The Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel will be priced just over 120,000 euros in Europe, or just above £100,000 in the UK, Autocar UK reported. 50 units of the special edition will be headed for Europe and Infiniti has eight confirmed orders so far, or nine, if one includes the unit the double world champ himself will be getting.

The Sebastian Vettel FX50 S will enter production in October and deliveries start in early 2013. It will be exactly like the concept car shown in Frankfurt last year except for one difference – the matte white paint will be changed to pearlescent white.

Based on the V8-powered FX50 S Premium, Vettel himself has been involved in the development of this special edition, and is said to have specified its sportier chassis setup. Red Bull Racing designed the crossover’s carbonfibre bodykit, which is functional and adds performance – downforce and five per cent lower drag to be specific.

If Europe gets 50, there will be 150 units of the Vettel FX to go around the rest of the world. In Malaysia, the 2012 Infiniti FX37 is priced from RM435,000 OTR excluding insurance.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Inspired Motor, the distributor of Infiniti vehicles in Malaysia, has introduced two new variants to its M sedan lineup. One of it is the M35h hybrid, which we saw coming via spyshots, while the other is the entry level M25. They join the M37 sedan.

The M35h is billed as the “driver’s hybrid” that puts performance first. Its Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid system mates a 302 hp 3.5 litre V6 with a 68 hp/270 Nm electric motor in a two-clutch layout. The hybrid M is capable of 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds, nicely backing up its “performance-first” credentials. Fuel consumption is rated at 14.5km/l on the NEDC combined cycle.

The first (dry) clutch is installed between the V6 and the motor/transmission. Electronically controlled, it allows the full decoupling of the V6 when the car is in electric drive and power regeneration modes. This reduces mechanical drag.

The second (wet) clutch sits on the other side of the electric motor. It is packaged within the transmission where its function replaces that of a conventional torque converter, in effect turning the seven-speed auto into an automated manual, with 10% better fuel consumption over an equivalent torque converter unit.

The M35h’s steering is an electro-hydraulic system with “on-demand” assistance, claimed to offer the natural feel of hydraulic power steering and the improved efficiency of EPS. In Electric Driven Intelligent Brake, said to be a world’s first, the car’s electric motor operates the brake cylinders.

Luxury features include semi-aniline leather, ventilated climate-control front seats, Forest Air climate control, 16-speaker Bose surround sound system, hand-buffed high gloss Japanese White Ash wood trim, bi-xenon adaptive front-lighting system (AFS) with washer and HDD Infiniti Music Box, among other things. The M35h costs RM499,000 OTR without insurance.

On the other end of the price scale is the M25, although it can be called affordable at RM350k. The entry level M is powered by a 218hp/243Nm 2.5 liter V6 mated to a seven-speed automatic. The rear-wheel driven M25 completes the benchmark 0-100 km/h sprint in 8.5 seconds, and will go on to 231 km/h.

There’s little to distinguish the M25 from pricier variants, as all M cars wear 18-inch alloys. Drive Mode Selector, Active Noise Control, AFS, Intelligent Key, powered glass moon-roof and quilted leather seats are all in the package. The M37 is priced at RM425k.

The sole Infiniti Centre in Malaysia is located at Chulan Square along Jalan Raja Chulan in KL.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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The things done in the name of publicity – F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel is set to appear in a short martial arts film titled Kung Fu Vettel: Drive of the Dragon, alongside Hollywood actress and martial arts expert, Celina Jade.

The flick, set to premiere in May, is the first of Infiniti’s new Inspired Performers series, which will see Vettel and Red Bull Racing team-mate Mark Webber swapping skills with other like-minded inspired performers who are leaders in their respective fields.

Filming for the shortie took place at a studio just outside Shanghai, just ahead of the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix. Vettel learned a series of kung fu moves from Celina, before taking to the nearby Tianma circuit where they swapped roles and he taught her performance driving skills aboard an Infiniti G Coupe.

Now that it’s done, Seb will have hoped to have picked up a trick or two from Celina as he heads back to his usual kind of fighting on track this Sunday. As for the flick and the series, it’s all walking in the footsteps of the exemplary BMW film series from a decade back, albeit in a different gait.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Here is Infiniti’s take on a zero-emissions luxury car (read: electric vehicle). It is called the Infiniti LE Concept and it was recently unveiled to the world at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. And it looks simply out of this world. No really, take a look at the car and you’d agree with me that it could fit right into one of Isaac Asimov’s novels.

