Infiniti
Rumors: Teaser—Infiniti Emerg-E
The 2012 Geneva Motor Show will be the place where we will finally see, in its entirety, the much teased Infiniti electric sports car concept, which we now know will be called the Emerg E. With a mid-mounted electric powertain and sports car underpinnings, Infiniti is looking to blend sporting pretentions with “green” intentions. Like the Fisker Karma, the Emerg E will be bringing high-tech automotive technology into an entirely different market—and likely a different tax bracket as well—than where the majority of electrified vehicles current sit.
My Thanksgiving: 2012 Infiniti FX35 AWD
I had a busy weekend with the Infiniti FX, first with shuttling my wife and myself from Ann Arbor to Detroit, then from Detroit to East Lansing, then from there back to Ann Arbor. Picking up leftovers at each stop along the way. Later in the weekend, the FX served to run errands, particularly bringing boxes of Christmas decorations between my home and my wife’s store, as we got it ready for holiday shoppers. I even had some time to myself to drive the car as I pleased, though mostly in the dark, sloppy weather we typically enjoy this time of year.
Ask It: Winding Road’s Thanksgiving Cars
With a very long Thanksgiving weekend ahead of us, we’re thankful that we’ve got some great cars to speed us through the first part of the holiday season. To celebrate, we’re going to run a three-way Ask It post. We’ll tell you (below) which of us is driving what over the holiday weekend, and you can fire away with questions about the vehicles we’re testing. Next week, we’ll put together a follow-up with individual answers to your posts.
From The Winding Road Facebook Feed
Each week, we see some amazingly cool pictures, videos, and news on the Winding Road Facebook news feed. Here are some of the freshest items from the past work week, perfectly suited (we hope) for your light Saturday browsing needs.
First Look: 2013 Infiniti JX
Infiniti has announced their next production vehicle, the 2013 JX. It is a three-row luxury crossover that seats seven.
First Look: 2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible
What’s better than a hot version of a car? A hot convertible version of said car. Infiniti seems to understand this, as the brand has just unveiled a convertible version of the IPL G.
Quick Drive: 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum
It’s not like the Escalade has simply gone bad, more that it hasn’t been updated (or better, completely revised) while newer products like the QX have sprung up. That relative datedness isn’t unique to Cadillac in this teetering full-size SUV segment, as mainline competitors like the Lexus LX (2007), Mercedes-Benz GL (2006), and Lincoln Navigator (2007) are all growing pretty long in the tooth.
Winding Road Video: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe – Quick Drive
The 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe showed up at our office on a wet and rainy Monday afternoon. Despite the uninspiring weather and general lack of traction, we grabbed the keys and went out for a quick drive to experience the IPL’s subtle improvements over the Infiniti G Coupe.
Frankfurt 2011: Frankfurt Auto Show Wrap-Up
As quickly as it began, the first media day of the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show is over. This year’s show featured no shortage of concept cars, including one designed by a racecar driver. As for production metal, there seemed to be something for everyone: exotics, hybrids, station wagons, SUVs, GTs, and sports cars were all well represented at this years show.
Frankfurt 2011: Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel
Working in conjunction with the driver of Kinky Kiley, Infiniti has built a seriously quick FX. Starting with a standard FX50S Premium, Infiniti bumped the power of the 5.0-liter V-8 up from 385 to 414 thanks to a freer-flowing exhaust and revised ECU. The transmission features a longer final gear ratio, allowing it to hit a top speed of 186 miles per hour (as opposed to the electronically limited 155 of a standard FX50). The FX SV also features extensive use of carbon fiber, which served to cut 101 pounds of body fat. Finally, the suspension has been lowered three-quarters of an inch to increase aerodynamic efficiency and handling.
