They called it the Bionic Cheetah. When Infiniti’s radical FX45 debuted in 2003, it was a dead ringer for the like-named show car from a year earlier, which was begotten from a 2001 show car also called the FX45. Built on the versatile FM (front-midship) platform used by the Nissan Z and Infiniti G and M, the FX arrived as the sport-utility that proudly prized sport above utility. For about 25,000 buyers a year, that has been just fine.

Now, to the inevitable delight of the FX faithful, Infiniti is poised to deliver a brand-new cheetah. Due to reach showrooms in June, this 2009 FX is better, stronger, faster, and altogether more bionic than its predecessor.

The new FX is bigger than the car it replaces: It is marginally taller and wider, longer overall by two inches, and riding atop a wheelbase that has been stretched 1.4 inches, all of which contributes to the further elongation of the hood. The new car’s front end is truly epic, a great bulging dome of sheetmetal that slopes out of sight somewhere close to the horizon, leaving the location of the vehicle’s front corners to your verdant imagination.

CLICK HERE to continue reading about the 2009 Infiniti FX50.

Magazine Issue: Winding Road Issue 33