The thing is, this car could be reality because Infiniti says that a near-similar form could be inside showroom within the next two years. And when it does make it into the showrooms, the LE Concept will be Infiniti’s first production zero emission luxury car.

But the design is not merely for flashiness; a number of the features you see help bring the coefficient drag to 0.25, which also increases driving range. These features include the aluminium-alloy wheels with aero treatment, the high rear deck, rear aero diffuser and aero side fin spoilers with illumination. The deep-skirted front fascia also integrates an aero fin spoiler with illumination.

It is also quite dramatic on the inside, especially with the double-wave design that is illuminated with soft blue lighting punctuated only by the centre console. The centre console adds a touch of EV-ness though the use of a ‘Hamon’ (ripple) design. The design of the seats and door trim are inspired by the ‘Eriashi’ (collar) of a Japanese kimono.

The centre cluster features a twin display powered by an Intel Atom processor that will give the driver information such as real time charger availability, expands the charging network when physical stations are added, information from cloud based data and a dynamic range calculator.

What about the space inside? Well, the LE Concept places the batteries under the passenger compartment floor, which maximises room for passengers and in the trunk. It also lowers the centre of gravity.

The LE Concept draws power from a 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery with a ChaDeMo DC50 kW quick charger. The e-powertrain can generate a torque of 325 Nm immediately.

Independent struts and rear torsion beams suspension with double-piston shock absorbers and the high body stiffness (with rigid-mounted battery frame) gives a comfortable ride. The low centre of gravity and concentration of weight to the centre of the vehicle enhances its handling.

There will be three ways you can charge the LE Concept; by way of the integrated charging port, a DC Fast Charge and a Wireless Charging System.

The non-contact charging is possible via inductive energy flow with a coil encased on the garage floor. Here is how it will work: The primary coil in the garage is connected to the energy source to create a magnetic field that will excite the electric current in a second coil located in the LE Concept. The charging can be controlled via the twin display or a smartphone. Infiniti says that the system installs easily and will not zap for children and pets.

But there’s more. For the system it work, the coils need to be properly aligned. Which is why the LE Concept will feature an Intelligent Park Assist with Around View Monitor to get the job done easier. The system employs e-steering with full forward and backward capability along with a 360-degree view of the surrounding area. It also marks the spot with the GPS so that it will automatically switch to Around View Monitor and gets the system ready to park the car.

As mentioned earlier, the real deal will arrive within the next two years. I wonder how many features will remain in the production car.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Click to enlarge.

Infiniti adds another all-wheel drive car to their stable, this time with the G37x S. This also marks the first time for Infiniti to have its sportiest S grade available with the AWD in the G range. The only other car that was available with AWD is the GT.

The G37x S gets all the red S badges, 18” Sport design alloys and smoked lens headlights. Inside, the Infiniti features sports seats with 14-way electronic adjustments for the driver, aluminium paddles and footrest, HDD navigation, music systems, 10-speaker Bose Premium Sound System, reverse camera and high-res touch screen.

Powering the G37x S is a 316 hp 3.7 litre V6 mated to a 7-speed auto transmission with paddle shifters. The car has a top speed of 240 kph and a 0-100 of 6.0 seconds.

It is available now in the UK from £38,979. The G37x S completes the G range that consists of the G37 S Premium, two G37 GT models, G37 coupe and G37 convertible.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Here’s something interesting spotted by reader Faisal Muthalib, who was traveling down the PLUS highway from Nilai to Seremban. The SLR wielding eagle eye snapped some high-res images of an Infiniti M (known as Nissan Fuga in Japan) being tested by JPJ. However, this is no normal M – the M35h bootlid badge tells us that this is the hybrid version of Infiniti’s 5-Series/Lexus GS rival!

The Infiniti brand was launched in October last year, when Tan Chong revealed the Infiniti Center in KL along with four models – the FX and EX crossovers, the G Coupe and the M saloon. The RM425k M37 is powered by a 3.7L VVEL V6 engine with 320 hp and 360 Nm. Paired to a seven-speed automatic, the muscular looking RWD saloon does 0-100 km/h in just 6.2 seconds.

The M35h is billed as a “driver’s hybrid”, and like Porsche’s Panamera Hybrid and BMW’s ActiveHybrid series, performance is key. Nissan’s luxury brand asks you to “forget your prejudices about hybrids” which is easy, since the system combines a 306 PS 3.5L V6 with a 68 PS electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Infiniti says that the M35h can reach 100 km/h on electric power alone. 0-100 km/h? 5.5 seconds, seven tenths faster than the bigger petrol engined M. Makes sense, if you’re seduced by the M and want to be different. Should be coming soon, hence this spotting.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti didn’t just have the EMERG-E Concept as its newsmaker in Geneva – the company also confirmed that the FX Sebastian Vettel version, shown in concept form in Frankfurt last year, is to enter a strictly limited production run of 200 units.

