Exterior photos released by the company shows a midsize crossover that doesn’t really deviate from the typical crossover formula. It’s got a long hood with a prominent grille, an upright cabin and Infiniti’s typical rear window treatment.
In fact, it looks like something that could be in Infiniti showrooms right now. Or even a few years ago.
While specifications have not been released, the midsize QX50 is also showcasing some of the Nissan group’s new technology. It will have the company’s latest autonomous tech, and it will also be a “potential application” of the new VC Turbo variable compression engine.
The new autonomous technology will, according to the company, act as a co-pilot to the driver, not actually replace the driver. The system will take care of more mundane driving tasks like stop-and-go traffic and other safety measures while still keeping the driver in control.
The VC Turbo engine is even bigger news. It’s the first successful application of variable compression ratio in an internal combustion engine and Infiniti said that it’s production-ready. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine can vary its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1 seamlessly, giving the right amount of compression at the right time.
This technology allows the VC Turbo to have the power of a V6 – it’s rated at 268 horsepower and 287 lb-ft of torque (converted from Infiniti’s claim of 390 Nm) – with the efficiency of a smaller engine.
The NAIAS will run from January 8 to 22 in Detroit, and TFLcar will be there to cover it. Stay tuned for more updates before and from the show.
Check out this related TFLcar video of the QX50’s potential smaller brother, the QX30:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA US) revamped its infotainment system, and consumers will get a sneak peek at the new system during the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Jan. 3.
FCA will unveil its fourth-generation Uconnect system, which features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It will also showcase the brand new Uconnect Theater rear seat entertainment system in the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. That system will only be available in the Pacifica.
The fourth-generation Uconnect system improvements include faster start-up time, enhanced processing power and a new 8.4-inch touchscreen that features multi-touch gestures, sharper graphics and smartphone integrations.
FCA is offering the Uconnect Theater in its Pacificas so passengers can watch movies, play built-in games and connect personal devices to the internet. Uconnect Theater includes two high-definition 10-inch touch screens located on the back headrests, built-in apps and games, parental controls, support device features, USB ports, HDMI ports, remote controls and headphones.
The new Pacifica will have some built-in hybrid features including Hybrid Electric Pages, Uconnect access app and the hybrid-specific cluster display.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
Hybrid Electric Pages provides owners will power flow, driving history and charge scheduling information so owners get the most miles per gallon out of their vehicles.
The app enables an owner to get remote access to their vehicle’s technology, enabling them to check the charge level of their vehicle’s battery, vehicle range and estimated time to full recharge. An owner can also get a charging schedule, receive charge status updates and locate charging stations.
The cluster display offers a 7-inch color thin-film-transistor instrument cluster that changes color to teal when the Pacifica is operating in electric mode or blue when operating in hybrid mode. The battery and fuel levels are always displayed. The vehicle also shows total range of the combined battery and fuel, and displays an “efficiency coach” that helps drivers drive more efficiently.
Stay tuned to TFLcar for more updates from CES 2017.
Check out this TFLcar video review of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid:
Ford officials announced recently that it’s releasing its next generation Fusion Hybrid autonomous development vehicle, just before two industry shows in January.
The next-generation vehicle has new computer hardware to improve on processing power. It’s electrical controls are also closer to what people will see on production vehicles.
The vehicle also comes with improved sensor technology, which includes how the sensors are placed to enable the vehicle to see what’s around it better. It comes with new LiDAR sensors that have more targeted field of vision and less sensors. Instead of four sensors, there will be two.
The new vehicle also has updates to the platform itself and to the virtual driver system.
Ford officials said the next generation of autonomous vehicle shows its commitment to the driverless car industry. Ford released its current generation three years ago and vowed to continue to improve upon the technology.
Earlier this year, Ford announced that it intends to offer high-volume, full autonomous vehicles for ride sharing in 2021. It also decided to invest in and collaborate with four startup companies on autonomous vehicle development.
“The next decade will be defined by automation of the automobile, and we see autonomous vehicles as having as significant an impact on society as Ford’s moving assembly line did 100 years ago,” said Mark Fields, Ford president and CEO, in a news release in August. “We’re dedicated to putting on the road an autonomous vehicle that can improve safety and solve social and environmental challenges for millions of people – not just those who can afford luxury vehicles.”
The new technology is ready just in time for the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) which will be in Las Vegas from January 5-8, and the 2017 North American International Auto Show, which will be in Detroit from January 8-22. Stay tuned to TFLcar for more updates on both upcoming shows.
Check out this related TFLcar video where we go for a ride in an autonomous Ford Fusion:
Back in 2002, Inifiniti, Nissan’s premium or luxury division, introduced their sleekly designed, award-winning G35 sport coupe with excellent handling properties. Infiniti’s second-generation front mid-ship platform, the G37, powered by a 330 horsepower 3.7-liter VQ engine, designed to contend with the likes of BMW’s sport coupes, was introduced in 2007 as a 2008 model.
