First Drive: 2013 Infiniti JX35

The concept of a brand is a funny thing. There’s a starting point, where a new brand begins to find its way. From there, it evolves and morphs into a position that is appreciated by a certain group or audience. Over time, the people behind the brand will work hard to maintain its position with the core audience that’s grown to love whatever it is the brand stands for, but there still needs to be a continual evolution to reach new buyers or fans.

There’s no doubt that it’s tricky work pushing a brand to grow. Sometimes it can turn out exciting new products, while other times it might lead to a divergence from the core values. This concept is easily seen in the world of automakers and their wares.

The 2013 Infiniti JX35 is the latest product from Nissan’s luxury arm, and it has to hit a few major points if the automaker wants to make sure fans of the brand will recognize it as a true part of the family they’ve come to love. Quite simply, the JX35 needs to be a stand-out in the style department, provide a level of luxury and tech features that make sure the Germans are paying attention, and offer up an engaging experience for the driver that puts key fob in the pocket of their upper-class-income jeans.

Will two out of three cut it? Keep reading to learn more…

… Continue Reading

Tweet

Review: 2012 Infiniti QX56

Full-size SUVs seem almost forgotten these days; they become unpopular as quickly as they became popular. In their defense these vehicles, originated by the Suburban, have a lot going for them. The recently updated QX56 is Infiniti’s luxury entry into this market, positioned above Nissan’s Armada. Before looking at it dismissively, any potential buyer owes it to themselves to drive one, if for no other reason then to raise the bar by which other such vehicles should be judged.

… Continue Reading

Tweet

2011 Infiniti EX35: A G Wagon in Crossover clothing

Tweet

2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe

Here’s the long and the short of the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe—it may look like a car, have wheels and seats, an engine and wheels, but this isn’t a car. It’s an analog synthesizer, and you compose burbly symphonies with only your right foot.

… Continue Reading

Tweet

2011 Infiniti M56S

You may recall that Jeff previewed the 2011 Infiniti M sedans a few months ago, and he sure liked ‘em. So when Infiniti tossed me the keys to the 2011 Infiniti M56S, pointed me in the direction of some deliciously windy and deserted roads, and told me to have a good time under the blazing Napa sun, I had a pretty good idea the big Infiniti would be entertaining. Just how much surprised me.

… Continue Reading

Tweet

2011 Infiniti QX56

Remember those guys in high school who were always faster and stronger than you? Odds are they have gotten heavier and rounder since the “good ‘ole days”. Odds are also good that a few of them, despite the added bulk of beer-enhanced physiques and the physical toll that comes with aging, they are probably still faster and stronger.

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 is a full-size luxury SUV which has been redesigned and is now in its second generation. It has gone from a sharply-angled, powerful box and turned into a rounded, slightly bulbous behemoth. It’s “grown up” a bit on the inside, looks like it weighs more, and fills out the sheet metal a little more tightly. However, it can still kick your ass down the road and feels like a sports car from behind the driver’s seat.

… Continue Reading

Tweet

SUV Showdown: Infiniti FX50 Vs Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Part 3

It’s time to move on from ridiculous hoonage back to the real world (for now). After the canyons and the empty streets of California City came miles of long, straight highway.

… Continue Reading

Tweet

SUV Showdown: Infiniti FX50 Vs Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, Part 2

After hammering the canyons and making short work of the Antelope Valley, we rolled into California City ready for some mischief. For those unfamiliar, California City is a community master-planned back in the late 50s. If you look it up on Google Maps, you’ll see a grid of roads that suggests miles of suburban sprawl. Switch to satellite view and you’ll see there’s nothing at the corner of Oldsmobile and Buick Blvds. Then again, one man’s failed city is another’s ready-made rally course…

… Continue Reading

Tweet

SUV Showdown: Infiniti FX50S Vs Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

When life gives you lemons, you’re supposed to make lemonade. When your press car suppliers give you two 400ish horsepower SUVs, you make hoonade.  The recipe? Take equal parts Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Infiniti FX50s, stir vigorously on a pre-dawn canyon drive, whip mercilessly on the semi-abandoned roads of California City, and let simmer on a long freeway drive home.

While most other sites are content to review just one vehicle at a time, we’re running them head-to-head. In addition to the typical week of toodling around town, we decided to put these bruisers through their paces both on and off the pavement. We woke up insanely early and took the scenic curvy canyon route out of LA out to California City for a little dirt-road hoonage. Muscle cruisers like these are useless if they can’t cover freeway mileage with ease, so we took the straight-line route back into town. Today’s Part I will focus on initial impressions an canyon driving. In Part II, we hit the dirt. Part III wraps it up.

… Continue Reading

Tweet