2017 Infiniti Qx80 on 2040-cars

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2017 Infiniti QX30 beefed up and ready for LA debut

Infiniti has released the first details and photos of its new compact crossover. Dubbed the QX30, the latest addition to the premium lineup is set for parallel debuts at the upcoming auto shows in Los Angeles and in Guangzhou, China. And with it, the luxury automaker is going after a younger demographic. Previewed by the QX30 concept unveiled earlier this year in Geneva, the new crossover joins the Q30 hatchback in Infiniti's new "entry-level" model line. Set to be produced at Nissan's mega factory in Sunderland, UK, the QX30 will be the first Infiniti to be built in Europe. But as you might discern from its introduction in LA, it'll form a vital part of the brand's strategy for the US market as well. The design looks instantly recognizable as an Infiniti, looking almost exactly like the Q30... only more rugged. Apart from the increased ride height, suitably ruggedized lower bodywork, and telltale (but slimline) roof rails, it adopts the same curvaceous, organic lines as the hatchback, and signature double-arch grille and kinked C-pillar as you'd expect from any modern Infiniti. The Japanese automaker has yet to show us much of the interior, but it promises an asymmetric design, premium materials, and ergonomic surfaces. Nor has Infiniti revealed much in the way of technical details. What it has told us, however, is that the new QX30 will encompass an all-wheel-drive system capable of sending up to 50 percent of output to the rear wheels, running through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Availability of diesel and gasoline engines will depend on the individual market. If its lower-riding stablemate is anything to go by, we should be looking at a 2.0-liter turbo four producing 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Technical specifications are due to be announced closer to its market introduction in the middle of next year. At that point, rivals like the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Lexus NX will be put on notice as Infiniti joins an increasingly competitive market for premium compact crossovers.

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.

Infiniti keeps us on our toes for Q50 Eau Rouge

If you've been watching the evolving rapprochement between Infiniti and Red Bull Racing, and have wondered what the point was if the Japanese automaker didn't capitalize on its expensive collaboration with the world-champion Formula One team, then Infiniti may finally have the answer come the Detroit Auto Show next month.
That's where Nissan's premium division is set to unveil the Q50 Eau Rouge concept, a show car set to showcase its F1 involvement in the form of a jazzed-up sports sedan. We still don't have much to go on in terms of what the concept car will actually entail beyond a body kit, but Infiniti has launched a dedicated website for the reveal and with it, this teaser video. It still doesn't tell us much, but it's a cool animation just the same, so check it out below.