The production version, which is to be sold across Europe and Middle East regions, will have the 420 PS output of the concept, making it the most powerful Infiniti yet to be sold by the European business unit. It’s also set to be the most expensive, though the eventual pricing has yet to be announced.

The donor vehicle is Infiniti’s current flagship, the V8 FX50S Premium, and changes to the base SUV include increased power, lower weight, longer gearing, increased downforce and a lowered, stiffer suspension.

The result of a collaboration between Red Bull Racing’s world F1 champion and global brand ambassador, Sebastian Vettel, and Infiniti’s chief creative officer Shiro Nakamura, the special edition is set to have its first deliveries begin from early 2013.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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The Infiniti advanced sports car concept set for Geneva has, uhm, emerged – rather aptly, the vehicle is called the EMERG-E Concept, and signals the company’s intent to produce a bold halo model befitting the brand’s promise of Inspired Performance.

A couple of firsts for the company with this one – it’s the first Infiniti to feature a midship mounted drivetrain, and the first to be developed in Europe.

The 4.46 metre-long two-seater is equipped with a pair of electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack, four inverters and a three-cylinder range-extending internal combustion engine, all efficiently wrapped within a highly aerodynamic, light body.

The 402 hp vehicle has a fair bit of zip, with a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just four seconds. Yet it also operates as a zero-emission urban vehicle over a 48 km range, and with the range-extender petrol engine functioning in tandem with the electric motors, produces just 55 g/km in terms of CO2 output.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Auto Dunia Sdn Bhd, franchise holder of Infiniti vehicles in Malaysia, has announced the availability of the 2012 Infiniti FX. The facelifted crossover made its worldwide debut in the second half of 2011. Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand, was launched in Malaysia last October with a four model range.

The updated FX sports a changed front grille inspired by the Infiniti Essence Concept from Geneva 2009. There are also 20-inch alloy wheels and an updated instrument cluster, where the Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges get a more pronounced white appearance.

The FX is available here as the FX37 4WD GT. This means that under that shapely hood lives a 320 hp 3.7-litre V6 engine. Paired to 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control with magnesium paddle shifters, the FX does the century sprint in 6.8 seconds. Top speed is 235 km/h. Intelligent All-Wheel Drive automatically redistributes torque to the wheels (0:100 up to 50:50 front to rear) according to road/driving conditions.

Features include a Bose 11-speaker Premium Audio system to Intelligent Cruise Control and Around View Monitor. The latter system utilises four small wide angle cameras (front, sides and rear) to provide a virtual 360 degree view of objects around the vehicle, aiding tight spot maneuvering.

Also standard are Distance Control Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention. The previous RM435,000 price (OTR without insurance) is unchanged.

From tomorrow till Sunday (February 23-26), the Infiniti F1 Roadshow will be held at the Bangsar Shopping Center, where the Red Bull Racing RB8 F1 car will be on display alongside the brand’s local range. The Infiniti Center is located on Jalan Raja Chulan in downtown KL.

More info and pics of the 2012 FX in our previous story here.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti is still keeping to teasing its advanced sports car concept that’s set to debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The first two partials of the car in November have now been joined by another, and behind-the-scenes info videos have also come about.

The company says the as-yet-unnamed concept will be the first Infiniti to have a range-extender drivetrain, and willl also be the first to feature a midship mounted drivetrain for optimal weight distribution and handling.

Going the midship route means facilitating a change in vocabulary for the company’s design language, from a style and content point of view. The purpose of the Geneva concept then is to explore what might be the next stage in how to deliver a vivid, engaging and sophisticated driving experience from an electrically-propelled vehicle – Infiniti believes the midship mechanical layout could very well be a vital ingredient in making that magic happen.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has revealed the first two teaser images of what it calls a highly advanced, range-extending electric sports car concept, which it will unveil in Geneva next March.

The basis of its creation, Infiniti says, is to extend the potential for high performance, low emission electric cars, but the company isn’t saying anything else beyond that, so looks like it’ll have to wait until it gets closer to the Swiss show for more details on the new offering to come about.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Nissan says it will begin manufacturing Infiniti-brand vehicles in China as early as next year, according to a report, and in doing so, it will become the first Japanese automaker to produce luxury cars there. A Hubei Province factory owned by Nissan joint venture Dongfeng Motor is being considered as a candidate site for the plant.

