C&D Short Test: Infiniti FX50S 0-60 MPH in 5.0 Seconds!

Teknik submitted on 04/23/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 8:35 PM
from: www.caranddriver.com

Tags: 2009 Infiniti FX50S

2009 Infiniti FX50S

C&D Short Test: Infiniti FX50S 0-60 MPH in 5.0 Seconds!

How quick is the new 2009 Infiniti FX50S?

This new V-8 packs a mega-punch. We saw 60 mph flash past in 5.0 seconds in our FX50S, with the quarter-mile dispatched in 13.6 seconds at 104 mph. That’s quicker than a Mustang GT through the quarter-mile, and within 0.1 second of our quickest BMW 335i. Are we moving past the point of sanity with ever-quicker SUVs? The FX generated 0.87 g on the skidpad, and braking from 70 mph was completed in a scant 161 feet. Those are platinum-plated numbers—ones the average Porsche wouldn’t be ashamed to deliver. Read Article

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BJS470 - 4/24/2008 12:24:52 AM

+7 Boost

hahahaha

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BMW4me4ever - 4/24/2008 12:18:50 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

that is fast and really good stopping power. It is still one of the ugliest vehicles that Infiniti has ever produced. The catfish look was in 30 years ago.

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SS21CA - 4/24/2008 2:41:50 PM

+4 Boost

Oh man, I've always loved the FX. I just wish this car looked like the previous gen.

Total Sleeper IMO.

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kablaam - 4/25/2008 12:12:51 AM

+2 Boost

4600 lbs. 390 hp, 1/4 mile @ 13.6 104mph eeek.

Hope they put that new 5 liter in the M, update the styling a bit and you'll have a winner.

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dlin - 4/26/2008 11:22:52 AM

+1 Boost

M5 needs a TT engine to compete and justify the price now.

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007vehispy1 - 4/23/2008 9:11:15 PMView My AgentSpace

+7 Boost

that is some seroius speed! wonder if this would be safe as a winter vehicle??!

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Monk - 4/23/2008 9:32:13 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

This car is really coming along. I don't like the looks as much as the current one, but these stats are really impressive. Just take away take silly looking vents behind the front wheel arches (and improve the front) and this is one awesome car.

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Monk - 4/23/2008 9:33:45 PMView My AgentSpace

+7 Boost

This car is as heavy as a Mercedes S-class, so it'd probably do fine as a winter car, esp. since it has AWD.

CommonSense01 - 4/23/2008 9:48:31 PM

+9 Boost

Called it in the previous FX posts. Alot of people were saying how the X6 xdrive50i was going to destroy the Fx50, with a 800lb weight difference, the x6 stood no real chance.

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JRobUSC - 4/24/2008 10:06:03 AM

+3 Boost

maybe it will, maybe it won't, how about we wait until it's out at least before deciding?

JRobUSC - 4/24/2008 12:59:31 PM

0 Boost

the weight difference is 600lb, not 800lb.

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 2:45:34 PM

0 Boost

Im not deciding for anyone else, i was just making a point to all the people who claimed the x6 is going to blow the fx50s doors off, as they sated in the previous post. The curb for a base fx50 is 4,550 (loaded 4600+), the curb for an x6 is 5300, im sorry i was off by 50 lbs.

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 3:18:18 PM

0 Boost

^So that would make it about a 750lb disparity, not 600, which is also a BIG difference in itself.

bulldogz - 4/24/2008 4:29:21 PM

0 Boost

"...FX will still destroy X6."

it won't matter, the badge whores will simply cry "Jap crap", spout "magic feel", quote resale figures and claim that only rich and classy people drive BMWs.

None of which is actually true, but this is what happens when they are faced with facts and reality.

JRobUSC - 4/24/2008 5:40:07 PM

+1 Boost

no, the difference is 600lbs. The FX50 weights 4600 and change, the X6 xDrive50i weights 5200 and change. That's 600lbs - not 800, not 750. 600.

