I just spent a few days in our brand new long-term 2009 Infiniti FX50, and I'm looking forward to more over the next 12 months. This is a great addition to our fleet of cars and trucks. I know Infiniti doesn't exactly sell many V8-powered FXs and this 390 hp, $62,000 SUV doesn't exactly line up with a lot of people's idea of what modern transportation should be about.
But Inside Line and this blog are about the entire car industry and all the different cars and trucks out there. And we've often had an upscale, high-end V8-powered SUV in this very diverse fleet of long-term testers. Most recently an Audi Q7 and a BMW X5, which is about to leave us. The FX50 is a perfect replacement for those German machines, and I'm expecting to spend quite a bit of time behind its well-shaped, three-spoke, leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Fact is, this FX has plenty of new hardware and software for us to evaluate over the next year, including its new 5.0-liter V8 engine, its new 7-speed automatic transmission and its new around view monitor system (pictured), which is unique to Infiniti. Plus, ever since our G35 S sedan left us some months ago, we haven't had an Infiniti in our fleet, and it's important to us to keep as many brands as possible represented in this blog space, so it serves you readers as well as possible.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
dougtheeng says:
05:50 AM, 12/19/08
This is sort of a strange looking vehicle. I'm looking forward to hearing about the view monitor though - the commercials gave a glimpse of it, but it was really only a teaser.
jamhandman says:
06:03 AM, 12/19/08
Yeah the around view monitor system looks awesome. How much can you see around the car? Looks like 2.5 feet around. That makes backing into a parking spot super duper easy. Right? Hope all goes well.
jm1212 says:
06:40 AM, 12/19/08
a GL450 or GL320 BLUETEC would've been a better replacement. it has three rows, like the Q7, and is exponentially more practical than the FX50. plus, the BLUETEC version gets pretty good gas millage and still delivers decent performance.
2003expo says:
06:57 AM, 12/19/08
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED OVER YOUR CHOICE OF VEHICLE!!!! I LITERARY JUMPED IN THE AIR AND CLICKED MY HEELS WHEN I SAW THIS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS MACHINERY JOIN THE FLEET!!!!
anyway......can't wait to read more, and that picture above is AMAZING! You guys get used to me commenting a lot more...
*skips off to work*
ddoouugg says:
07:08 AM, 12/19/08
I think most of you will like it but would never buy it for your own garage.
redliner says:
07:16 AM, 12/19/08
It is probably a wonderful machine, but i would not pay 62k for it. In a few years a slightly used one will go for high 20s. Then it will be a good value.
prndlol says:
09:03 AM, 12/19/08
Hi FX50!
I don't like you... and that's putting it mildly.
cheslin says:
10:22 AM, 12/19/08
I'm still partial to the 09 ML63. But I'm loving the BlueTEC SUVs more and more every day.
corollasman says:
10:49 AM, 12/19/08
I liked the styling of the previous model. I am curious though to see what you guys find out during its long term testing.
allenychung says:
12:10 PM, 12/19/08
I kinda like the way it looks, you'll never lose it in a parking garage.
bimmerjay says:
12:23 PM, 12/19/08
Looking forward to reading about this one. More luxury cars, please! :-)
I am disappointed with this restyle though. The first gen FX was original and beautiful. I loved its uniqueness. This restyle seems to me to be a change for change's sake, and the need to make it "more unique". Sometimes "more unique" (like those overdone grille bumps) just turns into weird and/or ugly. I mean fender vents... why?? I think the proper term is Nissan "Aztek'ed" it. Maybe I'll get used to it.
mymaxima says:
01:27 PM, 12/19/08
Um... Am I the only one thinking that "around view" in the display should switch the left and right side? If the display window on the left shows the rear view, that black light-pole, whatever, should be on driver side, right?
lime679 says:
01:46 PM, 12/19/08
My new favorite ride in the fleet.
slickersdrip says:
01:56 PM, 12/19/08
Keep all manufacturers represented, yet you have zero Chevrolets?
lvranger says:
02:11 PM, 12/19/08
All the lane departure and emergency braking stuff scares me. I don't want my vehicle to drive itself. My car does still have manual window cranks though... maybe i'm out of touch. :-)
slickersdrip - I think the CTS, G8 and recently departed Enclave were their GM representation. I wouldn't mind seeing a Chevy though. I've seen a lot of people cross shop used M3s against ZO6s in the 25-35k range. Maybe they should get one when the M3 leaves. They would be amazed when their repair/maintenence bill is 1/10 of the BMW.
deric4eyes says:
02:17 PM, 12/19/08
Mass-market brands that I hardly see in the long-term test fleet cars from these two brands:
- Volvo
- Saab
Can you give these Swedish brands (yes, I know they're owned by Ford and GM respectively) more coverage please???
ctpax says:
02:53 PM, 12/19/08
mymaxima,
The camera view looks OK to me. Imagine if you're on the driver's seat staring at the screen. The white striped area on the pavement should be behind you to your LEFT. Just place yourself in the bird's eye view picture and imagine you're looking at the screen, which is to your right. Everything should come into place.
billt9 says:
09:09 AM, 12/20/08
That's a pretty majestic bull grazing in the field.
1487 says:
05:22 AM, 12/22/08
the 2009 looks worse than the original. I dont understand how BOF trucks get blasted for being obsolete when they deliver more utility than this hatchback with lower sticker prices and similar mileage. If the age of V8 SUVs is on the wane as has been suggested I dont get the point of evaluating this model. I also think its amazing that having "many" brands is so critical when there are so many brands not given a chance.