The company is looking to take Infiniti, which sold about 146,000 units globally in 2010, to a new level in the next five years – it hopes to shift more than 500,000 units by 2016. By then, China will likely become the number one market for Infiniti, surpassing the US.

The brand is also locating its new global headquarters in Hong Kong; the new corporate facility is slated to begin operations in April next year. With the brand’s growth strategy expected to be driven partly by demand in China and other fast-growing Asian markets, it says that everything will be served more effectively by consolidating its global downstream functions in Hong Kong.

About 100 staff, currently handling market research, sales strategies and A&P, and located in Japan, the US and Europe, will be integrated in Hong Kong when the office opens. Nissan says it is also looking at gradually shifting product planning there, to reflect local preferences in its products.

Along with this transfer, the report adds that Nissan will abandon its practice of making all of its luxury vehicles in Japan. Infiniti vehicles are currently manufactured at plants in Tochigi and Fukuoka prefectures, with a combined capacity at slightly more than 200,000 units. Nissan says it will maintain its domestic capacity, but is set to launch overseas production to keep up with a growing demand.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti, which opened its second ASEAN outlet here in KL last week, announced at the Korean GP that it will expand its partnership with the Red Bull Racing F1 team for the 2012 season, seven months after the partnership began.

Next season will see more prominent Infiniti branding on the RBR F1 cars, with enhanced logos on the side of the chassis and cockpit top of the next generation car. Elsewhere, the Infiniti name and logo will also be expanded to new areas on the drivers’ overalls and team equipment.

Additionally, Infiniti and RBR is set to increase the global and market leverage of their partnership through more marketing and media activities throughout the year. The company will also continue to build on its personal agreement with Sebastian Vettel, who has already worked on several projects with it, including the launch of the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel concept in Frankfurt in September.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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The Malaysian auto market welcomes a new brand today in Infiniti. Nissan’s luxury marque is distributed here by Inspired Motor Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Edaran Tan Chong Motor (ETCM) and Auto Dunia. ETCM is of course the company representing Nissan in Malaysia.

Malaysia becomes the second country in ASEAN to welcome Infiniti, the first being Indonesia. The brand, birthed in 1989 and focused on North America, is undergoing a major global expansion drive over the next two years. Infiniti cars are now sold in 15 countries. Their target is to capture 5% of Malaysia’s luxury segment by 2016.

Mr Toru Saito, Infiniti’s Corporate VP, along with ETCM bosses opened the 8,000 sq ft Infiniti Center this evening. Located at Chulan Square along Jalan Raja Chulan, the IREDI (Infiniti Retail Environment Design Initiative) showroom is at a high visibility junction opposite Porsche and Audi across the road. It’s hard to miss.

The brand greets Malaysia with a four-car range including two crossovers, a sedan and a coupe. The entry model is the EX crossover, priced at RM380,000. Next up is the sexy G Coupe at RM415,000, which is RM10k cheaper than the M saloon, which costs RM425,000. The range topper is of course the attention grabbing FX crossover at RM435,000. There’s a GT Premium optional pack for the EX and FX, costing RM15k and RM35k respectively.

All four models are in “37″ spec, meaning that they share the same 3.7-litre V6 engine with 320 hp and 360 Nm at 5,200 rpm. This 24-valve DOHC unit boasts low friction molybdenum coated pistons, microfinished camshafts, CVTC at both intake and exhaust and Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL).

The V6 is mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox with Adaptive Shift Control and Drive Sport mode. The manual mode has what Infiniti calls Downshift Rev Matching, DRM.

The fastest of the bunch is of course the G Coupe, which does 0-100 km/h in just 5.9 seconds. Fellow rear-driven M saloon isn’t far behind at 6.2 seconds, so gung-ho Golf GTIs better not initiate traffic light GPs. Both top out at 250 km/h.

The two AWD crossovers are bulkier, and slower, but still duck under seven seconds. The EX’s figures are 6.4 seconds/240 km/h while the large FX does 6.8s and 235 km/h.

Equipment lists are very long across the board. The FX, for instance, comes with 20-inch wheels, HID with AFS, moonroof, intelligent key, powered tailgate, heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt down, scratch shield paint, quilted leather, 10-way power driver’s seat with memory, 2GB Music Box, Bluetooth audio streaming, Fine Vision gauges, 7-inch colour MID, rear view monitor, tyre pressure monitor (TPMS) and magnesium shift paddles, among other kit.

