Infiniti held a different kind of premiere at Pebble Beach on Thursday, August 18th, 2012. The Infiniti JX Concept is a 3-row SUV with styling that distinguishes itself from the perceived box on wheels. Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore and Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura both spoke about the market segment and the impact the JX is expected to make.Interestingly the 3-row luxury crossover (SUV, same thing) is one of the fastest growing segments. The JX is to exceed in interior utilization, safety and driver interaction. It's supposed to offer extremely easy access to the 3rdrow, back-up collision intervention and advanced telematics. The telematics features an automatic sync to the owner’s smartphone with navigation provided. Also personal concierge service with 24-hour access.
One area that I’m surprised to learn is it will be the first Infiniti with a continuously variable transmission. To my knowledge this is the first large vehicle with a decently powered V-6 offered with such a transmission as well. While a “step mode” will provide perceived shifts while in sport mode, how the driving experience is day-to-day will be interesting.
A smaller and more intimate gathering with product specialists on site, the outdoor section has a selection, seemingly their entire model line-up. It’s the equivalent of a complete factory show room that you normally wouldn’t see at the dealership.
Another bonus is one of the actual Red Bull Formula 1 cars on display for up-close viewing. That doesn’t happen at the races (so I’ve heard) and typically seen up close only years after the car is retired. It’s an impressive piece of engineering, full of carbon fiber and aerodynamic management pieces.
What you can expect from Infiniti is a great driving experience, excellent comfort, clever touches and excellent dealer service. Add the clever utility with the styling touches of the JX, and Infiniti has a winner for a crossover (SUV).
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