"It looks like a squashed hippopotamus". These were the first words uttered by my mother upon seeing the Infiniti FX50 S for the first time. I'm not sure whether this says more about the curvy, swoopy styling of Inifiniti's sportiest SUV or my mother's slightly bizarre imagination, but it does say a lot about what the Infiniti badge means to my mother (your average non-car nut): absolutely zip.
Now my old mum is hardly a car enthusiast, but if I pop to see her in a Mercedes, a BMW, a Jaguar, an Audi or even a Lexus she will know instantly. "An Infiniti FX50 S? Sounds like you've got a new mobile phone, dear..."
It's this lack of brand recognition that is the biggest hurdle for Infiniti to overcome - because it's got its products nailed. The FX50 S is the biggest-engined version of the biggest car that Infiniti produces, a 385bhp 5.0-litre V8 SUV that's aimed squarely at the BMW X6 (and possibly the middle echelons of the Porsche Cayenne range).
The big FX hits its target, too. Stat-wise it costs £54,950, £1095 less than a base X6 XDrive 50i, gives away just 14bhp to the 399bhp X6 (while weighing in at 2120kg - portly but a healthy 145kg less than an X6) hits 62mph in 5.8secs, 0.4secs after the BMW and goes on to the same electronically limited 155mph top end.
But the FX50 matches the X6 in more than just bald figures. Its cartoonish shape is every bit as dramatic/ridiculous (delete according to taste) as the X6's and, more important, it feels just like the sporty big coupe it claims to be.
There's very little obvious body roll and the steering feels direct, accurate and meatily weighted. The result is a car that hides its porky kerb weight surprisingly well. The 369lb ft of torque is (just) enough to make the FX50 feel genuinely rapid, and the seven-speed auto's paddle shifters have a satisfyingly positive action.
The interior is up there in qualitative terms, too, although the swoopy dash and quilted leather seats probably won't win any prizes for subtle good taste and some of the buttons odn't feel quite up to standard.
So the FX50 stands up well to the X6, and would probably also put up a fair fight against the new Porsche Cayenne. Indeed, if you put a Porsche badge on it, then FX50s would probably sell by the shipload. Sadly that Infiniti logo dooms the big FX to a handful of UK sales.
In many ways, the FX50 is a fine car. But, like any two-tonne 'crossover' SUV that masquerades as a sports car, you can't help wondering this: why not just make a straight sports car?
Body style |
4 X 4 |
Doors |
5 |
Seats |
5 |
Price (£) |
56400 |
Delivery (£) |
0 |
Auto |
Std |
Insurance group |
20 |
Insurance group 1-50 |
50 |
Euro NCAP - Occupant |
|
Euro NCAP - Child |
|
Euro NCAP - Pedestrian |
|
Euro NCAP - Overall |
5 |
Engine Size cc |
5026 |
Cylinders |
V8 |
Power bhp |
385@6500 |
Valves |
32v |
Power ps |
390@6500 |
Torque lb ft |
368@4400 |
Fuel type |
U |
Emission class |
EU5 |
Transmission Type (MT/AT) |
7-spd |
Driven Wheels |
4 |
Urban mpg (Man) |
|
Extra urban mpg (Man) |
|
Comb mpg (Man) |
|
C02 (g/km) (Man) |
|
VED band (Man) |
|
Urban mpg (Auto) |
15 |
Extra urban mpg (Auto) |
28.8 |
Comb mpg (Auto) |
21.6 |
C02 (g/km) (Auto) |
307 |
VED band (Auto) |
M |
Max. speed (Man) |
|
0-60 mph (Man) |
|
0-62 mph (Man) |
|
Max speed (Auto) |
155 |
0-60 mph (Auto) |
|
0-62 mph (Auto) |
5.8 |
Power Steering |
Std |
ESP |
Std |
Central Locking |
Std |
Alarm |
Std |
Immobiliser |
Std |
Alloy Wheels |
Std |
Air-con |
N/A |
|
Climate control |
Std |
Electric mirrors |
Std |
Electric front windows |
Std |
Electric rear windows |
Std |
Manual sunroof |
N/A |
Electric sunroof |
Std |
Metallic paint |
665 |
Cruise control |
Std |
Rear parking sensor |
Std |
Leather Seats |
Std |
Front seatbelt pre-tensioners |
Std |
Driver airbag |
Std |
Passenger airbag |
Std |
Front side airbag |
Std |
Radio/cassette |
N/A |
CD |
Std |
RDS |
Std |
Satellite nav |
Std |
DVD Player |
DF |
Split/fold rear seat |
Std |
Boot capacity min (litres) |
410 |
Boot capacity max (litres) |
1305 |
Fuel tank (litres) |
90 |
Length (mm) |
4865 |
Width (mm) |
1925 |
Height (mm) |
1680 |
Wheelbase (mm) |
2885 |
Kerb Weight (kg) |
2120 |
Gross Weight (kg) |
|
Towing limit (braked) (kg) |
2000 |
Service interval (miles) |
20000 |
Warranty (years) |
3 |
Warranty (miles) |
60000 |
Comments 1 |
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Comments 2 |
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Last updated |
11/06/2010 |
Price list date |
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