Sat in the M and was surprised to find Bose speakers integrated within the front seats!

Welcome to Malaysia, Infiniti. Full gallery after the jump.

Infiniti EX

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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It seems we have more news from Putrajaya. Reader Akmal spotted two Infiniti models at JPJ Putrajaya. As mentioned before, Nissan’s luxury brand will be making an entry into Malaysia by the fourth quarter of this year along with an Infiniti Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Auto Dunia is the franchise holder and the Infiniti Centre will be operated by Inspired Motor which is a joint venture between Auto Dunia and Edaran Tan Chong Motor.

The dark red model we have here is the Infiniti EX which is a compact crossover SUV that is positioned below the FX range. Several models are available including the EX37 and the EX25 which is sold in China only. There is also a diesel variant called the EX30d. From the images, we can’t really tell which variant this vehicle is but it could likely be the EX37.

The EX37 uses a 3.7 litre V6 petrol engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift or VVEL. It makes 316hp and comes with a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual mode in the UK. Torque is set at 360Nm at 5,200 rpm. 0-100km/h takes 6.4 seconds while top speed is 240km/h.

The larger of the two is the Infiniti FX which is categorized as a mid-sized crossover SUV. This model is also available as an FX37, FX30d or as an FX50. Our guess would also be that the FX37 will be offered here. As the name suggests, it also uses the same 3.7 litre V6 and gearbox combo offered with the EX37. Power is also the same at 316hp and 360Nm of torque at 5,200 rpm. However 0-100km/h takes a little slower, 6.8 seconds to be exact and top speed is 233km/h.

Continue reading to view more images.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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You are looking at the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version, said to be designed by, and built for, the reigning Formula 1 world champion. It will make its debut in concept form at the upcoming Frankfurt show, and will be revealed by none other than Vettel himself, who is also Infiniti Global Brand Ambassador.

The Vettel-badged FX is the lightest, fastest and most aerodynamic FX yet, “reflecting the World Champion’s desire for a 300 km/h Crossover that he can drive on his home country’s derestricted Autobahn,” according to Infiniti.

Based on the recently facelifted range topping V8-powered FX50S Premium, the FX Sebastian Vettel features changes to engine, suspension and body, with key aerodynamic enhancements implemented with input from Red Bull Racing. The one-off model also has an interior personalised to Seb’s taste.

More pics after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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We’ve had few rounds of teasers already, so here’s the full monty. The Infiniti JX Concept has been revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance by Nissan Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura. While it looks like one, this is not the production version – that one will debut at the LA show at the end of this year.

“The JX Concept advances the Infiniti design language, sharing design cues of the Infiniti Essence concept, yet interprets those elements in ways suitable to the needs of a family luxury crossover.

“From the dramatic front grille and headlight design to the crescent-cut D-pillar and greenhouse shape, the JX Concept shines as a fresh, bold alternative to the many flavors of vanilla currently dominating the three-row luxury crossover segment,” Nakamura san beamed.

The JX is a three-row seven-seater SUV slotting between Infiniti’s sporty FX crossover and the jumbo QX. Nissan’s luxury brand says that the production JX will offer class-leading roominess and “exceptionally easy” third row access.

“With the JX, you will even be able to leave a child seat latched to the second row while getting in or out of the third row – just one example of the vehicle’s inspired flexibility and versatility. The third row isn’t the typical penalty box either, with adult-sized room for all occupants and five-and-a-half inches of second row forward-back adjustability,” said Infiniti Americas VP Ben Poore.

It will be V6 powered, with a choice of FWD or AWD. The transmission will be a “sport tuned” CVT that mimics a stepped transmission when Sport mode is engaged. Specs and details will come later.

Feature wise, the JX will debut Backup Collision Intervention. With BCI, when the transmission is in reverse, the JX will help the driver detect crossing objects behind the vehicle and will automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision, if necessary. Sounds like Volvo’s Pedestrian Detection system in the S60, but for the rear.

Other niceties include a 14-speaker Bose Studio Surround sound system with Waveguide bass tech, Infiniti Connection Telematics system that can automatically synch the owner’s calendar and provide navigation guidance to appointments, as well as Infiniti Personal Assistant, the new personal concierge service with 24-hour access to a live team of professional assistants.

