LA MOTOR SHOW: Infiniti QX50 touches down

Is this the model that finally brings about a change in fortunes for Infiniti in Australia?

The QX50 has touched down in the US ahead of its official debut at the LA motor show this week. It will land in Australia in late 2018.

Debuting a new platform and variable ratio compression engine, it is clear Infiniti wants the QX50 to succeed, particularly in Australia where the Japanese luxury brand has languished in the sales race since its introduction in 2013.

Pitched as a mid-size SUV, it lands in one of the most competitive segments on the market.

Borrowing heavily from the QX50 and QX50 Sport concepts, the newcomer measures nearly 4.7 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and 1.68 metres high. For reference that’s slightly larger than the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the BMW X3, but smaller than the Audi Q7.

Despite its sheer size, Infiniti says the platform underpinning the QX50 will endow it with strong sporty pretensions – thanks to a 23 per cent improvement in torsional stiffness over the current model not sold in Australia.

The QX50 is constructed from a new high-tensile strength material, SHF (Super High Formability), which boasts 980 MPa capacity to resist bending.

The QX50 makes an equally big statement under the bonnet. Gone is the predecessor’s  V6 engine, replaced with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder that uses a variable-compression ratio to produce 200kW (down 42Nm) and 390Nm (up 29Nm). Fuel use has improved by up to 35 per cent, says Infiniti, though it hasn’t nominated exact Australian figures at this point.

Boot space measures 895 litres in standard guise, 1048 litres with the second row bench slid forward, and 1699 litres with the second row bench laid flat.

From the cockpit, the QX50 teams two screens for the key instruments and controls. An analogue instrument cluster appears to be largely carried over from the current model.

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.