manual as standard or an optional seven-speed automatic. The auto features wheel-mounted paddle shifters that appear to be a source of great pride for Infiniti because they're fashioned from Magnesium. The curvy lines of the G37 create a softer appearance than those of its compact executive rivals and ultimately a less distinctive one. There are elements to latch onto, however, such as the headlight clusters pushed wide to curve around the front corners and visually widen the car. In common with other Infiniti models, the G37 also features a long bonnet which has a practical application as well as a stylistic one. It allows the front-mounted engine to be pushed further back in the chassis for a more balanced front to rear weight distribution. The cabin of compact executive cars is a vital area for it's here where owners must be reminded that the premium they've paid over more proletarian models has been worthwhile. As you'd expect from a Japanese brand, the build quality is hard to criticise but there are lots of buttons cluttering up the fascia and the cohesion of design that the leading brands achieve isn't quite there. There's an acceptable amount of space in the rear for this sector and the 450-litre boot is also competitive. There's a lot of equipment as standard on the G37, meaning that the £2,000 price premium needed for, say, a BMW 335i with similar performance will grow once it's been brought up to G37 specification. Standard stuff includes Bi-Xenon cornering headlights, speed-sensitive power steering, electric front seats, parking sensors, I-Key smart entry, a six CD stereo, Bluetooth connectivity and 18" alloy wheels. The GT trim level adds full leather trim, heated seats and a few other extras for only £1,300. The G37x and G37x GT models have all-wheel-drive while the range-topping G37 S is rear-wheel drive but has four-wheel-steering, firmer springs and a rear limited slip differential. It's diesel that accounts for the majority of compact executive car sales in the UK and Europe but the Infiniti offering competes at the higher end of the market. Here, petrol gets a bit more of a look in with buyers valuing performance over economy. It will still be tough going for the G37 until its diesel engine pitches up but the brand is hoping to grease the wheels with an exemplary customer service offering. Infiniti customers will get a free collection and delivery service when maintenance or repair work is required. There's also an Infiniti Touring Assistance package designed to give full expert assistance while owners are out on the road. The big V6 in the G37 returns 26.7mpg on the combined cycle with accompanying CO2 emissions of 248g/km. The automatic gearbox makes the car fractionally more efficient but the 4x4 system puts a dent in economy to the tune of 1mpg. Residual values will be a major determining factor in the G37's fortunes in the UK and it may take a while before the market settles on how it's going to value Infiniti products in comparison to rivals. Is there room for another entrant in the compact executive saloon market? BMW, Audi and Mercedes would say no, Infiniti says yes with its G37 saloon. The G37 is unashamedly targeted at the sportier end of the market with its 316bhp V6, a very different place to that occupied by its fellow Japanese premium brand, Lexus. On performance, equipment and price, it looks a strong contender. The lack of a diesel and elements of the design mean there may still be work to be done. Infiniti has enjoyed considerable success in the US market but Europe is a different ball game. To appeal over here, Nissan's premium arm is banking on its value for money and quality customer service giving it an edge. There's also definite satisfaction to be gleaned from driving a compact executive car that hardly anyone else has got but trading on its rarity value is not where Infiniti wants to be in the long term. As far as it's concerned, the sky's the limit. Facts At A Glance CAR: Infiniti G37 Saloon PRICES: £30,300 - £34,700 on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-17 CO2 EMISSIONS: 248-255g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.8s / top speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 18.5mpg, (extra urban) 35.8mpg, (combined) 26.7mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ABS, ESP, pop-up bonnet WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4770/1770/1450]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti FX : SOUND FX?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Yes, it's another luxury 4x4 but Infiniti says that its FX is different. Steve Walker takes a look.There are definitely easier tasks than launching a new and relatively unknown luxury car brand onto the UK market. How about eating a skip load of pickled eggs in half an hour or swimming the Atlantic wearing a Pink Panther outfit? What the people at Infiniti get up to in their own time is entirely up to them, but we do know for certain that they're launching a car brand so they're not afraid of a challenge. We also know that they're deadly serious about Infiniti's future prospects. The products will be key, of course, and the FX crossover 4x4 range forms a vital part of the Infiniti offering.Gate-crashing the highly profitable prestige car club is extremely difficult as the product planners at many famous brands will testify. The Germans