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Infiniti details 2011 model year lineup, two new packages for G37

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Sedan, SUV, Crossover, Infiniti, Luxury

2011 Infiniti QX56 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti has released details on its entire model lineup for 2011, and there are a couple of interesting tidbits to glean. Of course, we already know all about the new-for-2011 M and QX, so we'll focus on the other machines in Infiniti's line to see what's new, starting with the G series.

Two new extensions to the G Sedan will debut at the upcoming Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance: a Limited Edition model and a Sport Appearance package. Infiniti promises that both machines will be available in September and will feature "special exterior and interior content features." The G Coupe will gain a Sport Package for all-wheel-drive models, while Infiniti's G Convertible gets a revised fascia with relocated fog lights (no pictures available) and a Limited Edition model. Scratch Resistance Paint becomes standard on all G models.

Moving on, the 2011 EX will get a new seven-speed automatic transmission and 18-inch wheels as standard, while three new exterior paint colors will be offered. The larger FX will get a new standard power liftgate in 2011 and Infiniti also reminds us that it plans to release its M Hybrid along with an electric vehicle later this year.

There are plenty more bits, pieces and package changes that true Infiniti aficionados may want to peruse. Find all the details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Infiniti QX56

Photos by Zach Bowman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading Infiniti details 2011 model year lineup, two new packages for G37

Infiniti details 2011 model year lineup, two new packages for G37 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Infiniti EX35 holds the line on pricing but gets gobs more equipment

Michael Harley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Infiniti

Infiniti EX35 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Infiniti has announced its pricing and options list for the 2010 EX35 lineup this week, and the news is all good. The Japanese luxury brand has mirrored last year's MSRP on all four models, yet spread some additional icing on the cake to sweeten the deal on the 297-horsepower crossover.

The standard rear-drive EX35 rolls with a base price of $33,800 (all prices exclude destination, tax, and fees), while the range-topping EX35 Journey with all-wheel drive starts at $37,400. The automaker hasn't touched the exterior, so the new equipment is all found under the skin. All models now benefit from standard heated outside mirrors, auto on/off headlamps, and a USB connection port for iPod and MP3 players. The EX35 AWD model gains heated front seats, while the EX35 Journey models are fitted with heated front seats and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity. Models with the Bose Premium Audio package (but without the Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation system) pick up a 2GB Music Box.

The option packages now include a new Bose and Around View Monitor package (which includes nav at no additional charge), and the Navigation package has been upgraded with Bluetooth Streaming Audio, XM NavWeather and a Zagat Restaurant Guide. The 2010 Infiniti EX models are currently on sale nationwide. The full press release is after the jump.

Gallery: Infiniti EX35

[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading 2010 Infiniti EX35 holds the line on pricing but gets gobs more equipment

2010 Infiniti EX35 holds the line on pricing but gets gobs more equipment originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EX Phone Home: Nissan rebadges Infiniti EX as Skyline Crossover for JDM

Noah Joseph — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Japan, Crossover, Infiniti, Nissan

Nissan Skyline Crossover - Click above for a hi-res gallery

Enthusiasts couldn't help but be disappointed when Nissan let slip that plans for a new Infiniti flagship sedan based on the all-conquering GT-R wouldn't see the light of day. What you see here is just the opposite: an Infiniti re-labeled as a Skyline.

Truth be told, although the previous Skyline GT-R was one model, the two nameplates have been separated for years now in the Japanese domestic market: The Japanese domestic market Skyline is what we know as the Infiniti G37 coupe and sedan (like the G35 before it). What you see here, then, is just more of the same: the Nissan Skyline Crossover, an exercise in badge engineering to bring the niche model Infiniti EX crossover back home.

