Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Infiniti EX35 remains a best-seller
Infiniti's EX35 compact luxury crossover returns for 2012 with a starting price of $35,600 (plus $895 freight) for the base rear-wheel-drive model and $37,000 for that model with all-wheel drive.
The premium-level Journey model begins at $37,900 with rear-wheel drive and lists for $39,300 with all-wheel drive.
A universal garage/gate opener has been added as standard equipment on the Journey models for 2012, a feature that previously was available only as part of the Deluxe Touring Package.
Introduced for the 2008 model year, the five-passenger EX35 is Infiniti's entry-level crossover — and also is one of the brand's best-selling models. Above it in the lineup are the five-passenger midsize FX35 and FX50, and the eight-passenger full-size QX56.
The EX offers sporty performance in a car-based chassis that has SUV-style seating and cargo-carrying capability.
Built on the same architecture as the Infiniti G sedan, the EX35 competes in a crowded class of vehicles that includes the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Cadillac SRX, Land Rover LR2 and Audi Q5. It also goes up against sedans in the entry-premium segment.
It's essentially a smaller version of the FX crossover and has essentially the same engine as the FX35, the V-6 model. Starting price is about $7,000 less, however. The EX does not offer a V-8 engine, though, like the FX50 model has.
Standard on the EX are leather seats, a rearview camera, automatic climate control (with rear vents), cruise control, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, power windows/mirrors/door locks, remote keyless entry with keyless push-button start, polished aluminum roof rails, heated outside mirrors, automatic headlights and a USB port for iPods.
The all-wheel-drive models have heated front seats.
It's powered by the same engine used in the earlier G35 sedans, a 297-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. EPA ratings are 17 mpg city/24 highway with rear-wheel drive and 16/23 with all-wheel drive.
Unlike many of its competitors, the EX has standard rear-wheel drive that helps give it a sporty driving experience. It's also the only vehicle in its segment with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.
The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is useful in snow and rain, but it helps guide the car through curves on dry pavement, as well. But it's not intended for serious off-road driving.
Last year, the EX35 was upgraded with a new seven-speed automatic transmission and the 18-inch wheels, and more high-tech equipment was made available. Dual-zone automatic climate control also became standard, and there is now an option for 19-inch wheels and tires.
Also last year, the instrument-panel lighting was changed to white, and three exterior colors were added: Arctic Blue, Midnight Garnet and Graphite Shadow.
The EX35 earned the “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, getting the top score, “Good,” in separate front-, rear- and side-impact and roof-strength tests conducted by the institute.
Standard safety features on the EX35 include electronic stability control with traction control, dual-stage/dual-threshold front air bags with seatbelt and occupant-classification sensors, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats, front seat-mounted driver and passenger side-impact air bags, and front-seat active head restraints.
It also comes with rear child-seat anchors and tethers, tire-pressure monitoring and four-wheel antilock disc brakes.
There is a long list of optional safety equipment as well, although the Top Safety Pick designation was not based on any of these extra-cost features. Those include the Infiniti lane-departure-prevention system, intelligent cruise control, distance-control assist and intelligent brake assist with forward collision warning.
Another option is a blind-spot warning system, which signals the driver with a light if another vehicle is detected in the blind-spot area on either side of the car.
If the driver activates the turn signal with another vehicle in the blind spot, the indicator flashes and a warning tone sounds, as well.
The blind-spot warning system is included in the Technology Package ($2,700), which also brings the lane-departure warning and prevention system, intelligent cruise control with distance-control assist, and intelligent brake assist with forward-collision warning.
A Premium Package ($2,700) adds a navigation system and Bose audio system, along with the cool Around View Monitor, which gives the driver a bird's-eye view of the car on the navigation screen.
It's a great help when trying to park or maneuver in tight spaces. The system has four cameras — in the grille, on the rear above the license plate and on the side mirrors — producing a view similar to looking down on the car from above.
Also available is the Deluxe Touring Package ($2,200), which adds the 19-inch wheels; P245/45R19 all-season performance tires; adaptive, auto-leveling, high-intensity-discharge xenon headlights; dual-occupant memory system for the driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel; entry/exit assist for the driver's seat and steering wheel; outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature; two-way power driver's seat lumbar support; a coat hanger on the driver's seat head rest; eight-way power passenger's seat; and a power folding second-row seat.
Versions with the Bose premium audio system and without the navigation system have a 2-gigabyte hard drive for onboard music storage.
The lane-departure prevention system, which goes beyond the lane-departure warning systems on some other luxury vehicles, detects the vehicle drifting out of its traffic lane, then engages the brakes slightly to give the car a gentle push back into its lane.
The EX also has Infiniti's Scratch Shield exterior paint, which self-heals small scratches — such as those from fingernails under the door handles. The process can take from a day to a week, depending on the outside temperature and the depth of the scratch.