Maybe the FX is quicker than the X6, we won't know until magazines get a chance to test one. Everything up until that point is pure conjecture and basically worthless posturing by Infiniti and BMW fans. I will say this -- first, the performance of the FX50 is fantastic, certainly better than expected. Second, there's probably a reason BMW decided to wait to release the V8TT version of the X6. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they were waiting to see the FX50 results before releasing the X6 xDrive50i so they'd know how high the bar was they needed to clear. There's an awful lot of tuning potential in that engine, don't forget. If a simple software reflash adds 84hp and 121lb-ft to the 3.0TT, BMW could do pretty much anything they want with the X6 to make sure it's at the top of the heap. That engine can very reliably make over 500hp and 500lb-ft, no matter what BMW rates it at.

Infiniti has fired the opening salvo with the FX50, and it's an impressive one. Now before everyone gets caught up measuring their dicks over vehicles no one has even tested yet, let's wait and see what happens when the X6 xDrive50i comes out.

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 6:47:47 PM

0 Boost

JROBUSC

Well honestly, im not a fan of a specific car company, i own both an fx45 and a 335i. I judge cars on their merrits, not the badge. You are correct about everything except, once again the weight. The numbers i listed were official, the 1460 plus weight yu decided to use is fully loaded, the 5200 lb weight DOES NOT EXIST, EVEN ON A BASE X6 V8, it comes in at 5299. Compare the ACTUAL curb weights of the stock V8s, and you will see thats its not 600 lbs. Also, i have a vishnu Procede ECU piggybac for my 335i and yes your are right about the HP figures, BUT, You stating that BMW can do whatever they want to that engine is pretty much wrong. When i installed the ECU piggyback, i seen the performance rise, but i also saw my milage DIP tremendously. They cannot go much higher in their hp numbers, especially not torque, without sacrificing the already poor fuel economy. I actually LOVE both of these cars, but i think BMW messed up o nthe pricing. The 335 is a great car but if it cost 60 thousand, i would never look at it twice, becuase certain performance warrants a certain kind of price. To consider a 54 thousand dollar xdrive35i over a 54000 dollar fx50 that comes with more features in the base model and destroy it performance wise, i dont see what bmw is doing pricing it so high.

JRobUSC - 4/24/2008 7:29:22 PM

+2 Boost

the weights I used were from the magazines that tested them, and they were using fully loaded vehicles as well. They were 4648lbs for the FX50S and 5269lbs for the X6 xDrive50i, a difference of 621lbs. If they're off slightly, so be it, but the numbers are right there.

As for the pricing, yes, the BMW costs more than the Infiniti. The BMW always costs more than the Infiniti, or did anyway until BMW launched the 1-Series at the G37 (and even then people complained).

Listen, this isn't a knock in any way on the Infiniti or the FX. But the fact is Infiniti would charge Porsche Cayenne GTS or Turbo/Range Rover Supercharged/Mercedes ML63/X6 xDrive50i money for the FX in a heartbeat if they thought they'd sell any FX's for that much money. They'd LOVE to be able to. But the fact is they can't, because they WOULDN'T sell any. Based on the performance numbers the FX is undoubtedly a great vehicle, and like most Infiniti's an excellent value when compared to the other cars in the class. But prestige marques don't sell on value, they sell on exclusivity and desire. And BMW thinks that the X6 belongs in that upper echelon with the other (likewise much more expensive than the Infiniti) Porsche, Range Rover, and Benz. Whether they're right or not with the X6 remains to be seen. But they're a lot more likely to get that kind of money for their car than Infiniti is. That's just life.

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 7:49:17 PM

+1 Boost

Agreed. I guess i just got a little excited about them finally comming to thier senses and pricing vehicles according to thier value, and not what badge whores think the vehicle should cost. I thought they were gonna go in the way of the 335i and price the x6 according to its capabilties. Its kind of backwards, like they are are going back to their old ways.

henbmw - 4/25/2008 10:28:17 AM

+2 Boost

Why don't we wait until we get official results from both cars?? Are you guys that inpatient??