Driven: 2011 Infiniti G25x
We reported briefly on Infiniti’s entry-class G sedan last fall, when Rex Roy drove the rear-drive G25 in close proximity to the range-topping IPL G Coupe. As is often the case when two similar, yet critically different, cars are driven back to back, we found the G25 to be lacking in urge, if still respectable in the handling department. Given the gap in time from that reporting until now, and the fact that Infiniti delivered its all-wheel-drive G25 to our offices this week, we thought a double dip was fully in order.
First Look: 2012 Infiniti FX And FX35 Limited Edition
Infiniti has given up details, photos, and pricing on the 2012 FX35 and FX50. Scheduled to reach dealers in early October, the new FX has an updated grille, fascia, wheels, and instrument cluster. The company also announced an FX35 Limited Edition for 2012.
Review: Infiniti FX
This is the Master Landing Page for the Infiniti FX. From now on, as we further review this car, we will be updating this page with whatever fresh content we create. Future drive reviews, updated specifications, videos, and other relevant information will all be found right here, in one convenient spot.
Winding Road Video: 2011 Audi A3 TDI – Quick Drive
The 2011 Audi A3 TDI is the subject of our latest video Quick Drive. Click through the video below to see the attractive oil-burner in action, and to hear the dulcet sounds of a 2.0-liter diesel at speed. Torquey fun.
Winding Road Video: 2012 Infiniti M35h – Quick Drive
Come along for the ride as we take Infiniti’s all new performance hybrid out for a spin around the block. A more stirring experience than most hybrids can manage, to be sure.
Ask It: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid
The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid has just arrived in our parking lot. Packing a 3.5-liter V-6, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery, the M Hybrid packs a total of 360 horsepower, with 258 pound-feet of torque from the engine and 199 pound-feet from the electric motor. Highway travelers will see an impressive 32 miles per gallon, with 27 miles per gallon showing up in the city.
Blog: In Defense Of Keeping The Top Up
I’m kind of the oddball in the Michigan office of Winding Road—among other reasons, my colleagues would argue—in that I’m not as fond of convertibles as the rest of the team. I almost always prefer the coupe version to the droptop, if available. Heck, if they made an MX-5 coupe, and it was my money, I’d definitely consider choosing that over the convertible. Similarly, I don’t particularly care for sunroofs. I’m just not a big fan of the sun. It hurts my eyes, makes me itchy, and sometimes triggers a migraine. Perhaps my vampiric photophobia stems from growing up in the rainy, shady Pacific Northwest. Or maybe I’m just a freak.
Blog: Why Platforms Do and Don’t Matter, But Mostly Don’t
When an automobile company rolls out a new car there can be, from time to time, intensive scrutiny of the platform used. Generally, this scrutiny has seemed foolish to me because it detracts from the enjoyment of driving, so I devote most of this blog to articulating the reasons that “platform analysis” mainly counts as an annoying distraction. But there is a situation—applicable to some car people—wherein all this attention to platforms makes sense. I’ll get to that too, in the interests of (semi) fairness.
Comparison Test: Land Rover LR4 vs. Cadillac Escalade vs. Infiniti QX56
In the real world, a vehicle’s comfort isn’t limited simply to how good the seats feel to sit in. There are a lot of other factors, including climate control, ride quality, noise levels, being able to get in and out of the car, and ease of use. Often, the words “luxury” and “size” go hand in hand with the idea of comfort. The features on hand also factor into how comfortable the experience is for driver and passengers; a long drive is going to be more comfortable if the kids in the back seat are calm, complacent, and entertained than if they are squirming, complaining, and asking, “Are we there yet?”
Infiniti Teases Etherea Concept Before Geneva
Infiniti has released images of the Etherea concept car ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor show on March 1.
Driven: 2011 Year In Review(s)
2011 has been a busy year in the Winding Road offices, with auto shows, new model launches, and the usual comings and goings of the automotive industry filling the virtual pages of our website. Even with all the activity, there has been a near-constant stream of automobiles filtering in and out of our parking lot, giving us no shortage of vehicular material to write about.
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