tend to occupy the dance floor while the likes of Volvo, Saab, Jaguar and Lexus spend their time trying to negotiate their way past the bouncers with varying degrees of success. Now the name Infiniti can be added to the list of wannabes but who's behind it? As motorists in the US and Japan will be well aware, Infiniti is Nissan's luxury car brand but its products have never previously been available in the UK through official channels. The firm's management team has a major task on its hands trying to muscle in but they'll take encouragement from the recent successes of Jaguar and Lexus in breaking the BMW, Audi and Mercedes stranglehold. Indeed, it's Lexus, the luxury arm of Toyota, with which comparisons to Infiniti are most easily drawn. The Infiniti marketing people are positioning the FX as a crossover which is always a rather fuzzy description. It's a full-sixe luxury 4x4 with a focus that's very much on comfort and performance on the road. The engine range lacks a diesel which puts it at a major disadvantage from the outset, and is comprised of a 3.7-litre V6 and a 5.0-litre V8. The V6 has 316bhp and can get the significant bulk of the FX37 to 60mph in just 6.8s then on to a 145mph top speed. The V8 engine is in the FX50 and with 385bhp, it can cover the sprint a whole second faster before reaching a 155mph speed limiter."â€¦it's a big 4x4 with a sporty feel and lots of power and technology for the price"There's a lot of technology under the skin of the FX designed to enhance its road-going performance. The standard fit gearbox is a seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel and the intelligent all-wheel-drive system distributes torque automatically to the wheels where it can be put to the best use. Climb the range and there are electronically controlled dampers that react to the road conditions automatically or can be set in a sport mode for a firmer ride and better body control. On the FX50 model, there's also active rear wheel steering which turns the back wheels as well as those at the front to improve manoeuvrability at low speeds and stability on the open road. With its elongated shape and small glass area, the FX has the look of a coupe on stilts rather than a conventional large 4x4. There are obvious similarities in the basic styling approach to the BMW X6 but the detailing is very different with the FX displaying curves and bulges in place of the BMW's sharp, angular lines. The long bonnet, steeply raked windscreen and vents behind the front wheel arches contribute to the sporty appearance. In the metal though, the car's sheer size means it still has the imposing presence of a 4x4. The links between Nissan and Infiniti are only really evident in the cabin where eagle-eyed owners will spot elements of the design and switchgear that have previously popped up in Nissan products. Huge efforts have obviously been made to generate the premium feel that's so important in the luxury 4x4 segments and for the most part, they appear to have been successful. Infiniti is making great play of the equipment levels offered as standard in all its products. It's easy to inflate the price of rival models far and away above that advertised with a few choice extras from the options list but the Japanese brand is banking on low prices and a comprehensive standard specification giving it the edge it needs. On all FX models, customers receive Bi-Xenon adaptive headlights that turn with the steering wheel, full leather trim, heated and cooled front seats with electric adjustment, I-Key smart access, cruise control, an electric sunroof, a 2Gb music jukebox, a rear view camera and cruise control. The basic V6 model is badged FX GT and above that sits the FX S with its more sports-orientated approach. Here buyers get huge 21" alloy wheels, sports seats and the CDC active damping system. At the top of the range, the FW50S model has Intelligent Cruise Control which can maintain a set distance to the car in front and Intelligent Brake Assist which can warn of a potential collision and brake the car if necessary. At this level, there's also the Connectiviti+ package which combines a DVD player, satellite navigation, a 10Gb music jukebox and a Bose premium stereo with 11 speakers. Infiniti has also done some clever things on the customer service side with the emphasis on what it calls the Total Ownership Experience. Dealerships aim to capture the atmosphere of a boutique hotel rather than a car showroom with the emphasis on hospitality. The brand has been pioneering such innovations in other markets since its creation 20 years ago and is confident of offering something very different to the UK car buyer. Overall running costs will depend greatly on residual values and that's something that the market may take quite a while to decide upon. The signs are good however with Infiniti pumping sizable resources into getting its message out there. Fuel economy and emissions are about what you'd expect from big petrol engines in big four-wheel-drives. The FX37 returns 23mpg on the combined cycle and emits 282g/km but it is Euro V compliant. The FX50 manages 22mpg and 310g/km emissions. Owners may need to make their contributions to saving the planet elsewhere. Can Infiniti make it big in the UK and upset the prestige car market's status quo in the process? If we take the FX crossover 4x4 as an indication, it