EL34 - 4/23/2008 10:11:33 PM

-10 Boost

What a goofy lookin' vehicle.

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CommonSense01 - 4/23/2008 10:52:40 PM

+4 Boost

Why even take time to post anything about something as subjective as looks, especially in three different posts all about the Fx .

Agent001 - 4/23/2008 11:05:49 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Why even take time to post anything about something as subjective as looks, especially in three different posts all about the Fx .

There is a lot of interest in this vehicle and our site reports all the opinions and let our readers decide.

FOUR WORDS- We report, you decide!

That's why!

001

EI34 - 4/23/2008 11:08:07 PM

-9 Boost

Still a goofy lookin' vehicle. :-?
hate it! hate it! hate it!

Rupert - 4/24/2008 7:11:05 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

There are 2 different posters above me - EL34 and EI34 - EI34 is an imposter!

lexusrox123 - 4/24/2008 9:00:42 AM

+2 Boost

LOL! i just noticed that! EL34 and EI34

_43LE - 4/24/2008 9:15:08 AM

+4 Boost

Like clockwork, EL34 chimes in with his hateful comment, just because the car comes from Asia.

43IE - 4/24/2008 9:52:53 AM

+2 Boost

Like clockwork, EI34 chimes in with his hateful comment, just because the car comes from Asia.

EI34 - 4/24/2008 10:25:57 AM

-2 Boost

^
;-)

sholemon - 4/23/2008 11:00:08 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

14mpg...ugh

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M35MT - 4/24/2008 8:18:13 AMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

Better than the 390 HP Range Rover Sport Supercharged, which needs 7.2 seconds to get to sixty...

However the RRS is pure sex while this looks like a bionic cheetah...in a good way though.

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 3:46:46 PM

0 Boost

m35mt

Its actually funnny that you mention that. I had a coworker who ownes a RR shupercharged, and a year ago, when i owned an fx35, we were both driving home, when we dicded to compare the two, in a straight line. The light turned green and we both took of at the same time, by 70 i was between half a car and a cars length in front of him. We had to stop because the light turned red, so we didnt go above that but still i was very suprised. Although i had a querter trank of gas and he had a full tank, i was amazed that with the infintis performacne (and i had the heavier allwheel drive, fully loaded model)

Need4Speed - 4/23/2008 11:48:15 PM

+3 Boost

Wow... 5.0sec...that's over .6 seconds faster than what edmunds recorded.

"Speed is the 2008 Infiniti FX50's prime directive. The 60-mph mark flashes by in just 5.6 seconds, as compared to the 6.8 seconds required by the FX45's 60-mph sprint. Plus, when the tach needle sweeps past 4,000 rpm, there is a conspicuous extra surge of power from the FX50 V8 courtesy of its sophisticated system for variable valve timing and lift."

The quarter mile time is about the same though...13.6 C&D, 13.7 Edmunds.

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CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 12:15:49 AM

+1 Boost

Yeah i also found it strange that insideline got a 5.6 o-60 and a 13.7 trap speed. A 5.6 0-60 seems to slow for a car that can pull a 13.7, wheel slip cant be the issue because of all wheel drive. I think the confusion comes from their decision to use the 1 foot roll out for some cars and not for others. They sometimes report two different 0-60 for the same cars, check out their story on the m3, they mention both 0-60 times. They need to pick one and stick with it.

