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Infiniti prices Sebastian Vettel edition FX at $155K

Noah Joseph — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Crossover, Infiniti

When it comes to supercars, the sky is the proverbial limit. You can literally spend millions. And with vehicles like the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley Mulsanne and Maybach, you can spend hundreds of thousands on a top-of-the-line luxury sedan, too. But when it comes to SUVs, prices seldom if ever breach the $100K mark fetched by the likes of the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

There are a handful of automakers aiming to break that barrier though. Like the upcoming SUVs from Lamborghini and Bentley, the on-again, off-again Spyker D12, and this, the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version.

Based on the Infiniti FX50 S, the Vettel edition has had the output from its 5.0-liter V8 upped to from 390 horsepower to 414 for a 5.6-second sprint to 60 and a 186 mph top speed. The suspension is said to have been set up by the reigning two-time world champion himself, with the carbon fiber aero kit developed by his Red Bull Racing team. The only change we've heard of from the concept car pictured above to the production version will be a more conventional pearl white paint job instead of the matte white of the show car.

Only 200 examples will be produced, with 50 earmarked for continental Europe, and most of the rest likely heading to the Middle East. The price for such a high-end performance crossover? 120,000 euros, or about $155,000 in American greenbacks (if it were actually offered here). Of course if that still seems too slow and too cheap, you could always order a custom Juke-R from Infiniti's parent company Nissan and smoke some supercars in the process.

Infiniti prices Sebastian Vettel edition FX at $155K originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 May 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti opens order book on FX Sebastian Vettel Version

Noah Joseph — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Crossover, Infiniti, Middle East

It's a funny thing, being rich and famous. You can afford anything you want, but everything comes to you for free. Just ask Sebastian Vettel, who - as reigning Formula One World Champion two years running now and brand ambassador for Infiniti - can get any luxed-up Datsun he wants. Which may not be quite as exciting as Fernando Alonso having his run of the Ferrari motor pool or Lewis Hamilton getting his hands on the new McLaren MP4-12C, but it's not without its perks, to be sure. Like the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version.

Unveiled as a concept vehicle at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in September, the Vetteled FX packs a 5.0-liter V8 good for 414 horsepower and an estimated 5.6-second sprint to 62 mph, along with carbon fiber aero bits aplenty, reduced weight and a lowered suspension.

Back in October, we received confirmation that Infiniti was, indeed, planning on offering the special edition performance crossover - based, as it is, on the FX50S Premium model - in limited quantities, and the company has now officially announced its availability.

Only 200 examples will be made at an as-yet undisclosed but assuredly lofty price, with orders being taken now for delivery next year. But before you go racing down to the local Infiniti dealership, know that the model will only be offering in Europe and the Middle East. Which is just as well, because we can't imagine many American buyers ponying up the kind of cash Infiniti will be asking for the privilege just because it's named after some kid from Germany, no matter how many grands prix he's won. Official announcement after the jump.

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Infiniti opens order book on FX Sebastian Vettel Version originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version unveiled by... Sebastian Vettel

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Crossover, Infiniti

The Infiniti FX has always been a bit of a wild child in the premium crossover segment. It has a polarizing exterior style, and it's capable of reaching illegal speeds rather quickly. Infiniti has partnered up with Formula One racer Sebastian Vettel to make it even more extreme, and the result is the (rather blandly named) Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version.

What does it take for a F1 star to apply his moniker to anything other than a sports car? ~~Money~~. Serious upgrades to the overall performance of the vehicle. Vettel worked with Infiniti engineers to transform the FX50 into a lower, sleeker machine. The vehicle sits 20 millimeters lower and wears aero bits that help improve its coefficient of drag by 30 percent.

Those changes are rather welcome because Vettel wanted the FX bearing his name to hit a pretty impressive speed target. The goal was 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour), and this Infiniti FX Vettel Version is capable of achieving that mark.

Engineers were able to squeeze an additional 30 horsepower out of the 5.0-liter V8, bringing total output up to 414 horses. This was done by way of a new exhaust system and reflashing the the engine's computer. Still, 186 mph is a tough task for a bulky vehicle like the FX, so taller gearing was called for. Despite this, Infiniti says the Vettel FX manages to run from 0-60 miles per hour quicker than the standard FX50.

For the moment, the special FX is considered a concept car, though the rumormill has suggested for some time that Infiniti is working toward premium performance models with their cohorts from Red Bull Racing, so a production derivative isn't entirely out of the question. Read more about the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version by checking out the full press release posted after the jump.

Continue reading Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version unveiled by... Sebastian Vettel

Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel Version unveiled by... Sebastian Vettel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti previews Sebastian Vettel edition FX ahead of Frankfurt debut

Noah Joseph — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:07:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Crossover, Infiniti

With 390 horsepower on tap and a five-second 0-60 time, the Infiniti FX50 crossover really doesn't need much in the performance department. But merely "fast enough" isn't a term you'd commonly associate with Sebastian Vettel.

The defending Formula One World Champion drives an FX in his down time, serves as Infiniti's brand ambassador and has lent a capable hand or two in the development of the latest concept car coming out of the Nissan luxury division. The special Vettel edition has been anticipated for a few months now, but will finally be unveiled at the rapidly approaching Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

Just what specifications the special edition will encompass remains to be seen, as the short press release after the jump is conspicuously light on details, but from the solitary image released so far, we can tell it looks like one very mean performance crossover, with new aero bits, lighting, wheels and badging among the changes.

Continue reading Infiniti previews Sebastian Vettel edition FX ahead of Frankfurt debut

Infiniti previews Sebastian Vettel edition FX ahead of Frankfurt debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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