looks to be in with a chance. The product itself isn't trying to do anything groundbreaking which is probably a sensible move in this conservative marketplace. Instead, it's a big 4x4 with a sporty feel and lots of power and technology for the price. The FX isn't exactly arriving in an empty market. There are numerous plush off-roaders trying to lure exactly the same type of customer and they have badges that are more readily recognisable to UK motorists. Much will hinge on the standard of the special customer service that Infiniti is working so hard to deliver and with only modest sales targets for the short term, there should be plenty of opportunity to finesse the details. If that can be got right, the FX and the other models in the range will have a real unique selling point and the Germans might just start to worry.Facts At A Glance CAR: Infiniti FX PRICES: £42,600 - £53,800 INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-19 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 282-310g/km PERFORMANCE: [FX37] 0-60mph 6.8s / top speed 145mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 23.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ASC, ABS. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4640/1800/1580]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:36:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti EX : TO INFINITI AND BEYOND?]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - A new brand to these shores, Inifiniti is the luxury arm of Nissan and the EX is an all-wheel drive crossover vehicle that will act as its beach head. Jonathan Crouch reportsEstablishing a brand from scratch can be easier than it would at first appear. Infiniti, backed with the corporate might of Nissan, has a tough task on its hands with the EX, a luxury 4x4 with a sporting feel that was originally designed for the lucrative US market. Those in search of something a little different in this sector might enjoy it though.The marketeers describe this car as a `Coupe-Crossover' but what exactly is that? Perhaps the best definition is to call such a thing a large luxury 4x4 that has something of a sporting side. BMW's rather unusual-looking X6 is the most obvious example of the breed that springs to mind and, as you might expect, it isn't cheap, starting from around the £45,000 mark. So what if you could get a premium-badged, better equipped and arguably just as striking alternative for around £10,000 less? Might you be interested? In principle, perhaps, but you're going to need to be one of those people who doesn't mind being an `early adopter'. Someone who doesn't mind people looking at their car in the driveway and answering questions along the lines of `you've bought a what?'. The `Coupe-Crossover' X6 alternative we've been talking about, you see, has a very unfamiliar badge on the UK market. Infiniti is the luxury arm of Nissan and is well established elsewhere around the globe, particularly in the US. Here, it has an upmarket struggle, launching a range of cars that initially at least, has no diesel options and places a great deal of hope in the diminishing returns of the luxury 4x4 sector. The Infiniti model in question here is the EX. Though slightly smaller than a BMW X6, it does have the same kind of appeal but in reality is more likely to tempt British buyers away from more comparably-priced cars like Audi's A5 and Volvo's XC60. Oh and Nissan's own Murano. The 3.7-litre V6 engine found under the EX's bonnet is much the same unit that powers the 370Z coupe, tuned in US specification for 316bhp. By most objective assessments it's a great engine, gutsy, modern and with a great note at the top end, but it's also this Infiniti's Achilles heel - UK sales figures showing that the market for petrol-powered vehicles such as this are vanishingly small. Still, it'll zip the EX to 60mph in just 6.4 seconds and on to a top speed of around 150mph so it's got the chops to keep many sports cars honest. It handles sharply too, giving some credence to Infiniti's coupe-crossover claim. It never feels tall and tippy in the way a lot of these vehicles can and all the control weights are well judged, the steering feeling very well-oiled and expensive."The 3.5-litre V6 engine is much the same unit that powers the 350Z"So what exactly is Infiniti's design take on a `Coupe-Crossover'? The rather strangely proportioned curves hint at all manner of genres and after walking around the EX for a while, you'll probably be little the wiser. Yes, there is a coupe-like sweep to the rear haunches and the roof line has a bit more gravity acting on it towards the back, but it's still resolutely tall in the middle. With an unfashionable amount of fresh air sitting between tyre top and wheel arch, the EX also carries hints of jacked-up estates like the Volvo XC70 or the Audi allroad. It's about the same size as a BMW X3 on the outside but there's less room in the luggage bay than with the baby Beemer. Build quality seems good, the interior styling being a little less clunky than a Lexus but still not as slick as a premium German product. Although just the petrol model is initially on offer in the UK, the EX range will subsequently be bolstered with the addition of a diesel-engined variant, powered by what is expected to be a derivative of Renault's 3.0-litre dCi lump in 2010. Whereas the American market