SVXXX - 4/24/2008 2:11:04 PM

+1 Boost

6.8sec for current FX45 is wrong. it is more like 5.7-6.1secs

CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 7:44:18 PM

-1 Boost

Yeah it was a bit slow, although its because i think they didnt use the 1 foot roll out. A regualr fx clocks in from 6.1-6.3, never seen it break the 6 second mark, in any test.

lyonboy - 4/24/2008 12:07:23 AM

+3 Boost

This vehicle seems very feminine to me but so do most cross-overs. As cross-overs go this one seems very good and will sell well. I wonder if the 7-speed automatic will make it into other Infiniti products? I hope so.

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M35MT - 4/24/2008 8:19:42 AMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

Mostly men buy the FX.

cl0wn - 4/24/2008 3:51:49 AM

+2 Boost

this thing is for sure a beast... if only i would have taken pics of the test car about 3 months ago in San Diego when i saw it... i would still take a V-8 X6 tho (not to make EL34 any happier)

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85bmw745i - 4/24/2008 6:47:06 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! Obama you are retarded!!!! the fx and the lx570 are two different animals and you are a mentaly challenged retar if you think for a microsecond that the lx570 could outperform the fx, especially in handling. The LX is built from the ground up for offroad. there is no way a suv set up for off road could handle that well. sure you'd mopp the floor with the FX when it comes to rock crawling but handling the LX stands as much of a chance as the ISF against a formula one car.....wait I forgot you said a ISF could beat an F1 Car. so Lets say the LX stands as much of a chance as a corolla does against an EVO. Your ignorant statement shows you know absolutley nothing about cars. My Land Rover could never even dream of coming close to the FX in performance but off road the FX would never even get past the entrance of a good trail let alone keep up with my Land Rover Disovery. My advice to you is to read more motor trend and car and driver to somewhat give you a common sense when it comes to cars.

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MunichRob - 4/24/2008 6:12:47 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

That's faster than a G37 coupe.

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M35MT - 4/24/2008 8:21:05 AMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

Which is why the TT V6 from the GT-R (slightly detuned of course) should be slammed into the G coupe to take on the IS-F, M3, C63 and RS4.

Infiniti needs to take the G car to the big leagues!!

bmwfan1513 - 4/24/2008 7:36:55 AM

0 Boost

wow

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nybimmer - 4/24/2008 10:16:29 AM

-1 Boost

Thanks for equal-opportunity coverage on the primary BMW X-6 competitor.

Autospies - could you do a comparison test for us? 001 could write about the X-6 and 009 could write about the Infiniti and then you could have the readers vote?

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Carboy - 4/24/2008 10:39:06 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

That is a great achivement for something that size.

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DexDiamonds - 4/24/2008 11:06:04 AM

0 Boost

This should be something good to watch over the next couple of years. Natural Aspiration (Infiniti & Benz) vs Force Induced (BMW & Audi). My money I think will be on NA for reliability reasons. But with gas prices... FI doesn't seem like such a bad option either.

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abcd - 4/24/2008 11:31:35 AM

+2 Boost

"The FX generated 0.87 g on the skidpad"

woow very good . without torque vectoring awd it outhandle previous champion in this class - Acura MDX(with torque vectoring awd) with have 0,86 g in C&D . but i think bmw x6 could have even better result becouse of torque vectoring awd( DPC in bmw code) that fx50 doesn`t have . why becouse of torque vectoring? Becouse suspensions I think in both cars are very refined so suspension impact wouldn`t decide in the end - especially on flat road .

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gooch - 4/25/2008 10:49:09 AM

+1 Boost

There you go again, figuring that just because the FX had .87g and the Acura .86g that the FX "outhandles" the Acura. Numbers don't lie, but neither does seat-of-the-pants feel. For instance, the 1982 Z-28 could pull .84g on the skidpad all day, which was a seriously high number back then. But the car rode like a buckboard and magazines were all over Chevy about the harshness of the suspension. BMWs of the day were always around .79-.80g, and magazines raved about their handling.
It is not always about the numbers.