More pics after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has released the sixth (and we presume final) teaser image of its upcoming JX Concept, which will be fully unveiled three days from now at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It shows the front grill and headlamps.

The pic before this was a full shot of the rear, which is in line with the Infiniti look seen on the just facelifted FX. Previous images show partially the front three quarter view, revealing the headlights and profile lines. Another shows a distinctive kink at the D-pillar area. We’ve also seen a close up shot of the LED tail lamps.

The JX, which slots in between the five seater FX and jumbo sized QX, is set for production and will join the Infiniti range in Spring 2012. The production car will debut at the LA show at the end of this year.

Nissan’s luxury marque promises “a stunning interior” with “exceptional seating flexibility, easy access to the roomy third row, plus the latest in-vehicle technology – including next-generation telematics”. View the other pieces of the jigsaw puzzle after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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This is the fifth teaser image released by Infiniti of its upcoming luxury crossover. A seven seater called the JX Concept, it will be unveiled at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18.

Previous images show partially the front three quarter view, revealing the long headlights and profile lines. Another shows a distinctive kink at the D-pillar area. We’ve also seen a close up shot of the LED tail lamps. This latest pic fully shows the JX’s rear end, which is in line with the Infiniti look seen on the FX, which has just been facelifted.

More than just a concept, the JX, which slots in between the five seater FX and jumbo sized QX, is set for production and will join the Infiniti range in Spring 2012. The production car will debut at the LA show at the end of this year.

Nissan’s luxury marque promises “a stunning interior” with “exceptional seating flexibility, easy access to the roomy third row, plus the latest in-vehicle technology – including next-generation telematics”.

View the previously released teasers after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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The Infiniti FX, one of the most bold looking cars on sale, gets a facelift. The most obvious change is up front, where the FX wears a new grille inspired by the Infiniti Essence Concept from Geneva 2009. There’s also newly designed alloy wheels. Inside the “command center-style cockpit”, heated seats are now standard across the range, while the Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges has a more pronounced white appearance.

Here’s one interesting feature we found – an automatic driving position system. This moves the steering wheel and wing mirrors adaptively into the correct position when the seat is adjusted, allowing the driver to change the seat position and keep the same mirror viewpoint and relationship between the steering column and driver’s shoulder position.

The FX comes with two engine options, a 5.0-litre V8 with 390 hp and 500 Nm and a 3.5-litre V6 with 303 hp and 355 Nm. Both are mated to a 7-speed auto with manual shift mode, Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control. Solid magnesium paddle are thrown in with the Sport Package.

Based upon the Infiniti FX35 AWD variant, the Limited Edition features an exclusive Iridium Blue exterior colour, 21-inch 10-spoke graphite finish wheels (with 265/45 V-rated all-season tyres), dark tinted headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) and auto-leveling, and dark tinted side air vents and lower door trim.

Other LE features include aluminum roof rails/roof rail crossbars with graphite finish, aluminum pedals, graphite floor mats with unique blue piping, Infiniti Hard Drive Navi and Around View Monitor.

Infiniti, which is coming to Malaysia later this year, will be debuting a new seven-seat crossover called JX soon, read about that one here.

Gallery after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has released a set of teaser images for an upcoming luxury crossover. Called the JX Concept, this crossover will have its global reveal at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 18. It’s set for production and will join the Infiniti range in Spring 2012. The production car will debut at the LA show at the end of this year.

“Families don’t have many luxury vehicle options today. The new Infiniti JX will be the 7-passenger antidote to the ho-hum luxury crossovers that are out there right now,” said Ben Poore, VP of Infiniti Americas.

It will have “a stunning interior” with “exceptional seating flexibility, easy access to the roomy third row, plus the latest in-vehicle technology – including next-generation telematics,” Nissan’s luxury marque adds.

The JX is bound to slot in between the current FX and mega sized QX SUV. View the rest of the teasers after the jump.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti is the latest and most prominent sponsor of Red Bull Racing, and it is wasting no time in milking the potential. Infiniti has plans to collaborate with the F1 champions on a high performance road car project, it has been revealed.

“Our relationship with Red Bull is only five races old, but the trajectory for it is to move on and work more closely together. One way of doing that is on a road car project,” said Simon Sproule, Nissan’s Corporate VP for Global Motorsport.

The Brit cited the well regarded Renault Clio Williams as a “credible” and successful example of a collaboration between a road car maker and a race team. He said that whichever base car chosen will have to be substantially reworked and would have to be re-homologated before it can go on sale.

