Infiniti FX45 Infiniti FX35
For a short while I thought the FX45 might be my only choice for my next car with the XC90 T6 a distant second (probably more utility but less sporty/fun to drive). Now it looks like Cadillac will have a real contender in this new market segment, the SRX (with a supercharged V8). I just wish I didn't have to wait a whole year for a test drive.
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My wife and I testdrove a Premium and Sport FX35 back to back before we purchased our Premium. Both of us felt that the ride in the Premium was sporty enough without being too harsh. Our FX35 handles very well and doesn't seem to give up a lot compared to the Sport.
The only draw for the Sport, to us, is the 20" wheels. Since there aren't any FX's equipped as such, i.e. Regular Suspension with 20" wheels, I can't say how that configuration would feel. The sport suspension was OK for me, if the FX would be my personal vehicle.
Regarding resale value, there might be a slight difference between the two. But as Jbaumgart mentioned, the Premium might appeal to a broader audience. And I think there will be less Premium-equipped vehicles built since most of the FX's will have the Sport Package.
Is it an SUV or a Station Wagon or something else?
The interior is attractive for the 4 passengers that could fit into it. Let's just hope that their only going to dinner not overnite. Granted we weren't allowed into the vehicle so this is just from observations. However, it didn't seem to have a great deal of room except for passengers.
There are parts of the PR that really appealed to me in how it's a combination of all of the best parts of sports car and SUV. With 2 kids and a wife that like to go on weekend trips I'm looking at more SUV and less sports car. I'll have to wait for the MB GST. Hope this helps, good luck to you.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
I think when people see this car in other colors such as white, the car will be more cosmeticly appealing. I personally like the car, but it's still a year away. Interior room looks plentiful for 5 adults.
This "steroid wagon" or crossover unit appears to be what consumers said they liked and would buy according to Infiniti. 300+ hp AWD and 20" rims are standard, the car will be priced in the low 40's and compete directly with the next generation Lexus GS 300/400 series. FYI Lexus will roll out the new GS in Nov 2003 as a 2004 model. The GS300+ will be offered with a AWD wagon and 250 hp. No word on the GS430 yet. So wagons that are jacked up a little will be in. Infiniti's FX45 may be just what the DR. ordered.
Revka
Host
Hatchbacks & Station Wagons Boards
The V6 would probably go for about $5-7K less in MSRP. At least I hope so....
This would make a tough choice if gas mileage and pricing were close between the two.
http://autoweek.com/
Check out their "Car News" link for the article, they seem to like what they see.
Looks really impressive with 300+ hp, V8, Intelligent key memory, 20" wheels, AWD, DVD & navi.
Coming 1/6/03.
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?article=5438&sid=178&n=156
There will be more than one engine choice.
20" Factory Wheels will be available and possibly standard.
The car will like other Infiniti's offer more features, more performance, and a better price than anything remotely competitive
http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=FX45
I don't think anything is official yet maybe that's why Edmunds hasn't updated info in the future vehicles section. So far things look interesting for the FX45.
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FX45 reminded me of the Murano I saw several minutes earlier at the show---large tires, hybrid SUV/station wagon/sporty, but the FX45 doesn't have the smiley face in front that the Murano has, and from the front, the FX45 reminds me somehow of 1930's cars. You know, the ones in gangster movies. But in a neat way. I was impressed, but of course didn't get to sit in it.
BTW, the Audi TT was also on a turntable. What's the deal there?? It's been out since '99. And now they have only 2 models instead of 4, and you can't get an automatic with a quattro. And the A4, although sleek, has a ragtop, not a hardtop. No way.
As for the TT on the turntable, Audi could have been "featuring" it in their display, or just decided not to screw up another car. Some dealers limit the cost of the show by locking the cars (or using a turntable) to keep the cars from being worn out. 5 days at the show can get a car enough abuse to change it's status from "new". That's especially true of sports and expensive luxury cars, which gather lots of attention. I remember when Ferrari *used* to be at the show they would place TWO velvet ropes 10 feet away from the car in an attempt to keep scratches off the car.
DB
as for horse power the it is 280 w/ 270lb ft for the v6 and 315 w/ 329 lb ft for the v8 it has intelligent cruise control the smart key video entertainment system and everything u could imagine the pictures on fresh alloy are accurate and the car does look like that sorry it dosent have side mirror turn signals
also the grubbs infiniti site has everything teh literature has the car has bi xenon lights standard
Thanks for your comments!
Revka
Hatchbacks & Wagons Host
Dimensions:
- wheelbase: 112.2-inch
- front track 62.7-inches; width between the two front tires
- rear track 64.6-inches; width between the two rear tires
- overall width: 75.8 inches
- height: 65.0 inches
- head room (front/rear) 40.8 / 39.5 (w/o sunroof) 39.6 / 39.3 (w/ sunroof)
- leg room (front/rear) 43.9 / 35.2
- hip room (front/rear) 54.3 / 55.0
- Shoulder room (front/rear) 56.9 / 57.4
- Cargo dimensions (L x W x H) seat up 28.5 / 42.0 - 55.7 / 29.2
- interior passenger volume: 105.1 cu.ft
- cargo volume: seats up 27.4 / seats down 64.5
Photos:
http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia/infiniti2003/fx45.shtml
Pricing:
FX45 Base MSRP $44,225
FX35 Base MSRP $35,700
FX45 Premium Package $2,100
FX45 Technology Package $7,600
FX35 Premium Package $2,600
FX35 Sport Package $3,900
FX35 Technology Package $9,400
FX45:
- 315 HP AWD (ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system; same one as the Skyline GT-R)
- 329 lb-ft of torque
- standard 20" wheels
- 15/19 (City/Highway)
- 0-60 6.3 secs. (from C&D)
- .87g (from C&D)
FX35:
- 280 HP RWD or AWD (ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system; same one as the Skyline GT-R)
- 270 lb-ft
- standard 18" wheels
- 16/22 (City/Highway) V6 AWD
- 17/23 (City/Highway) V6 RWD
more info: http://www.nissannews.com/infiniti/2003vehicles/fx45/specs.shtml
According to my C&D, the Murano is 66.5 in height and FX45 is 65.0. Still height doesn't matter since you can build whatever height you want on any platform (within restrictions, e.g., Forester and Imprezza on the same platform and CRV, Element and Civic likewise.)
