Infiniti’s Most Important Car of the Year Arrives to Reclaim Its Once Gloried Past

After months of teasers, Infiniti’s most important car of the year is finally here. And, it’s ready to hopefully harness the spirit of one of its most revolutionary automobiles of all time.

Say hello to the next-gen Infiniti QX65. Heralded as the final production variant of the QX65 Monograph Concept teased last year, Infiniti’s new luxury sports crossover arrives to replace the lukewarm QX55 as the company’s new flagship SUV. For now.

But more importantly, the QX65 represents a much-needed turning point for Nissan’s once-famed and highly innovative luxury division. Especially after over a decade a mismanagement and a loss in identity.

Can the QX65 kickstart the new chapter?

A new beginning

Chris Chin

It’s no secret that Infiniti and parent company Nissan have had their fair share of trials and tribulations over the past decade. The iconic luxury division once prided itself on being one of Japan’s direct answers to the European premium brands.

From mismanagement to an almost complete loss of identity, many will say Infiniti has lost its way. This is a sad and far cry from some of its original efforts.

Chris Chin

But now, Infiniti wants to put itself back on the map. The QX65 is the first of many new cars the automaker is betting on to kickstart the movement.

So, why an SUV? Well, whether you like it or not, SUVs are still what’s hot right now, especially in the luxury and premium segments.

But more so, Infiniti was one of the brands that helped prove luxury SUVs could be a thing. It first started with the original Pathfinder-based QX4 from the 1990s.

Chris Chin

Then, in the 2000s, Infiniti was the first to introduce the concept of a sporty, road-going SUV with a raked roofline with the original FX35/45. Little did they know, they inadvertently started the “coupe SUV” trend, which influenced BMW to make the X6 and later, Mercedes-Benz to make the GLE and GLC Coupe.

Now, Infiniti is hoping to steal back some of that stolen glory.

Reinventing its own wheel

Infiniti

Can the new Infiniti QX65 reclaim what was once its most innovative car? Well, for starts, it’s stylistically and visually more striking than the QX55 and QX60.

However, it’s noticeably larger than the QX55, which is much more akin to being a compact than a midsize. But the first major design cues that strike the eyes is its large, semi-trapezoidal grille, and sloping roofline.

Chris Chin

Which clearly shows that the QX65 is looking to be more of a fastback design than a conventional upright SUV.

Underneath is the same platform underpinning the current QX60. But with updates and revisions for a supposedly sportier driving experience.

Chris Chin

At first, the QX65 seems somewhat tame, as it will launch with Nissan’s latest Variable-Compression Turbo (VC-Turbo) four-cylinder with 268 horsepower and 286 pound-feet. A nine-speed automatic will drive all four wheels as standard.

But later on, Infiniti will reportedly introduce a new V6 for the model, which will hopefully give the QX65 the performance edge it needs to take on the Germans once again.

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