Infiniti Targets Family, Entry Segments

Infiniti, Nissan's luxury division, sees an opportunity for growth in two segments — one addressed by the three-row JX crossover, the other by a future model that slots below the brand's popular G25/G37.

Ben Poore, vice president of Infiniti's U.S. business unit, sat down with us at the recent L.A. Auto Show to talk about the brand's potential. With inventories outpacing the industry average — unusual for a luxury brand — sales improved 3 percent in November, but they remain down nearly 4 percent this year. Poore notes the year-over-year results compare to a huge sales year (2010) for Infiniti, but says better inventory should help the road ahead.

He has high hopes for the JX crossover, a car he says targets "a very different market" from the QX SUV despite both having three rows of seats. While the $58,700 QX56 boasts V-8 towing capacity and a flashier clientele, Poore says the $40,450 JX35 hits the jackpot segment of luxury crossovers: the "luxury family."

2012 Nissan Maxima, Titan, Infiniti QX56, Others Get Modest Price Boost

Nissan this week announced pricing for its popular 2012 Nissan Maxima large sedan, along with other Nissan and Infiniti SUVs and trucks. This group of models — Maxima, Armada, Titan, QX56 and EX35 — consists mostly of carryovers, with few significant changes. That also means pricing stays pretty much the same compared with last year.

• 2012 Nissan Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes
• 2012 Infiniti Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

Starting with the most popular of the bunch, the 2012 Nissan Maxima (shown above) maintains the same pricing as the 2011 model. The Maxima undergoes an exterior refresh for 2012. The grille, taillamps and wheel designs are new. The interior gets a new instrument cluster, new trim colors, a new look for the center stack and a beige-colored interior option. In addition to the updates, the Maxima gets a new Limited Edition Package, which includes smoked-appearance xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights, 18-inch dark silver wheels, a rear spoiler and metallic trim in the interior. The package costs $710.

Cars.com Reviews the 2011 Infiniti QX56

In today’s world, where most three-row family haulers are sleek car-based crossovers, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a rare breed. The QX56 is an old-school SUV with a brawny exterior look and the ability to tow 8,500 pounds. But unlike bygone SUVs, which typically had cramped interiors and truck-like handling, the QX56 offers tons of space and is surprisingly fun to drive, according to Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek. But will car shoppers get past this Infiniti’s questionable looks?

2011 Infiniti QX56 Review

2012 Infiniti Lineup: Ch-Ch-Changes

The big change for Infiniti’s 2012 lineup is a new hybrid variant of the M sedan and a minor refresh for the FX crossover. The Infiniti M35h went on sale in March, and the FX goes on sale in the October.

You can learn more about the Infiniti M35h here:

• 2012 Infiniti M35h
• 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Priced at $53,700

The 2012 FX receives a revised front grille and front end design, a new instrument cluster and standard heated front seats on all models. There’s also a new Limited Edition trim for the FX35 AWD, which includes 21-inch wheels, navigation and an exclusive Iridium Blue exterior color option, among other trim changes.

The rest of Infiniti’s lineup received updated packaging for 2012.

Recall Alert: 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4, 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder

Nissan is recalling 195,991 SUVs sold in cold-weather states because long-term corrosion could cause the steering column to break, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the vehicles affected by the recall, which covers the 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4 and 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, road salt may enter an assembly location hole, causing a mix of salt and water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and inner hood ledge assembly. As a result, drivers may notice grinding noises and increased steering effort. The corrosion may also cause the steering column to break, resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall affects vehicles originally sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.

Nissan will notify owners on or before May 16. Dealers will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicle if necessary at no charge. For more info, call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2011 Infiniti QX56 Video

The recently released second-generation 2011 Infiniti QX56 adopts more voluptuous exterior styling that may end up being too polarizing for some SUV shoppers, but that doesn’t affect the Infiniti’s ride quality, according to Cars.com editor Joe Bruzek. The massive SUV never feels underpowered, even when carrying a full load of luggage and the Cars.com multimedia crew, and body roll was well-controlled in corners, too.

2011|Infiniti|QX56

Recall Alert: 747,000 Nissan, Infiniti Trucks and SUVs

Nissan has issued a recall of about 747,000 vehicles in the U.S. for a defective electrical relay. Silicon vapor may form in this relay and over time could oxidize and eventually lead to engine stalling at low speeds. Nissan says no injuries or accidents have been reported.
 
Vehicles in the recall include:

• 2004-2006 Nissan Armada, Titan and Infiniti QX56 built between August 2003 and May 2006.
• 2005-2006 Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder and Armada built between Aug. 24 and June 2006.

You can check your vehicle’s build date on a sticker on the driver-side doorjamb. The recall will begin in December. Nissan will replace the faulty relay for free. For more info, Nissan owners can call 800-647-7261 and Infiniti owners can call 800-662-6200.

Ch-Ch-Changes: 2011 Infiniti Lineup

Infiniti is making slight changes to its entire 2011 model year lineup, in addition to redesigned models like the M sedan and QX56 SUV. 

The G series will receive two new “product extensions” to be announced Aug. 13-14, the company says. These could be new body styles or performance variants. We’ll keep you posted when we get more information on that later this summer.

Read below for more information regarding the 2011 updates to the rest of the Infiniti range:

Infiniti Offers 0% Financing Deals Through June

Infiniti is offering financing deals through the end of June on both 2010 and 2011 models.

The 2010 G37 sedan, G37 coupe, G37 convertible and EX35 all have zero-percent financing deals for 36 months, while the FX35, FX50 and QX56 all have 0.9% financing offers for 60 months.

As far as 2011 models, the redesigned M37 and M56 both have 2.9% APR financing for up to 60 months.

If you’re an Infiniti owner already, check with your local dealer for Owner Loyalty Cash offers. Infiniti has these financing deals set to run through June 30.

Recall Alert: 41,649 Nissan and Infiniti Vehicles

Nissan has issued a recall for 41,649 Armada, Frontier, Pathfinder, Titan, Xterra and Infiniti QX56 vehicles from the 2010 model year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall affects vehicles built between Nov. 19, 2009 and March 3, 2010. Improper welding of two cylindrical collars on the lower control link assembly could cause the collars to separate from the chassis. This could affect vehicle handling and possibly cause an accident.

Nissan will repair the affected vehicles for free. Owners may contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s hot line at 888-327-4236.