This is possible because of a special soft elastic resin in the clearcoat paint. It can't fix severe scratches, though.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Vettel-Inspired Infiniti FX Concept Bound for Production
Details of the production version, including pricing and launch date, have not been revealed.
"Doing the FX Sebastian Vettel version for Frankfurt was fun, but it's also kind of a pilot," said Andy Palmer, Infiniti executive vice president, in a statement. "It's about our equivalent of Mercedes-Benz AMG or BMW M Cars. We wanted to test the organization and see if it could cope with this type of special version.
"Sebastian's FX demonstrates we are able to do low-volume specials, and the FX Sebastian Vettel version is one of the first that will go to market."
The concept is equipped with a 414-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine and a high-downforce aerodynamics package developed by Infiniti in collaboration with Red Bull Racing. Infiniti is a sponsor of Vettel's Red Bull F1 racecar.
The production announcement comes on the heels of Vettel winning Sunday's Korean Grand Prix and clinching the constructors championship for Team Red Bull.
Infiniti said Vettel had a hand in designing the concept following a conversation with Infiniti Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura at the 2011 Geneva Auto Show.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Ken and Sean, we would like to thank you for your dedication to 100 percent customer satisfaction. Outstanding job.
http://bit.ly/pszmrB
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
2012 Infiniti M Hybrid reaches a new level of excellence
Hybrids have become a part of the automotive landscape for nearly 15 years, but they’re generally the kind of vehicles we hate getting stuck behind on the highway. Insert your own Prius driver joke here.
But the M Hybrid, Infiniti’s first such vehicle, looks to change all that.
What is it?
Actually, the M Hybrid is Nissan’s first stab at developing its own hybrid system and it’s a far cry from the slow-selling, limited market Altima Hybrid the automaker offered until last year. Alternatively referred to as both M Hybrid and M35h, the car’s identity seems to be a little confused – but its mission in life is clear: To bridge a gap between M37 and M56 and to expand Infiniti’s efforts to move upmarket away from a primarily G-focused lineup.
Visually identical to the M37 and M56 that have been on sale for a little over a year, the M Hybrid promises V8-like power with V6-like fuel economy. It’s a promise that has been made by more than one automaker, but, as Guinness has proven, the M Hybrid has the stats to back up its claims. And at 27/32 mpg, it isn’t a big guzzler at the pumps – at least by class standards.
Any breakthroughs?
The M’s shapely hood hides an Atkinson cycle 3.5-liter V6 mated to an electric motor installed in parallel between the engine and transmission that, when combined, crank out 360 net horsepower. More importantly, the gas engine puts out 258 lb-ft. of torque, while the electric motor adds 199 lb-ft.
Instead of the high-strung continuously variable transmissions so many automakers love to use with hybrids, the M features a sophisticated seven-speed unit.
Add in “normal” hybrid do-dads like a lithium ion battery, regenerative brakes and some aerodynamics-enhancing underbody work. Our tester was equipped with an additional $2,000 package that brought with it a unique bodykit designed to displace air even better.
What’s it look like?
Badging aside, M35h is essentially identical to the standard M37 and M56, both of which feature flowing lines penned by designer Takashi Nakajima. Infiniti is unique among Japanese premium brands in that it is proud of individual designer accomplishments; Lexus and Acura rarely, if ever, single out designers when speaking of their work.
And we think Nissan is justified in boasting about Nakajima’s work. While the swoopy design won’t be for everyone, it is both sensuous and seductive from nearly every angle. We especially like the M’s tail and rear three-quarters views, which show off an attractive C-pillar reminiscent of postwar Jaguars. Up front, M’s fascia is a little busy and its nose is a tad droopy, but the bulging fenders are more toned down here than they are on the G.
Unlike the “less is more” trim designs found on German rivals like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the M positively flaunts its curviness like a plus-size model. While that might sound like faint praise, the M35h tips the scales at a fairly modest 4,129 lbs. and it features nearly perfect 51/49 weight distribution. A plumper it ain’t.
And on the inside?
Here’s where Infiniti’s newfound attention to detail is most obvious. A dual-cowl dashboard and a myriad of buttons marks this as an Infiniti product, but the difference is in the… details.
Our tester was optioned up with a $3,800 Deluxe Touring Package, a pricey upgrade that we know we couldn’t live without. Japanese White Ash wood trim adorns nearly every surface. Blessed with enough genuine powdered silver to stir the loins of any prospector among us, the trim is simply ravishing in the way it fades between light and dark surfaces. Add to that luxurious leather trim, a suede-style headliner and a grippy four-spoke steering wheel that rivals anything BMW has to offer and there’s clearly much to like about this interior.
