2004 Infiniti G35 Base on 2040-cars

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2016 Infiniti QX60 facelift spied

Initially launched in 2012 as the JX35 and rebadged in the brand's new nomenclature as the QX60 in 2013, Infiniti's three-row crossover is due for a facelift next year. And that's just what you're looking at here in this latest gallery of spy shots. Captured while undergoing testing here in the United States, the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is slated to benefit from revised styling front and rear. That means a new grille and headlights stylistically drawn from those on the QX50 and QX80, as well as a reshaped rear end with new taillights. The design changes ought to help further differentiate the QX60 from its more commonplace counterpart, the Nissan Pathfinder, on which it is based. Nissan dealers, after all, charge a good $13k less for their version than Infiniti dealers get for theirs, and customers want their premium wheels to look the part. And in the process, the updates aim to help the QX60 compete with rivals like the Acura MDX and Buick Enclave. A fresh set of wheels is almost a foregone conclusion whenever an automaker is trying to spruce up one of its models. And we can expect some updated equipment and revised materials inside as well. We wouldn't expect much in the way of mechanical upgrades under the hood. Infiniti recently recalibrated the continuously variable transmission for improved performance and refinement for 2015. Sources point towards an unveiling before year's end – which likely means the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show later this month – before sales commence early in the new year.

2014 Infiniti Q50 configurator comes alive

The G37-replacing 2014 Infiniti Q50 sport sedan launches in the not-too-distant future, and for those curious about how pricing and packages will shake out, the car's official online configurator has been launched. Here, you can build the Q50 or Q50 Hybrid of your dreams, with the cost of entry starting at $36,450 (plus $905 for destination).
Selecting the hybrid model adds $7,250 to that bottom line - mostly because the gasoline-electric version is only available in the Premium trim and higher, while the gas-only Q50 comes in a base guise. Adding all-wheel drive, which Infiniti has made available with either engine and on all trims, will set you back $1,800.
There are a number of packages available across the trims, including a $1,400 navigation pack that includes a spare tire kit, a deluxe touring pack that costs $4,700 (and includes the navigation goodies), and the upper-crust $7,900 technology package which gets you, well, everything. Put that all together on a Venetian Ruby Q50 RWD Sport like we did, and you're looking at $51,755 when destination has been added.

Nissan, Kia under investigation over occupant detection systems

Kia and Nissan are facing separate investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration because of alleged problems with the occupant detection systems in their vehicles' airbags. The larger investigation is NHTSA's new engineering analysis into 986,826 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. They include the 2013 Nissan NV200 and 2013-2014 Altima, Leaf, Pathfinder, and Sentra. Among the Infinitis, there are the 2013 JX35 and 2014 Q50 and QX60. Owners allege the occupant classification system can misidentify passengers and turn off the airbag if they don't weigh enough. Nissan recalled over a million vehicles worldwide last year to fix the same problem with a software update, but NHTSA kept getting complaints about the issue after the repair. The agency opened a preliminary evaluation in March, and after 1,271 complaints it has now been updated to an engineering analysis. The Feds intend to evaluate the effectiveness of Nissan's solution. NHTSA is also opening a preliminary evaluation into the 2007-2009 Kia Spectra for the occupant classification not working properly, and it could affect an estimated 186,000 of these vehicles. The government agency has 43 complaints from people allegedly reporting the failures. According to NHTSA, the issue could result in the airbag not deploying with enough force or not activating at all in an accident. This investigation is meant to assess the scope of the potential flaw, and there's no recall yet. INVESTIGATION Subject : Occupant Classification System Fault Date Investigation Opened: SEP 01, 2015 Date Investigation Closed: Open NHTSA Action Number: PE15031 Component(s): AIR BAGS All Products Associated with this Investigation Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) KIA SPECTRA 2007-2009 Details Manufacturer: Kia Motors America SUMMARY: The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 43 complaints alleging a malfunction of the front passenger seat occupant classification system (OCS) in 2007-2009 Kia Spectra vehicles. The complaints report illumination of the SRS (air bag) warning light. All of the complaints allege the cause of the light illumination to be a malfunction of the OCS sensor mat imbedded in the passenger seat cushion, and/or report the presence of diagnostic trouble code B1448 which relates to the OCS sensor mat also. Many of the complaints note the malfunction occurred after the warranty period expired and mention high repair costs as a major deterrent to repairing the vehicle.