Nissan has released little in the way of details, but don't expect any big changes over the Euro-spec EX37, with the latest VQ37VHR version of the company's highly-rated V6 offering up 310 horsepower. So if you've ever woken up in a cold sweat wondering what an Infiniti EX would look like with a Nissan badge on its grille, check out the pair of images below, along with the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Nissan Skyline Crossover (JDM)

Gallery: Review: 2008 Infiniti EX35

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading EX Phone Home: Nissan rebadges Infiniti EX as Skyline Crossover for JDM

EX Phone Home: Nissan rebadges Infiniti EX as Skyline Crossover for JDM originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti developing new crossover, hybrid for 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Crossover, Infiniti

Click above for high-res image gallery of the Infiniti EX35

Take a quick glance at Infiniti's line-up in the United States. What's the most glaring omission? A range-topping luxury sedan or possibly a version of the GT-R to serve as it's sporting halo? Not according to John Capps, chairman of the Infiniti National Dealer Advisory Board, who says Infiniti dealers are pushing hard for another entry into the same near luxury segment where the G37 already competes along with another luxury crossover model. It seems that the EX, the automaker's latest CUV, is not selling up to expectations against rivals such as the Lexus RX-series due to its limited utility.

Up next for the automaker, though, are replacements for the M-series sedan and QX full-size SUV, which we surmise may come from a new platform since it's currently based on the Nissan Titan, which is slated to be replaced by a version of the Dodge Ram in a few years. On the green front, Infiniti is also said to have a hybrid on the way for 2010, though we're short on details as to which platform(s) will be so equipped.

Gallery: Review: 2008 Infiniti EX35

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Infiniti developing new crossover, hybrid for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CNET announces nominees for Tech Car of the Year

Chris Tutor — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, BMW, Cadillac, Dodge, Infiniti, Lincoln, Nissan

About this time last year, Cadillac's CTS added CNET's Tech Car of the Year to its increasingly crowded trophy case. Its entertainment system's recording capability was one of the things that impressed us, and, presumably, the voters. This year, CNET asks its readers to choose between three imports and two domestics, none of which are Cadillacs.

BMW's M3 Convertible DCT gets a spot on the ballot with its dual-clutch transmission. We wonder if the car's recent recall for transmission problems will affect its standing. The Nissan GT-R shows up again, as you might expect with its cabin full of g-whiz electronics, from the in-dash performance computer to the quick-loading navigation. Lincoln makes the list for its THX-equipped MKS and Infiniti's EX35 Journey gets recognized for its lane-departure warning system and park-assist cameras.

The biggest surprise, though, is the Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie. The pachyderm-sized pickup impressed the CNET judges with its UConnect multimedia system which includes a 30GB hard drive, Bluetooth hands-free system, SIRIUS TV and rear seat DVD player.

The winner will be announced the second week of January to coincide with the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas.

[Source: CNET]

CNET announces nominees for Tech Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Infiniti EX getting more rear leg room

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Infiniti

Click above to view high-res gallery of the Infiniti EX35

The Infiniti EX is a perfectly good little CUV with G37-inspired looks and sharp reflexes that keep it near the front of the cute 'ute segment in most reviews. Apparently that hasn't been enough to attract buyers. Or more precisely, the buyers who have been showing up at Infiniti dealers haven't been the kind of people that the company was actually marketing to. Where the advertising for the EX up to this point has been directed towards sedan buyers, and particularly couples or single women, a lot of families are actually looking considering it and, like ourselves, are complaining about the lack of back seat legroom and cargo room. Infiniti has taken those complaints to heart and is planning a few changes for the 2010 model that will increase room in both of those areas, though it hasn't said exactly how it will squeeze the extra cubic inches out of the vehicle's finite amount of interior space. Additionally, Infiniti will work with its dealers to help better pitch the EX to prospective buyers. An example of that is making content like the family-friendly Around View Monitor available in more trim levels. Hopefully it will help boost EX sales beyond the expected 15,000 units for this year, though we wouldn't get our hopes up in this market.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]

2010 Infiniti EX getting more rear leg room originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti EX35 receives IIHS' Top Safety Pick

Damon Lavrinc — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, Infiniti

Infiniti has finally joined the ranks of other automakers deemed worthy of the IIHS' Top Safety Pick with its recently introduced EX35 CUV. The luxurious and techalicious cute 'ute has garnered a fair amount of praise in recent months for its combination of high-class amenities and high-tech wizardry, but the Institute's focus is set squarely on how it avoids crashes and how it fairs in front, side and rear impacts. In order to receive the IIHS' designation, the vehicle has to provide "superior overall crash protection" and incorporate electronic stability control, both of which, the EX35 apparently provides.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's press release is posted below the fold.