The G37 Coupe and Convertible were rebadged for the 2014 and 2015 model years as the Infiniti Q60. It was the Japanese automaker’s only two-door coupe. Enter the completely redesigned 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 coupe, which is available in a variety of trims.
This latest Q60 benefits from a thorough redesign. The revision includes new mechanical features, some shared with the redesigned 2016 Infiniti Q60 sedan, such as the chassis and wheelbase. There are five trim levels of the new Q60, four of which will be available in the U.S. market. They include the Q60 base model 2.0T with a Mercedes-Benz-sourced, turbocharged inline four-cylinder rated at 208 hp and 258 lb-ft torque; the Q60 Premium available with either the 2.0T or 300 horsepower 3.0T; the Q60 Silver Sport also available with both engines; and the top of-the-line Q60 Red Sport 400 horsepower 3.0T.
All engines are mounted forward in a longitudinal orientation and transfer power to either the rear wheels (RWD) or to all four wheels (AWD) through a seven-speed automatic transmission with a Drive Mode Selector featuring three personal settings: standard; Sport and Sport + as well as an ECO and Snow setting. Sport+ also allows the driver to personalize steering settings – Dynamic and Dynamic + for a total of 7 modes.
The new design of the 2017 Infiniti Q60 drew its inspiration from the Q80 concept coupe show vehicle, delivering a powerful elegance focused performance. Significant styling elements include the bold double-arch grille, focused human eye headlight and crescent-cut C-pillar. The gracefully arced roofline that sweeps to the integrated deck spoiler lip, sculpted hood, pronounced front fender, strong hallmark bodyside character lines, front quarter reverse vent trim and large frontal air intakes all combine to contribute to the racy form of the Q60.
The cockpit is both driver-centric and passenger-minded. Controls and switchgear are optimally positioned for ease of use. The three-spoke steering wheel, driver displays and supportive seating give notice that the Q60 is a true sports car, with the added finesse of flowing forms and detailed double stitching.
Technological highlights of the Infiniti Q60 include the advanced, lightweight twin turbo engines; Direct Adaptive Steering (the world’s first “steer-by-wire” system), optional Dynamic Digital Suspension that monitors body roll, pitch and bounce rate; Active Lane Control with two settings; and Active Trace Control.
Other innovative enhancements include improved wheel stiffness and internal tire insulation; redesigned and isolated rear suspension subassembly; increased stiffness for the front side member and dashboard lower crossmember; and front windscreen with isolation glass as well as a thicker rear window, all resulting in significant NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) reduction.
Driver assistance features that aid in awareness and vehicle control include Around View Monitor, Moving Object Detection, Intelligent Cruise Control, Forward Emergency Braking, Predictive Forward Collision, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Lane Departure Prevention, Blind-Spot Intervention, Active Lane Control and Back-up Collision Intervention.
My 2017 Infiniti Q60 was a Red Sport model with the tubocharged 400 horsepower 3.0-liter V6. It was base priced at $53,300 and wore a brilliant Dynamic Sunstone Red exterior and sported a Gallery White interior with carbon fiber trim accents. Extras included the Technology Package, Direct Adaptive Steering, Dynamic Digital Suspension, Driver Assistance Package, the Premium Plus Package, Exclusive paint finish and Destination Charges, which elevated the final sticker to $62,355.
The 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD is a polished gem in both its positive visual appeal and performance experience. Acceleration demands were met instantly with no turbo lag. Steering feedback was spot on with a natural feeling, and the electronic responses are much quicker than those delivered by a conventional mechanical system.
Ride quality is infinitely adjustable and customizable with the combination of four drivetrain modes, seven Direct Adaptive Steering settings, two EPS settings, two DDS settings, three Active Lane Control settings and two Active Trace Control settings. Infiniti claims a total of 336 possible combinations. The AWD model rolls on Bridgestone Potenza RE050 all-season run-flats mounted on unique staggered 5 W-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels.
Dialing in Sport + in the Drive Mode Selector, the drivetrain in Sport, Steering in Sport +, Dynamic +, EPS in Sport, suspension in Sport and turning on the Active Lane Control and Active Trace Control systems delivered the most exhilarating driving scenario.
Audio is provided by Bose Performance Series with 13 high-performance speakers. Other infotainment features and connectivity abound through Infiniti InTouch with Navigation and voice recognition and Navi Sync Adaptive shift Control.
Despite the fact that coupes comprise only 5 percent of the D-segment market share, there seems to be a need and appreciation for the continuance of the iconic Infiniti coupe in the Q60. It fills the bill on all fronts in a most positive manner. As an afterthought, while convertibles make up an even lesser portion of the D-segment at a mere 3 percent, the Q60 styling would lend itself beautifully to a convertible model, which would be my ultimate choice. In the meantime, the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 AWD delivers plenty of sporty attributes, while adding a healthy dose of luxurious appointments.
SPECIFICATIONS: 2017 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 Coupe AWD
Base Price: $53,300.
Price as Tested: $62,355.
Engine Type and Size: 3.0-liter, DOHC, 24-valve, Twin-turbo V6 with Direct Fuel Injection.