CommonSense01 - 4/25/2008 11:58:45 AM

+1 Boost

Gooch

Your right, numbers dont tell the whole story. I have a infiniti fx45 with the sport package, when testing the mdx, i noticed at 8/10ths it seemed to be a better all around car than my fx, in terms of handling/ride quality trade off. I was wrong, when pushed hard, the acura can nott keep up with the heavier and older fx45 in terms of handling capabilities, this means that it especially wouldn't outhandle the older and lighter fx35, not to mention this brand new fx50

abcd - 4/25/2008 5:21:24 PM

+1 Boost

gooch:
you right numbers don`t tell everything but they are important . do you think that very fast cars have bad numbers ? if numbers are good a car could be fast . as you said numbers don`t lie like in this Z-28 skidpad test. maybe it had bad suspension but good tires - on smooth asphalt suspension isn`t as important as tires . it had different numbers worser(this relevant to suspension) . today`s everyone think that suspension is only one important thing in handling - that`s not true e.g. what about tires , AWD system ( torque vectoring on acura and X6), 4-wheel steering (fx50s) ... - what do you think this are? gadgets? . what you really feel are also some numbers . you don`t understand me right - it slightly "outhandles" it on skidpad test - what numbers are saying , not outhandles in every situations .

drakarula - 4/24/2008 11:50:52 AM

+1 Boost

Awesome 0-60 time but at over $4 per gallon of gas it is not reasonable.

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JUGNU - 4/24/2008 3:32:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

wow thats great numbers. Infact as good as ML63 and Porsch Cayenne Turbo. And way better than X5 and Q7...etc

BTW some will remember i said earlier that don't just blindly say X6 will win in performance easily against FX50.

BTW great work infiniti, Stylish and unique looks with equally great performance plus awesome interior and features. Great crossover.

JUGNU

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JUGNU - 4/24/2008 3:38:19 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

(seeing the past few realeses of Infiniti's new models) i think we (Middle East) probably would be getting the new FX the earliest and also possibly with more power.

and i am sure it will costs quite less than the X6 V8.

Can't wait.

JUGNU

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CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 3:51:27 PM

+1 Boost

Really? thats interesting, when are you guys scedualed to recieve them? My dealer told me, New Yorks realease date is June, but when i spoke to him 2 days ago he said he can get them at the end of may, which is less then 30 days away.

JUGNU - 4/24/2008 4:41:02 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Common Sense

I don't the exact date but hopefully soon i'll find out but as i said earlier, here in Middle East we got many new infinitis or thier engines/variants the earlierst. Starting from 3.7l V6 in the G35 sedan making 330BHP, the all new EX35, then G37 coupe with improved 3.7l V6 making 350BHP and hopefully more as they come.

So it'll not be very surprising if we get the new FX the earliest with more power, maybe as much as 420BHP. Because here in Middle East unlike in US, Infiniti has started from Day one as Sporty brand with stylish designs, beautiful interiors and innovative new and advanced features. Something like a technology loaded beautiful sporty machine.

That's the reason they are doing so well here. They say they are the brand for Car enthusiasts, young and trendy, modern and stylish. Nothing boring or slow about them.

JUGNU

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CommonSense01 - 4/24/2008 6:36:37 PM

+1 Boost

Jugnu

Just spoke to my friend who works at the delearship. Im pretty sure may 28th is the earliest anyone is going to get them, doubtfully you guys will be getting them within the month. The ex35 has been out here for quite sometime. I know you guys have the 330hp version of the sedan but i never heard of a 350hp, as much as i know, thats going to debut in the higher specs fo the 350 or 370z, whatever they call it.

JUGNU - 4/25/2008 5:27:55 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

just go to

http://www.infiniti-me.com/

and check out the 350BHP infiniti G37 Coupe.

http://www.infiniti-me.com/gcoupe/performance.htm

and btw u r right, this engine will most probably will be in the new or refreshed 370Z and G37 coupe(American specification). but see it debuted first here in Middle East edition infiniti models and so were the new 330BHP 3.7l V6 and EX35.