[Source: IIHS]

Continue reading Infiniti EX35 receives IIHS' Top Safety Pick

Infiniti EX35 receives IIHS' Top Safety Pick originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan releases details about "Around View Monitor"

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Safety, Technology, Crossover, Infiniti, Nissan

Spatially-challenged drivers rejoice! As previously reported, Nissan has developed a new parking assist system that employs four ultra-wide high-resolution cameras mounted in the front, rear and both sides of the vehicle to provide a bird's eye view of the vehicle's surroundings. All those images are processed and displayed in real-time on a dash-mounted screen, giving drivers a 360-degree view of what they don't want to hit.

Shifting the car into reverse or drive will alternate between a view of the front or rear, while drivers will be able to toggle the left, front and right views when performing a particularly tricky parallel parking maneuver.

The first application of Nissan's "Around View Monitor" in the U.S. will be in the Infiniti EX35, but we'd expect it to become a hot commodity on some of Nissan and Infiniti's more bloated SUV offerings soon.

Nissan's full press release, including a video, is posted after the jump.

[Source: Nissan]

Gallery: Nissan's Around View Monitor

Continue reading Nissan releases details about "Around View Monitor"

Nissan releases details about "Around View Monitor" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pebble Beach Week 2007: Infiniti EX35 drops in Pebble

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Infiniti, Misc. Auto Shows

While we weren't looking, Infiniti snuck the new EX35 in the back door and released a ton of press pics and details about this newest luxury cute-ute. While we didn't get a chance to attend the official debut, we did spot a nice black example near the Infiniti hospitality tent and grabbed a couple of quick pics. From the front, and especially in black, this vehicle looks long and elegant. When it was introduced in New York as the EX Concept back in April, it won us over with its appealing styling and gorgeous interior. Somewhere between a G37 and FX35, it's quite attractive, but not really cute.

Gallery: Pebble Beach Week 2007: Infiniti EX35 drops in Pebble

Gallery: 2008 Infiniti EX35

Pebble Beach Week 2007: Infiniti EX35 drops in Pebble originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2008 Infiniti EX35 Revealed

Alex Nunez — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Infiniti

Click image for gallery

Pebble Beach provides the swanky surroundings for the unveiling of the production Infiniti EX35 compact coupe crossover. Introduced in New York as the EX Concept back in April, the car won us over with its appealing styling and gorgeous interior. Happily, both have made the transition to production unscathed. The exterior styling fits right in with the brand's current offerings, and brave Felix Unger types with a passion for keeping things clean will no doubt be thrilled to have the available light cream-colored leather interior shown in the gallery. As with the concept, the IP hood is wrapped in a stitched leather, and black lacquer or maple wood trim adorn the center stack and console. Fans of cloth seating are in luck, too, as its available in the EX.

As was announced by Infiniti in New York, the car arrives with the same 3.5L VQ featured in the G35, and it's tuned to make "over 290 horsepower" here in the EX. Shifts come via a 5-speed automatic. The concept's trick 4-camera Around View Monitor parking assistance system is on the list of available options, and the 60/40 split rear seat has a power folding feature that can be performed from the cockpit or the rear of the car. The other nifty new addition is a scratch-resistant, self-healing finish. Finally, the expected raft of luxury and safety features is, of course, available. Finally, the EX will also be offered in Europe as Nissan establishes the brand there.

This was one of our favorites in concept trim, and if you throw out the show car's magic roof, what you'll see in dealer showrooms is fundamentally the same. That's really good, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. The US on-sale date will be sometime in December of this year. We've included both production and concept galleries below for your comparison.

[Source: Infiniti]

Gallery: 2008 Infiniti EX35

Gallery: Infiniti EX Concept

Continue reading Officially Official: 2008 Infiniti EX35 Revealed

Officially Official: 2008 Infiniti EX35 Revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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