Transmission: Electronically-controlled Seven-speed automatic with adaptive shift control, manual shift mode, paddle shifters, downshift rev-matching and Drive Mode Selector.
Drive Train: Longitudinally-mounted front engine / Intelligent AWD
Suspension: Front – Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs over Dual Flow Path shock absorbers, stabilizer bar.
Rear – Independent, multi-link with coil springs over Dual Flow Path shock absorbers, stabilizer bar.
Brakes: Power-assisted four wheel vented discs with ABS, EBD, Advanced Vehicle Dynamic Control with Traction Control System and TPMS.
The BBC released a trailer for the new season of Top Gear to give fans a glimpse of what they will see in the newest revamped version of their longtime motoring program.
For this iteration, Chris Evans will be absent. Chris resigned from the show after the first season with the new hosts failed to sustain high ratings. BBC retooled Top Gear about a year ago, after it fired longtime host Jeremy Clarkson, and other longtime hosts Richard Hammond and James May didn’t renew their contracts.
Matt LeBlanc it seems will be more front and center in the latest installment that the BBC is hoping will capture a new audience and keep the Top Gear machine moving forward instead of stalling out.
But will it?
The trailer boasts a whopping 21 seconds of footage as a sneak peek. It shows Matt and his two other co-hosts, Chris Harris and Rory Reid, in a no-hands drag race. Clever and funny? We’ll see.
It seems to harken back to the days of Clarkson, Hammond and May, with the more humorous side of motoring news. They and their team took that winning formula to their new program, The Grand Tour on Amazon, which has had high ratings and popularity.
The Grand Tour’s popularity proves that people love the Clarkson, Hammond and May team and want that.
It seems from the snippet of footage that the latest iteration of Top Gear will try to emulate that winning formula, but it may come across as a cheap, second-class imitation. If it models what Clarkson, Hammond and May did during Top Gear or are doing on The Grand Tour, then why even watch Top Gear? Why not just watch what made Top Gear what is, which is Clarkson, Hammond and May?
I’m not saying there won’t be any funny, memorable moments with the new Top Gear season. There likely will be. But, when the BBC had a winning formula with the previous version, to me it seems like the new Top Gear falls flat, even if Joey will be there for you.
Check out the full trailer below:
And check out this TFLcar video of our top fun-to-drive vehicles for 2016:
How fast is Infiniti’s QX80 all-wheel-drive luxury sport utility vehicle? Is it actually a peppy SUV or just an ordinary luxury vehicle?
TFL’s Andre Smirnov took it for a spin recently to see how fast the vehicle can go from zero to 60.
As tested, the 7-speed automatic, 5.6-liter V8 QX80 has a price tag of $90,445. It competes with such vehicles as the Lexus LX 570, the Cadillac Escalade and the GMC Denali.
For the zero to 60 tests, Andre disabled the traction control. He said that the speed will likely be impacted a bit because the test was at IMI Motorsports Park in Dacono, Colorado, which is about 1 mile above sea level. Vehicle power is typically impacted at higher elevations.
For the first test, the QX80 came in with a speed of 6.99 seconds.
But what happened during the second test? Was the QX80 faster? Find out by watching the complete TFL video above.
What’s the difference between two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive and four-wheel drive low? And, when would a driver use those different settings?
In the latest episode of TFL’s Difflock video series, Roman and Tommy Mica tested this out on their Jeep Wrangler at Gold Mine Hill in Colorado.
To demonstrate how the different systems work, Roman brought two remote-controlled cars, one a two-wheel drive car and the other a four-wheel drive car.
He lifted both remote-controlled cars, gave power to them to show the wheels spinning and then held one of the wheels to show what happens when power is cut to certain wheels.
The demonstration showed how a larger-scale vehicle like the Wrangler would perform when power is diverted to certain wheels.
For two-wheel drive, Tommy said that system is best when driving around town or on the highway. But four-wheel drive is needed during other off-road conditions.
At Gold Mine Hill, Roman took the two-wheel drive remote-controlled car and drove it up the path. The car got stuck within 2 feet of starting off.
Tommy took the life-sized Jeep, put it in two-wheel drive and drove up the hill. He noticed the vehicle’s tires were spinning and the Jeep couldn’t make it up the hill.
The next test was with four-wheel drive. Roman again used one of the a remote-controlled cars to demonstrate. The four-wheel drive toy car made it up the hill with no real problems.
What happened when Tommy tried out the Jeep in four-wheel drive on Gold Mine Hill? What happened when he switched it to four-wheel drive low? Find out by watching the complete TFL video above.
Roman Mica and Nathan Adlen have driven a lot of cars this year for TFL, and now that the end of the year is here, they sat down together to go through their list of the ones they feel are the most fun cars of 2016.
Similar to our previous top five list, this list consists only of cars that were personally driven by Roman and Nathan during 2016. The list runs the gamut from affordable sedans to quirky one-offs to high-dollar performance cars.
Click the right arrow to start the list with the weirdest car they drove this year!
The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid hatchback stakes a claim as one of the most efficient and practical cars for the money — but just how good is it on a 1,200-mile road trip?