That package also brought with it a so-called Forest Air system that, once the desired interior temperature has been reached, sends additional cold or warm air to passengers in pulses to simulate a breeze you might feel on a nice hike through a forest. Our skepticism nearly got the best of us, but we were pretty impressed with the way it seamlessly distributed air through the cabin.
Above those national park air vents in the center stack sits a big high-resolution display with Infiniti’s standard infotainment software aboard. But a few new screens have arrived to help drivers monitor the hybrid system’s operation. We were most intrigued with a neat EV trip odometer that measures how far drivers have moseyed on solely electric power.
But does it go?
Plug your ears and, yes, Virginia, you might very well be convinced that there’s a V8 under the M35h’s bulbous hood. In fact, you might very well think that a pair of turbochargers are along for the ride, so prodigious is this big four-door’s torque curve.
Power throughout the range is superb, especially in terms of immediate tip-in and mid-range response, the two areas where the electric motor’s instant-on torque really makes its presence known. All this grunt is aided by a snappy-shifting seven-speed automatic. We saw little use for its manual-style gate since it seemed always to be in the right gear, although we did appreciate the sport mode that holds gears longer for aggressive driving.
We were easily able to sustain urban and suburban speeds on electric power alone. Once the battery – which takes up a lot of trunk space – is close to depletion, the gas engine almost silently kicks over. An Eco mode makes it harder to accelerate fast to reduce fuel consumption.
M35h is more than just a straight-line rocket, although it lacks the lithe feel of its G sedan little brother. Steering is light but delivers good, linear response and a neutral feel, something we haven’t felt on some German rivals recently. But the ride is tuned more for comfort, which means the M35h wallows a bit in curves. Grip from the rear wheels – M35hs are rear-drive only, unlike their M37x and M56x showroom-mates – is good, although our tester’s Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires were clearly chosen for their smooth ride and low rolling resistance.
Braking was another strong point. While most hybrids feature what we’d best consider “wooden” brakes thanks to their regenerative systems, the M35h’s four anchors brought things to a stop with minimal drama and a natural feel.
But M35h was best on the open road, where it proved an arrow-straight highway cruiser easily capable of netting 32-33 mpg. Around town, we saw that figure drop to around 28 mpg, although we admit that we probably spent more time trying to up our figures on the car’s EV odometer than we should have. And that’s just what Infiniti wants drivers to do.
Why you would buy it:
You want to have your cake and eat it too. In this case, the dessert is carrot cake. It counts as your vegetable serving, right?
Why you wouldn’t:
If your knees tremble at the scent of eau de diesel, you should probably find something with a three-pointed star.
Leftlane’s bottom line
Infiniti proves that it’s possible to be a hedonist while using a bit less gas with its M35h. As usably fast – and perhaps moreso – than similar four-door luxury sedans that don’t even net 25 mpg on the highway, the M35h is perhaps the first hybrid we’ve ever fallen in love with.
It ain’t cheap and it won’t save the world, but there’s plenty to enjoy about this relatively low guilt sedan.
2012 Infiniti M35h base price, $53,700. As tested, $67,955.
Technology Package, $3,000; Deluxe Touring Package, $3,800; Trunk Mat, $200; Illuminated kick plates, $360; Aerodynamic kit, $2,000; Premium Package, $3,350; 18-inch wheels, $650; Destination, $895.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Infiniti adds first gas-electric hybrid
Luxury brand Infiniti finally joins the gasoline-electric hybrid car market with the 2012 M35h that's rated 38 percent more fuel efficient overall than its non-hybrid, V-6-powered M35 sibling.
Drivers can get 9 more miles from a gallon of gas in city traffic and 6 more miles a gallon on the highway by driving the M35h rather than the regular M35, according to federal government estimates. And the M35h helps prod the driver to meter gasoline via an accelerator pedal that feels like it has a brick behind it whenever a computer in the car determines that the driver isn't being fuel-conscious.
This noticeably firm resistance as the accelerator is being pushed down comes only when the driver has engaged the car's eco mode. And, it's easily overcome with a bit more pushing on the pedal. But a driver can't ignore that some nagging is going on.
Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2012 M35h with V-6 and electric motor is $53,595. The government fuel economy rating is 27/32 mpg. That compares with the $48,595 starting retail price for a non-hybrid, V-6 powered, 2012 M35 that's rated at 18/26 mpg.
But the M35h isn't the highest priced M sedan. The 2012 M56 with 420-horsepower V-8 has a $59,995 starting retail price and is not offered in a hybrid version.
Competitors to the M35h include the 210-horsepower Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec sedan, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $51,775 as a 2011 model and has a government fuel economy rating of 22/33 mpg as it runs on diesel fuel. Lexus' 2012 HS 250h, which is a luxury gas-electric hybrid sedan, has a starting retail price of $37,030 and had a 2011 rating of 35/34 mpg.