So, are the Altima and G35 built on the same platform?
*FX35 Base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price: $35,700
FX45 Premium Package: $2,100
· Power sliding tinted glass sunroof with one-touch open/close, tilt feature and sliding sunshade
· Bose® premium 300-watt, eleven-speaker audio system. Three dash-mounted 3.15-inch TwiddlerTM mid- and high-frequency drivers; four 6.5-inch door speakers; two 3.15-inch Twiddler mid- and high-frequency drivers in D-pillars; dual 5.25-inch Nd® woofers in a dedicated, tuned enclosure under cargo floor are included with Bose system; complements standard AM/FM with Radio Data System (RDS), cassette player and in-dash, single-slot 6-disc CD autochanger
· HomeLink® Universal Transceiver
· Auto on/off headlights
· Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls
· Cargo Net
FX35 Premium Package: $2,600
· Includes all FX45 Premium Package equipment plus:
· Leather-appointed interior
· Power-adjustable lumbar support for driver's seat
· Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel
· Memory system for driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors
· Heated front seats
· Heated outside mirrors
FX35 Sport Package: $3,900
· Includes all FX35 Premium Package equipment plus:
· 8-spoke, 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 265/50R20 V-rated all-season tires
· Sport-tuned suspension
· Drilled aluminum pedals with rubber grips
FX45 Technology Package: $7,600
FX35 Technology Package: $9,400
· Includes all Premium Package equipment on FX45; all Premium Package and Sport Package equipment on FX35, plus:
· Enhanced Vehicle Information System with 7-inch color LCD screen; adds fuel-economy calculator
· Infiniti Navigation System1 with DVD database and BirdviewTM
· Intelligent Key keyless entry, security and starting system. Keyfob transponder allows door unlocking and engine starting without using a keyfob or key; keyfob must simply be in proximity of vehicle (pocket, purse, etc.) for unlocking, or inside vehicle for engine starting
· Intelligent Cruise Control2 uses computerized laser sensors to detect vehicles ahead while automatically maintaining the preset following distance
· Brake Assist with Preview3
· Infiniti DVD Mobile Entertainment System with ceiling-mounted, flip-down 7.0-inch color screen, console-mounted DVD player with wireless remote and two pairs of wireless headphones
· RearView Monitor4 displays area behind vehicle, in real time, when vehicle is reversing via the dash-mounted color Vehicle Information System's screen
· Onboard Tire Pressure Monitor
Individual Options (FX35 and FX45):
· Roof rails
· Roof-rail crossbars
· Cargo-area protector
· Satellite radio capability, with choice of Sirius or XM® service providers5
· Sunroof wind deflector
· Splash guards, set of four (black)
· Tow hitch6
The major difference between Altima and G35, according to my understanding, is the position of the engine relative to the front axle. The mid line of the engine in G35 is slightly behind the front axle, while the Altima engine's midline, like most other sedans, is slightly in front of the axle. The difference can be easily seen if you compare the front over-hang of G35 with that of Altima. The G35/FX45 platform is supposed to have a better weight distribution with the placement of the engine. But the weight distribution of FX45 is 54/46, which is still a little head heavy. But does that surprise anyone, with FX45's long hood?
You seem to think that RWD or FWD is a characteristic of a platform. It is not. The G35 is RWD, the FX45 is AWD, they share the same platform.
The Altima is FWD and the Murano is AWD, they too share the same platform. So you see, FWD or AWD is not the characteristic of a platform. It is the characteristic of a model. The Murano can both be 2 wheel drive and AWD, they definitely share the same platform.
The other person seemed to think that because there is a 9 inch difference in height (which there is not), the platforms are different. That is also incorrect, as I pointed out the CRV (a SUV) and the Civic (a compact) both share the same platforms. You could build a double decker on the Altima platform if you wanted to, if you did, they would share the same platforms.
As I pointed out in my first post, the G35 and FX45 share the same platform, the Altima and Murano share the same platform. Because the dimensions were so similar, I was wondering if in fact the Altima and G35 the share same platform. And it doesn't matter if one is FWD and the other RWD, because it has already been proven that you could make it AWD if you wanted to - Nissan just did that, by putting the Murano on the Altima and the FX45 on the G35.
After reading the 2 articles in C&D what I really wanted to know is if the Murano and the FX45 are the same cars underneath, as were the Pathfinder and QX4. Because the Murano is a much better deal, if you don't care about the name. And the FX45 offers a V8 which the Murano doesn't. The con side is that it has a much harsher ride.
FX can send 100% of the torque to the rear wheels and but can have up to a 50/50 split. The Murano I believe is the opposite in this regard.
So you see, the FX35/45 is the more sporty of the two w/ a more expensive platform, along w/ the addtional luxury touches that the Infiniti label requires.