JUGNU

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henbmw - 4/25/2008 10:24:03 AM

+1 Boost

That is one hell of a sleeper

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gsh23 - 4/25/2008 1:28:19 PM

+1 Boost

stop being such a clown jrob. first it was "no one will cross shop the FX and the X6, the X6 is a whole segment above (insert price quotations)." now its "bmw is waiting to see how the FX performs to see how high to clear the bar of performance." what a bunch of crap from typical bmw fanboys.

of course you love harping on infiniti, as if bmw built the 1 series specifically to beat the G37. thats awesome.

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JRobUSC - 4/25/2008 2:22:39 PM

+1 Boost

a clown? Ah yes, name calling, the last resort of someone who has lost an argument on the merits.

I'll give you this: I didn't think people would cross shop the FX and the X6 originally, not because I didn't think the FX was a good vehicle but because I didn't think a loaded FX was going to cost $65k. But it does. Originally I figured the FX to be an X5 competitor, but since it's more expensive than I thought, people likely will cross shop the X6 AND X5 with it.

And I didn't harp on Infiniti anywhere, in fact I said the FX looks like a great value compared to the competition with some fantastic performance stats. I also didn't say BMW DID wait for the FX50S before releasing the X6 xDrive50i, I just said it wouldn't surprise me if they did. After all, they would have three months now to tweak the car if they wanted to. But you're right, I'm sure they'll just sit on their behinds. That's what BMW engineers do, right? Sit back and do nothing? Right.

Look, like it or not you know who buys Cayenne GTS/Turbos, Range Rover Sport Superchargeds, ML63's, X6 xDrive50i's, etc.? Rich people. Rich people who can afford any of them. Or all of them together. Rich people to whom the status of their purchase is as important as the purchase itself. And to those people an Infiniti isn't on the same level as those other brands. Fair or unfair, I couldn't care less, that's just the way it is. If that weren't the case Infiniti would charge the same amount of money for their cars. It's the same with the Acura MDX compared to the X5 and GL.

That's not bashing, it's reality. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.

gsh23 - 4/25/2008 4:16:08 PM

+1 Boost

why would it hurt my feelings that a superior car is cheaper than the competition?

and im not calling you names, just giving you a label.

clown

1. a rude or vulgar fool
2. a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior

you seem to be objective to cars, but when other opinions differ from yours, you dont have to be smug about it.

JRobUSC - 4/25/2008 4:57:07 PM

+1 Boost

a fool and ridiculous now -- good thing you're not a name caller huh? How's that working out for you anyway with the labelling people thing? Good for you. Good. For. You.

Anyway, doesn't matter what you're looking at, my friend, there's always something cheaper. The folks that can afford those Cayenne Turbo's, ML63's, X6 xDrive50i's, and Range Rovers certainly know that. And they don't really care. In fact they don't care so much there's no way they're going to argue the merits of the value of their purchase on here with you. And since I never said anything negative about the FX, neither will I.

gsh23 - 4/25/2008 5:34:19 PM

+1 Boost

sorry, i didnt know you were their cheerleader. but as an x5 driver, i will say that all those SUVs you listed takes a certain type of buyer to waste all that money. with the exception of the cayenne turbo. i know quite a few people who actually use it on the track.

auto001 - 4/25/2008 11:16:38 PM

+1 Boost

actually comforting to know that "rich people" who buy for status will stay away from Infiniti's... it means they can continue to be the brand of choice for the common forlks wanting the best performance/luxury for the money!

S4cabriofoxone - 4/26/2008 1:06:22 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Aside from that silly air vent, I actually love the looks of this thing. I think I prefer the current model, but I will definitely have to wait until I see it in person.

Awesome numbers, too. My one concern is still trunk space, because they don't have a great track record--current FX's trunk is tiny, and the EX's trunk appears to be smaller than that of my A3, with a nearly useless rear seat to match.

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