Infiniti QX50 revealed

Prestige brand Infiniti has released press material, including an image, for its QX50 medium SUV.

Following hot on the heels of a teaser image from earlier this week, the new pic pre-empts the QX50's unveiling in Los Angeles next week and illustrates that changes to the show car's design to bring it to production appear to be limited to mirrors, headlights and front bumper.

It's confirmed in the press kit that the QX50 will be powered by a new, variable-compression turbocharged engine to deliver cleaner, more fuel-efficient running. Displacing 2.0-litres the petrol engine provides "the torque and efficiency of a four-cylinder diesel engine," the company claims.

Pivotal links in the engine's connecting rods adjust the compression ratio on the fly, between 8:1 for performance and 14:1 for efficiency. At its performance peak the engine produces 200kW and 380Nm. Infiniti claims the QX50 is rated at 27mpg, which equates to 8.7L/100km, but is calculated using a different standard than our ADR 79 standard.

"Variable compression ratio technology represents a breakthrough in powertrain development. The QX50, powered by our VC-Turbo, is the first production vehicle ever to give drivers an engine that transforms on demand, setting a new benchmark for powertrain capability and refinement," says Christian Meunier, Infiniti's Global Division VP, as quoted in the press kit.

The new engine drives through a continuously variable transmission and Infiniti claims that the new QX50 will use 35 per cent less fuel in front-wheel drive form than the previous, V6-engined QX50, which has not been sold in Australia. The all-wheel drive QX50 will be 30 per cent more economical. Originally, the soon-superseded QX50 was named Infiniti EX.

Based on new architecture, the QX50 is constructed from a new high-tensile strength material, SHF (Super High Formability), which boasts 980 MPa capacity to resist bending. This makes the new QX50 23 per cent stronger than its predecessor and the new model is lighter too, and quieter in the cabin.

Overall, the QX50 measures 4693mm long and 1903mm wide. The wheelbase is 2800mm long and the height measures 1679mm. Boot space is 895 litres with the rear seat raised, according to the SAE standard. Lowering the seats can increase the boot's capacity to 1699 litres.

ProPILOT Assist is autonomous driving technology to be introduced with the new QX50. It can be activated by one press of a button and can regulate throttle, braking and steering within a single lane.

Infiniti has advised motoring.com.au that the QX50 is confirmed for Australia and will arrive here late next year.