When I walked into the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego, the first thing I saw in the lobby was the 2009 Infiniti FX. At a glance, it doesn’t look that different than the outgoing model. But with a second look, you notice the details.
As I circled the vehicle, the first thing that grabbed me was the stunning black-tinted rippled grille. It sparkled in the dim lighting, and the waves gave the appearance of movement. On the side near the front wheel wells, the shiny chrome vents popped out from the burnt orange paint on the lobby model. But these vents are more than just a fashion statement, as Stefan Conrady, senior manager of product planning for Infiniti, assured us during the press conference that these side vents are functional.
2008 Infiniti FX
Engine: 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve, V-6 (FX35); 5.0-liter DOHC 23-valve with VVEL V-8 (FX50)
Drive type: RWD (FX35, only), AWD (FX35, FX50)
Horsepower: 303 (FX35); 390 (FX50)
Peak torque: 262 pound-feet @ 4,800 rpm (FX35); 369 pound-feet @ 4,400 rpm (FX50)
Seating capacity: 5
Length: 191.3 inches
Wheelbase: 113.6 inches
Width: 75.9 inches
Height: 66.1 inches (with roof rails); 65 inches (without roof rails)
Cargo volume: 24.8 cubic-feet (rear seat up); 62 cubic-feet (rear seat down)
MPG (city/highway): 16/23 (FX35, RWD); 16/21 (FX35, AWD); 14/20 (FX50 AWD)
Base price: Approximately $41,000, exact pricing TBA
Lean, mean power
The new FX is pure luxury, but the façade displays a definite “don’t mess with me” air. The glinty, squinty headlights add a serious face to the elegant vehicle, and they are backed by malevolent red-glowing taillights.
With increased power under the long, sporty hood, other people on the road are going to be seeing those taillights a lot. So, it’s a good thing they’re attractive.
New for 2009, the FX adds a 5.0-liter, 32-valve DOHC V-8 engine with Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL). This newly designated FX50 delivers 390 horsepower, which is a 70 horsepower increase over the 2008 FX45. The FX35 gets a bit of a boost as well, climbing from 275 horsepower for 2008 to 303 horsepower for 2009.
During the press preview of the 2009 FX in San Diego, I spent most of my time in the FX35, but it could have easily been the FX50. The power was smooth and seamless, and the slightest touch of the gas pedal had the vehicle leaping forward. Through wending roads and highway straightaways, the power and performance were everything I could possibly want for a vehicle weighing a tad more than 4,000 pounds. In fact, when I got behind the wheel of the FX50 for a short stint on the highway, I have to admit I didn’t see a big difference in the power output. I’m sure it was there, but … All I’m saying is that the 2009 FX35 is beautiful.
Also new for 2009, Infiniti is mating their exceptional engines to a new seven-speed automatic transmission – an Infiniti first. This new transmission offers a manual shift mode and comes with solid magnesium paddle shifters that are standard on the FX50 and available on the FX35.
Inside view
I found a comfortable driving position in the FX, but I do have to admit there are a couple of tweaks that would have made things even better. Because I adjust the seat to the far-forward, highest possible position, my knees got clamped between the seat and the underbelly of the dash. So, I ended up lowering my seat a bit to give my knees more room. What I would like to see on a vehicle of this caliber is an extra seat adjustment that would allow me to keep the butt end of the seat high, but lower the knee end.
For the most part, my visibility was just fine with this seat selection. Driving on the highway, I had no difficulty maneuvering the FX or seeing out my side and rear windows. It was, however, a bit difficult to see over the long swoopy front end in tight spaces, but the biggest problem I encountered centered around the large side mirrors. I didn’t discover this issue until the end of the drive as we were cruising through town. We hit a four-way stop, and I looked to my left to check for traffic. The side mirror completely obscured the area where a car would be stopped at the intersection. I had to lean up and forward to see that spot, and sure enough there was a car sitting at the stop sign preparing to go through the intersection.
I’ve always been a fan of Infiniti interiors. They do an excellent job with fit and finish as well as the placement of dials and controls. The new FX is no exception. The textures and surfaces were smooth and solid, and I didn’t think that any of the dials, latches or cubby holes felt flimsy or plasticky. I love the oval analog clock, but my favorite interior feature was the comfortable leather seats. I liked the quilt-stitched pattern and the lumbar support, and aside from the whole knee adjustment issue, I thought the seats were incredibly comfortable for long drives.
The optional navigation system is relatively easy to use, and all the controls on the center stack are easy to reach. The one control that could have had a better placement is the adjustment for the side mirrors. They were more than an arm’s length away, and I had to lean forward to make the adjustment. Then when I leaned back, I found that the mirrors weren’t adjusted properly for my driving position.
During the preview, we had a mission during our drive that served a dual purpose. We made a pit stop at Simpson’s Garden Town Nursery in Jamul, Calif., to pick up a 5-foot-tall tree that we delivered to a fire recovery center in Ramona, Calif. During this trek we were not only able to verify that a tree could fit in the back of the FX with the rear seats down, but we also had the satisfaction of knowing the trees are going to be planted in the areas surrounding San Diego that have been affected by the recent wild fires.
Tremendous technology
In addition to this great utility, the FX continues the technology push Infiniti instigated with the launch of the EX. In addition to the Around View Monitor, Lane Departure Prevention and the Scratch Shield Paint, the FX adds Distance Control Assist, Intelligent Brake Assist, Advanced Climate Control and Intelligent Cruise Control with Full-Speed Range. At the moment, all these features are options, most of which are included in the Technology Package.
My favorite tech feature from Infiniti is the Around View Monitor, which is included with the Navigation Package. It gives you a bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings, appearing as though a camera is above the vehicle, looking down. It’s great for tight parking spaces and parking garages – especially in larger vehicles like the FX.
The FX35 I drove during the preview came equipped with the technology package, so I had a lot of fun testing out the items available for the first time on the new FX. First, I played around with the Intelligent Cruise Control. Most people are now familiar with the automatic cruise controls that help you keep your distance from the vehicle in front of you. But this system goes one step further; it can actually take you all the way to a stop. I tried this, but chickened out as the vehicle in front of me slowed down. I had my foot hovering over the brake, and as we got closer to the vehicle used my own brake force. As Infiniti execs pointed out during the press conference, this is more of a failsafe rather than technology that does the driving for you.
I also experimented with the Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA). This feature has to be a tailgater’s nightmare. In addition to a loud audible warning when you get to close to the vehicle in front of you, the system automatically applies the brakes if you don’t heed said audible warning. While I appreciated the Intelligent Cruise Control, I found this feature a tad annoying. In Chicagoland stop-and-go traffic, you’re going to be closer to the car in front of you than this system wants you to be.
The best thing about these features, then: You can turn them off. Just because you have the Technology Package doesn’t mean they’re auto on all the time. You can turn them on and off at will.
Bottom line
The 2009 FX will be available in dealers at the end of June, and specific pricing info has yet to be released. However, Infiniti execs said they expected the base price to be around $41,000, which is a couple thousand dollars more than the current FX35. If you want to add any of the great technology features, you’ll probably have to add an additional $5K, at least, to get the Technology and Navigation Packages.
The time I spent with the FX was just enough to give me a quick peek at the cool things Infiniti has in store for this vehicle and whet my appetite for more. So, if you’re looking for a crossover and can spend around $50K, I’ll make your job easy: Start here.
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