The Clio Williams was launched in 1992, but it was entirely engineered by Renault. This collaboration is likely to involve real F1 engineers from Red Bull. “There’s no reason not to be involved. We have proved that Red Bull can take on the likes of Mercedes in F1 despite their heritage and a natural evolution of that would be to use our expertise we have in [developing] road cars,” said RBR team boss Christian Horner.

Infiniti has a two-year sponsorship deal in place with Red Bull, and they expect the fruits of this collaboration to be on sale within 18 to 24 months from now.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has announced that it will be bringing the JX, an all-new three-row luxury crossover, into the market sometime in the second quarter of 2012. The company has released an exterior sketch of the JX, and states that the brand styling theme will continue with a “crescent cut” greenhouse design influenced by the Infiniti Essence concept car.

The seven-seater promises to have a stunning interior, offer exceptional seating flexibility and easy access to the roomy third row, as well as being equipped with the latest in-vehicle technology, including next-generation telematics.

More details will emerge when the JX concept is shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this August – the production version is slated to make its global debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Fresh from his win at the Malaysian Grand Prix, and ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix, Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel had a different type of cameo run on track, test driving two Infiniti vehicles around a test track in Shanghai.

Click to enlarge

The Red Bull Racing driver took to the wheel of a 5.0 litre V8 Infiniti FX50, followed by a 3.7 litre V6 Infiniti G37 sedan, and amazed onlookers by lapping the circuit at high speed and demonstrating the handling capabilities of the luxury road cars.

Click to enlarge

The 23 year-old world champ thought the whole thing was a blast. “It was great fun to drive these Infiniti cars today. I was impressed; they have good handling and plenty of power – which is always a good mix – it was fun out on the track. I have been driving an FX50 myself recently, they’re nice cars and it’s great that more dealerships are opening in China.”

Click to enlarge

After the drive session, Vettel visited an Infiniti Center in Shanghai where he met fans and senior Infiniti executives, plus toured the showroom to take a closer look at the full Infiniti range available there. Ah, yes, the benefits of signing on as a major partner with a F1 team – lots of great publicity and PR, from a world champ at that. The brand is due to make its debut in Malaysia late this year.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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An Infiniti G37 Coupe S has been designated as the Work Car Zero in the 2011 season of the Rallies Championship of Spain – the car, supplied by Infiniti to the Royal Spanish Motorsport Federation, began its duties on April 1 in the Rally of Villajoyosa.

The collaboration expands on Infiniti’s involvement with the GT Championship of Spain – it already supplies a Safety Car to work in all events there. The Zero Car will be driven by Marc Blázquez, World TT Champion driving for Nissan, with Salvador Belzunces alongside as co-pilot.

The model chosen to support the Spanish Rally Championship is a G37 Coupe with a six-speed manual gearbox, and mechanically continues with its 320 hp, 360 Nm all-aluminium six-cylinder block as well as the standard limited slip diff.

Essentially, the Infiniti Zero Car is running at near standard specification, with a few modifications. A roll bar by VIMESA, Bilstein dampers, Galfer brake pads and brake fluid, outdoor lights and siren as well as communications equipment and a GPS were added, all prepared by Meycom in its facilities in Madrid.

Elsewhere, Sparco donated the racing seats, seatbelts, a fire extinguishing system and equipment used by the drivers, and Michelin has fitted the car with high-performance Pilot SuperSport tyres. In addition to the sponsors of the RFEA, the car also wears the colours of the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti is coming to Malaysia – the company announced today that it plans to introduce its range of vehicles here in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The announcement of the marque’s Malaysian introduction follows on the launch of the brand in Indonesia. In the last couple of months, it has also announced Mexico, Australia and Singapore as forthcoming markets. By 2013, Infiniti will have entered 25 new markets worldwide.

Plans are afoot to open an Infiniti Centre, which will be strategically located in Kuala Lumpur, within the year. The centre will be operated by Inspired Motor, a joint venture between Edaran Tan Chong Motor and Auto Dunia. Inspired Motor will be responsible for the retailing of Infiniti vehicles, while Auto Dunia is the franchise holder.

“As part of our worldwide expansion, we are very excited to launch Infiniti in Malaysia and welcome newly established joint venture Inspired Motor to our luxury brand fold,” said Toru Saito, Infiniti’s corporate vice president.

“Within the year, the promise of luxury vehicles with a unique combination of inspired performance, attentive hospitality and unparalleled quality will become a reality for Malaysian customers, who we know are receptive to exclusive brands,” he said.

