A decade can change just about everything. Ask anyone who’s married. But for Infiniti, a decade for the FX has been fruitful if anything else. The brawny SUV has in a short time spawned a subset of vehicles that share more in common with the word “sport” than “utility.” See: X6, BMW; ZDX, Acura; Porsche, et al.
Infiniti, though, has a looming crisis on its hands. The first-born is getting a little old, a little tired and a lot crowded. The JX, built on a modified Nissan Maxima platform, is capturing family buyers who aren’t necessarily interested in the FX for it’s performance, but rather its space. The EX, on the other hand, plays well with the younger set who prefer performance in a tall crossover, without the FX’s “bionic cheetah” at full throat, which swallows gas at a 20 mpg clip. (“Bionic cheetah,” by the way is how Infiniti famously first described the FX when it was launched in 2003. Their words, not mine.)
Therefore the 2013 Infiniti FX is at an impasse. A decade in and the FX’s looks are still relatively the same, it’s also one year away from a name change — admittedly, I still haven’t figured out the nomenclature yet, and I get paid to do this — and the car is a few years down the road from a complete overhaul.
What do you do to keep things fresh? You could, like last year, throw in some new wheels and paint and call it a “special edition.” You could pretend like this year doesn’t exist and skip a model year. Or there’s the nuclear option: Change the base engine — especially one that was so highly acclaimed — and see what happens.
Guess what Infiniti did?
To their credit, the FX’s new base, 3.7-liter six isn’t all that dramatically different than the outgoing 3.5-liter six. The previous engine produced 303 horsepower, while the new model cranks out only 22 more horses over last year. The 267 ft.-lbs. of torque are only 5 more than last year while returning roughly the same EPA mileage rating — 18/22 mpg city/highway respectively.
It was a risky call too. The 3.5-liter hit a sweet spot for the FX. In rear-wheel drive spec — one of the few SUVs remaining to offer such a 2-wheel-drive option — the FX35 was a sporty ride with plenty of acceleration for its class. In all-wheel-drive spec, the 3.5 powered the FX just about anywhere and rendered the bigger, FX50 nearly unnecessary. (For the record, the 2013 FX50 retains the same 390-horsepower V8 as last year.) That made the FX35 the meat and potatoes of the lineup, and changing that was a big risk for the automaker looking to boost sales in the waning years of this FX generation. For a starting price of $44,950 (our tester clocked in at $53,700) that’s a big risk.
All the more important to pay attention to 2013. The FX37 retains the same might and throaty warble that endeared last year’s models to so many critics — myself included. Although the horsepower bump wasn’t noticeable in our AWD tester, the engine still felt as confident as ever. Mated to Infiniti’s 7-speed automatic transmission (the only option available) the FX37 is a smooth shifter on interstates for long hauls. The FX’s sedan-type suspension setup — wishbones up front, multi-link in the back — gives the SUV confident, lateral grip on the road, despite its tall stance.
The notable change in the FX37’s long list of technology features is this year’s inclusion of an around-view camera with pedestrian and car detection. With so many distractions around you, according to the company, isn’t it comforting to know that carmakers are making it easier to pay less attention? Maybe I missed the point of that.
Nonetheless, the Infiniti FX’s interior is unmistakable, if not a little old. The butter-soft leather seats and 10-way power driver seat are a timeless luxury, if only because the center console and instrument cluster are a little dated. It’s likely that Infiniti will follow suit of other luxury car makers and introduce an absurdly named proprietary navigation system with one wheel or button to do it all, but for now, you’re treated to a button or switch that does only one task — and there’s a lot of them around. There’s even a slot for your keyless ignition, should you decide to feel like its 2004 and insert your key into a slot for some odd reason.
In any event, what the FX holds onto from the past, it also provides a blueprint for Infiniti’s future. When the car’s nameplate changes next year from the FX37 to the QX70 — still with the same two engine options, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive — it’ll likely signal the first of many changes for the FX to come by 2015.
It’s left to see then if the “bionic cheetah” can race through its second decade as quickly as it did the first.
Aaron Cole is managing editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Send questions, heckles or supplemental income to acole@aurorasentinel.com
‘I still haven’t figured out the nomenclature yet, and I get paid to do this…’
Awkward.
https://autos.jdpower.com/content/blog-post/GTDStyf/2014-infiniti-suv-lineup-gets-new-names-new-prices.htm
https://autos.jdpower.com/content/blog-post/GTDStyf/2014-infiniti-suv-lineup-gets-new-names-new-prices.htm