gets rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive variants, Infiniti has no plans to bring a rear-wheel drive EX to the UK. A seven-speed automatic gearbox is fitted as standard for Infiniti's assault on `Yurp'. There's a choice of two models for UK buyers - and both are extremely well equipped. You can expect to find cruise control and Xenon adaptive cornering headlights but perhaps the highlight in the standard tariff is the Connectiviti information and entertainment system which includes a hard disk drive (HDD) with music storage and iPod. The GT version adds electric, leather-trimmed and heated seats. Many features of the EX cannot be had in rivals at any price. Scratch Shield, for example. This unique Infiniti technology ensures the body's gloss finish remains unblemished for years thanks to an elastic resin within the top coat that "fills in" light scratches when exposed to heat. Another EX first in this class is the remote lowering and raising of the individual rear seat backrests - highly convenient when the EX doubles up as an estate car. It goes without saying that Infiniti is a big unknown quantity in the UK and how successful it manages to be in retaining its value on the secondhand market will have a major impact on its fortunes. Clever marketing and careful control of supply could pay dividends here. The 3.7-litre engine can return 25mpg on the combined cycle with emissions of 265g/km, about what you'd expect in other words. So then, the EX is a well equipped and different alternative to, say, an Audi Q5 or a Volvo XC60. But will being plush and different really be enough for Infiniti to reach its very modest sales projections on these shores? It will be interesting to see.Facts At A Glance CAR: Infiniti EX range PRICES: £35,200-£36,500 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 17 [est] CO2 EMISSIONS: 265g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.4s / Max Speed 149mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 25mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Six airbags, ABS, stability control WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4640/1800/1600]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti Convertible line-up revealed]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - The final specification for the European spec Infiniti G37 Convertible has been announced.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:22:17 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti Essence Concept]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Infiniti's concept is technically a supercar, but it previews come interesting green tech.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:33:37 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[FX50S spearheads new Infiniti range]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Infiniti is coming to Britain mid-2009 and with the FX50S it looks like it will take the fight to the established sports SUV hierarchy.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:50:38 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Sky is limit for new Infiniti cabrio]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - The very first Infiniti Convertible has been revealed and it should come to Europe. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:07:54 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti and beyond]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Nissan's new luxury brand is called Infiniti and is set to challenge Lexus and the established European leaders.]]></description>
<link>http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/cars/xml/?http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/07032008/36/infiniti-beyond-0.html</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:13:09 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti luxury brand launched]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Infiniti didn't just launch a new car at the Geneva show, it launched itself as a whole new brand.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:49:06 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[To Infiniti and beyond]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Infiniti is a new luxury brand to Europe and will make its debut at the Geneva show in March.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:39:02 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Infiniti's New Global Models]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Five of the Best - In New York, two new models debuted - the G37 Coupe and the EX crossover.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Apr 2007 08:29:54 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Nissan / Infiniti]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Nissan / Infiniti at the 2006 Detroit Motor Show]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:29:50 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Nissan shows new Infiniti concept]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car Enthusiast - Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti showed the gorgeous Coupe Concept in Detroit, looking for all the world like a luxury version of the GTR concept.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jan 2006 09:49:42 GMT</pubDate>
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