2006 Infiniti Fx35 Base Sport Utility 4-door 3.5l on 2040-cars

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How Lexus, Infiniti plan to win back luxury buyers from Germans, Tesla

DETROIT — Japanese luxury auto brands Lexus and Infiniti have used the Detroit Auto Show to test new ways to regain momentum against Germany's prestige automakers and Tesla. The Japanese are fighting to gain ground in the U.S. luxury market as Audi and Mercedes-Benz have expanded sales and Tesla has provided a fresh alternative to established brands. Last year, Lexus suffered a 7.6 percent slide in U.S. sales. Acura's 2017 sales fell 3.9 percent from 2016. Infiniti pushed up sales by 11.3 percent — but by selling almost twice as many sport utility vehicles as cars. However, Infiniti's total 2017 sales of 153,415 vehicles put it behind the leading Germany luxury car brands, as well as Acura, Lexus and Cadillac. The Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept SUV model, with its futuristic looks and "Chauffeur mode" semi-autonomous hands-off driving capabilities, signals that Toyota's luxury brand may start to focus more on SUVs than traditional large sedans. The LF-1 also previews a futuristic navigation technology that anticipates where the driver is going based on driving habits and history, and provides hotel recommendations or other concierge services. View 13 Photos "We don't want to be the 'race car' brand; we don't want to be the 'quiet ride' brand. We want to be the brand which is emotionally connected with the customer," said Cooper Ericksen, vice president of U.S. marketing for Lexus. Lexus, Infiniti and Acura launched in the U.S. market in the late 1980s and took advantage of quality problems at Audi and a lack of innovation at the then-leading luxury brands, Cadillac and Lincoln. Now, the structure of the U.S. luxury market has changed. Four brands — Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Lexus — dominate. Tesla delivered 103,000 vehicles in 2017, its best year ever, though that total is still a small fraction of the overall luxury market. Tesla, meanwhile, is trying to overcome "production hell" and increase output of its more affordable compact Model 3 sedan. The highly anticipated car is just starting to reach customers — but with 400,000 preorders, 2018 could be a breakthrough year for Tesla. View 19 Photos In Detroit, Infiniti showed the Q Inspiration Concept sedan powered by a unique, high-efficiency variable-compression gasoline engine. While the prototype is not electric, its exterior might appeal to customers of the Tesla Model S.

Infiniti's new VC-T changes the rules of small turbocharged engines

The upcoming Infiniti QX50 crossover does not get our pulse racing, no matter how shapely the QX Sport Inspiration concept that previews it may be. No midsize SUV does, to be fair. But it has something special under the hood – the world's first production variable-compression-ratio engine. That means the QX50's 2.0-liter turbo four, which makes 268 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque, will have up to 27 percent better fuel economy. Here's how it works. The trend of moving to smaller, turbocharged engines carries with it one big falsehood. Under low load when the turbo isn't needed, these engines are less efficient than an equivalent engine without a turbo because of the low compression ratio the turbo requires. That is, if you never need the extra power, you're wasting fuel. Turbocharged (and supercharged) engines use a lower compression ratio to prevent detonation. When you force extra air in a cylinder and mix it with fuel, it's more likely to prematurely go boom. Lowering the compression ratio prevents this problem, but it's less efficient. Infiniti's VC-T promises the best of both worlds, with a compression ratio that ranges from 8.0:1 for high-power turbo needs to a 14.0:1 ratio for fuel-sipping efficiency. At its heart the VC-T engine is a simple idea, but it's complicated to explain. Consider yourself warned. The photo below from Infiniti serves as a good visual overview. For the truly nerdy, this patent application covers the mechanical concept. Instead of having the pistons connected to the crankshaft, Infiniti's engine has a pivot arm with a connection on each end. One end connects to the piston, the other connects to a second lower shaft, which is controlled by an actuator arm. At any given time the engine's pistons move up and down according to the lobes on the crankshaft. But the actuator arm can change the angle of the pivot arm up and down. That is, the pistons still move in the same motion with the same stroke, but phase the entire stroke up or down. Move the pivot up and there's less room at the top, which means a higher compression ratio. Move the pivot down and the compression ratio goes down, too. As an added bonus, the lower shaft eliminates the need for counter-rotating balance shafts. Infiniti says this system works constantly and can vary the compression ratio to any number between 8:1 and 14:1. It also uses electronic variable valve timing on the intake valves to switch into Atkinson-cycle combustion for greater efficiency.

Infiniti lays out four upcoming models, electric future to dealers

Infiniti recently held a meeting in Los Angeles for approximately 200 of its North American dealers. Much of the talk was geared toward calming skeptical franchise owners about the brand's staying power. To bolster that argument, Infiniti corporate gave the retailers a sneak preview of upcoming models intended to liven up a portfolio that's largely seen as stagnant. As Automotive News reported, dealers were treated to a first look at two gasoline models and two electric ones. All four were either crossovers or SUVs. Firstly, an all-new QX80 is expected to debut for model year 2024. Infiniti plans to move it upmarket with a price tag north of $100,000 to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln. We would expect a starting price below the six-figure threshold, with only top trim models going over the line.  AN describes the QX80's exterior design as blockier than its predecessor's, with a new corporate grille. Details include "piano key" head and taillights as seen on the QX55, as well as Tesla-esque door handles that are flush with the paint when not in use. Using the next-gen version of the popular Nissan Patrol as its base, the flagship SUV will replace its 5.6-liter V8 with a twin-turbo V6 that puts out about 450 horsepower. That's 50 more than the V8, but should return better mileage than the current 15 mpg combined. Luxury features reportedly include an air suspension that lowers when parked to make climbing in and out less strenuous, a 24-inch display spanning the dashboard, and plenty of legroom for second- and third-rowers. Expect a summer 2023 debut.  An all-new model called the QX65 will be positioned as a Lexus RX rival. Though based on the QX60, which is itself based on the Nissan Pathfinder. It loses the third row for a more coupe SUV-like profile. It's described as having the grille of the upcoming QX80 but "shark fin taillights".  Infiniti was one of the first companies to proclaim an electric lineup within a certain timeframe. That date was 2030, but the brand now lags behind BMW, Lexus and others. AN's report has a new Q70 sedan going on sale by the end of 2026 as Infiniti's first all-electric model. Attendees recounted a design that takes off from where the discontinued Q70 left off but with proportions that include short overhangs and a longer wheelbase. A new lighting signature illuminates the full width of the car. Comparisons were drawn to the Tesla Model S and Porsche.