Lowered, Infiniti, Stanced, on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Nissan recalls 226k vehicles over airbag inflators

Nissan and Infiniti are the latest automakers to issue recalls involving faulty airbag inflators from Takata. The Japanese automakers have announced campaigns covering about 226,326 units from seven models built in the early 2000s because they contain the bad part in the passenger-side, front airbag. The affected vehicles include the 2002-2004 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2003 Pathfinder and 2002-2003 Maxima, and it also covers the 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4, 2002-2003 I35, 2003 FX45 and 2003 FX35.
Like the other vehicles with the faulty inflators, it's possible for the part to rupture during airbag deployment and spray metal shrapnel at occupants. Nissan and Infiniti have even included vehicles with replacement airbags in this campaign because those parts also could have been defective. Both companies were also part of the earlier regional campaign to fix cars in high-humidity climates where the problem has been found to be the worst.
As is the usual response, Nissan and Infiniti will notify owners of the affected vehicles and will make the repair at no charge. According to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these fixes will commence around August 11. Scroll down to read the report from NHTSA, or read the full defect notice as a PDF, here.

2017 Infiniti Q60 glitters in gold for the Neiman Marcus Christmas catalog

It's that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing colors, and Neiman Marcus has selected this year's car for its annual Christmas Book. The limited-edition ride is a 2017 Infiniti Q60 based on the 400-horsepower Red Sport 400 model. What really sets this Neiman Marcus version apart from the average Red Sport is the striking paint job. Called Solar Mica, the paint looks a bit like a glossy gold leaf. Combined with the Gallery White leather interior with Silver Optic Fiber trim, this is an Infiniti that would be perfect for Yukon Cornelius. In addition to the color scheme, the car comes with an ivory leather weekend bag, an indoor car cover with Neiman Marcus branding, a plaque with the VIN number, and a certificate of authenticity. Oh, it also comes with a $63,000-price tag, which is a about $10,000 more than an entry level Red Sport 400 with rear-wheel drive. Neiman Marcus will only offer 50 examples of this Infiniti, and it goes on sale at noon on November 2. Interested buyers can call to reserve one at (844) 367-6971. If you're serious about buying, you'll probably want that number on speed dial. The special edition Neiman Marcus cars tend to sell out fast. In 2009, 50 Jaguar XJLs sold out in just over four hours. In 2012, 12 McLaren MP4-12C Spiders flew out the door in two hours, and in 2006, 50 BMW M6 convertibles vanished in a stunning 92 seconds. Related Video:

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid

Infiniti launched its seven-passenger JX crossover for the 2013 model year with the automaker's familiar 3.5-liter V6 as standard equipment. For 2014, the model was renamed the QX60, and a new variant packing a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain joined the lineup. (For those interested in the family lineage, the new arrival is a mechanical twin to the Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, which we took for a Quick Spin last year).
Hidden beneath the hood of the QX60 Hybrid is a supercharged, 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine, rated at 230 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. The combustion engine is supplemented by a 15-kilowatt electric motor, fed by a small lithium-ion battery back (hidden under the rear cargo floor), which adds 20 hp and 29 lb-ft of torque to the mix. Added up, Infiniti rates the total system power at 250 hp and 243 lb-ft - numbers that fall just short of its combustion sibling (the 3.5-liter V6 in the QX60 is rated at 265 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque). The only gearbox is a continuously variable transmission that drives either the front or all four wheels, depending on what the buyer specs.
The 2014 QX60 Hybrid AWD starts at $46,500 (the green model commands a $3,000 premium over the gas-only model). A long list of factory options such as Roof Rails ($495), Theater package ($1,700), Deluxe Technology package ($6,050), illuminated kick plates ($440) and a Hybrid Premium package ($4,600) bumped our as-tested price to a healthy $60,780, including $995 for destination.