New Infiniti FX50: Come Over to the Dark Side
Loooooook. Loook at the new FX! According to the PR people (who invented the Dark Side), Infiniti FX buyers are what they call “progressive independents:” consumers who like trendy styles and show a rebellious “hint of the dark side” in their personalities. Yeah, yeah. While the suits blow were busy blowing smoke up their own Powerpoint presentation, WardsAuto.com reports that Nissan's engineers tackled everything we didn't like about the old model— and more. Hard ride? Gone; [allegedly] banished by a more "refined" four-wheel independent suspension with front double-wishbone and rear multi-link. Sneaker styling? Toast; [supposedly] macho-ed by with a lowered, stretched platform with more forward front wheels, a longer hood and shorter overhangs. More complex toys that can break? Got 'em; especially a lane departure warning system. Some kind of compelling reason not to buy the smaller but almost equally-horsed variant? Done; FX50 gets 21" wheels, a 5.0-liter V8 and all-wheel drive; the FX35 "makes do" with a 3.5-liter V6 with optional AWD. As for that dark side thing, the FX is this writer's first choice for SUV/CUV on-road hoonery. I look forward to putting the FX50 through its paces come June. The force is strong with this one.
More by Robert Farago
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It cannot to be a better time to arrive wth $4.00 gallon. Perhaps Nissan needs to borrow Chryslerbus' gas @ $2.99 gimmick. Or does the 5.0 ltre uses less gas than a Geo Metro. Probably it does if u do the weight ratio, except the FX could tip the scale at 3500 lbs. Wsh t was 1499 lbs.
This is my most hated car for 2009. It's grotesque and literally covered in styling sores. I really hate it!
I really disliked the styling on the FX35. This new one is no better.
There's [a | yet another] new market segment taking shape out there. Most strongly defined by the BMW X6, I'd say it now includes this FX50 and the Cayenne GTS. Thoughts?