The 2018 Infiniti QX50 has been revealed for the first time, with a single exterior shot ahead of its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show tomorrow. The 2018 QX50 is significant for Nissan’s luxury arm for many reasons, debuting a new platform and a revolutionary new engine.
The Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Lexus NX and BMW X3 midsize SUV rival switches the rear-drive FM architecture of today’s model for a new front/all wheel-drive, transverse setup, with ‘SHF,’ or Super High Formability high-tensile steel, which the company says is an industry first.
The engine, which was announced last year is the VC-T (vairable compression- turbo), which is the first production engine to vary the compression ratio, from 8.0:1 to 14.0:1. A mechanism on the crankshaft is able to vary the piston’s top dead centre (TDC) to alter the compression ratio.
As a result, the car is able to generate an impressive 200kW and 380Nm, while returning 9.0L/100km in all-wheel drive form and 8.7L/100km in base front-drive spec.
Obviously to compete in this space, a high level of semi-autonomous tech is required and to that end, the QX50 will feature a version of Nissan’s ProPILOT system that allows computer control of steering and acceleration, braking on the highway, activated by pressing a button.
More photos and details as they come to hand.