Datuk Dr Ang Bon Beng, ETCM’s executive director, said that the impending arrival of Infiniti in Malaysia comes at a time when the luxury automotive market in Malaysia is experiencing tremendous growth. “Last year, the segment grew by 40%. Suffice to say, we are thrilled to be in the position to offer luxury car buyers in Malaysia a distinctive brand that epitomizes luxury performance,” he said.

The model line-up hasn’t been confirmed, but the word on the grapevine is that the launch point could possibly see a somewhat similar number of models as that found in Indonesia. Four variants are currently being sold there, these being the FX50 and FX37 crossovers, the M37 sedan and the G37 coupe.

The news comes just weeks after Infiniti announced a major partnership with the Red Bull Racing F1 team. On February 28, the company announced a marketing agreement with the Formula One world champions – covering the 2011 and 2012 F1 seasons – focusing on high-profile marketing and technical activities, so it’s strategically timed, the news of the brand’s impending arrival here; the announcement was made earlier today in Sepang.

Formula One World Champion and Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel, who is looking forward to competing in Infiniti’s latest market, had this to say: “It’s great to see that Infiniti will be bringing its unique style and driving luxury to this country – I think they will prove very popular with the Malaysian people.”

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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According to a report in The Jakarta Post, the Indonesian operation aims to sell 200 cars in 2011, and in the process obtain a 5% market share of the premium segment, which was worth 5,327 units in 2010 (out of a total industry volume of 745,000 last year). It’s all going well, by the looks of it – the company has thus far sold between 40-50 examples of the three models since its arrival.

Indonesia is the first of 25 markets where the brand will be launched globally until next year, all part of the brand’s plan to expand its global presence. The report adds that the company is studying plans to introduce the Infiniti Performance Line in Indonesia, though there are no plans to launch diesel variants into the market.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has released the first official images of its Etherea concept, which will make its debut in Geneva. Designed under the direction of Nissan’s design guru Shiro Nakamura, the Etherea blends elements of coupe, sedan, hatchback and even crossover in one highly sculptural, near-mono volume form.

Click to enlarge

Aimed at younger buyers, the Etherea – which rather funnily is one ‘l’ short of becoming intangible – is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative and traditional luxury car, says the company. The 4.4m offering is compact, but is space efficient and practical thanks to a new mechanical layout and innovative access arrangements.

Click to enlarge

Novel features include fresh interpretations of traditional Japanese materials and finishes, as well as several design cues set to make their mark on future production models, including the highly distinctive crescent-shaped C-pillar first seen on the Essence concept.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti has teased its upcoming concept car, likely to be named the Etherea, that it will be launching in Geneva, but it’s just a graphic depicting the profile line. As is the usual, there are no details yet of the vehicle, but the concept looks to strongly suggest that a small production coupe or hatch from the company is inbound.

The company had already intimated the arrival of the car sometime late last year. “Infiniti is currently examining concepts for a luxury performance car that will fit below the current G Line,” said its senior vice president Andy Palmer. “Like every Infiniti, it will be completely different to anything currently offered by our rivals.”

The company adds that the design will take the Japanese performance brand down a new road, to a new future. The rumour mill has it that the car might wear a Mercedes 1.8 litre CGI pot, making it the first big outing resulting from the partnership between Nissan-Renault and Daimler.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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Infiniti claims its new M35h set to go on sale in 6 months time is the world’s first production hybrid to feature an audible pedestrian warning system called the Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system.

As the M35h uses a hybrid drivetrain that consists of a 306 PS 3.5 litre V6 mated to a 68 PS electric motor that can run on the electric motor alone especially at low town driving speeds, the detectability of the car to visually impaired pedestrians is a cause for concern.

The VSP system is computer controlled and links an in-car sound synthesiser with a speaker built in to the front bumper. It works from a standstill up to 30km/h upon which it cuts off, and cuts back in at 25km/h as the vehicle slows down. The M35h can travel on electric-only mode at speeds of up to 80km/h but according to Infiniti, road noise past 30km/h was deemed sufficient for VSP to remain off.

A range of high-low sounds at different volume levels ranging from 2.5kHz at the high end to a low of 600Hz was chosen after an extensive research programme to find the most effective, but least intrusive, noise. It was also designed to be audible to all age groups. We wish we could hear how it sounds like on the Infiniti M35h but you can find an example of VSP working on the Nissan LEAF above.

© 2012 Paul Tan's Automotive News. All Rights Reserved.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:49:42 +0000.

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