Infiniti FX-50

First Impressions

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Does the name Infiniti mean anything at all to you? Nissan has gambled that within the next year it will make a big impact. It's been around for some 20 years as the luxury arm of the Japanese manufacturer, with sales largely confined to the US. They don't even sell Infiniti in Japan.
Now the cars are coming to Europe, and though the UK launch seems to keep sliding back, the cars are promised by early summer 2009. The marketing tack seems to have changed too. The impression that Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota - with the emphasis on luxury and quality to tackle the German brands - has been superseded by the highlighting of the performance aspects of Infiniti.

There's good reason. The smallest engine currently on offer in any Infiniti - G27, a 3-Series-sized saloon, the Q5-baiting EX37 SUV and the giant FX- is a 3.7 V6 with 316bhp. The FX also gets a 385bhp V8. These are hardly the specifications anyone would dream up at this time of global financial crisis, but there is a ray of encouragement in the form of a new 3.0-litre turbodiesel that has just been launched in the Renault Laguna Coupe. The saloon won't get it though.
This FX is selling very well in states where fuel costs are less of an issue; the Russians love it, apparently. And it does look pretty damn good. Lower than any rival 4x4, there's a long curvaceous bonnet and swooping passenger compartment to make this a stand out machine. The interior is equally tantalising, real gentleman's club ambience and comfort.
Performance

The FX is, surprisingly, something of lightweight for an SUV. Weighing in at around two tonnes, it uses aluminium panels to help keep the weight down and the performance up. With its long bonnet and the front wheels pushed well forward, it looks fast even at the kerbside. And quick it certainly is. The 5.0-litre V8 is eager and responsive, and you just need to floor the throttle to get instant V8 excitement.
The engine revs to 6,800rpm and the variable valve time encourages you to make full use of the rev range. The seven-speed auto is terrific, within a sport mode that hangs onto gears longer and predicts downchanges before you do. There are also some fancy magnesium paddle shifts behind the steering wheel, and these are a real pleasure to use too.