The automaker’s near-term product road map has it pushing into new markets.
Global design boss Albaisa and Infiniti brand design head Taisuke Nakamura showed off a redesigned QX80 SUV, a new two-row gasoline-powered midsize crossover and a pair of battery-powered models.
The third-generation QX80 arrives next summer carrying a $100,000-plus sticker and ambitions of poaching business from Cadillac and Lincoln. Infiniti told dealers it expects about 75 percent of the large SUV’s buyers to be new to the brand.
“They are targeting people who make $250,000-plus a year and have at least $1 million net worth,” said a retailer who asked not to be identified.
But for Infiniti — a premium brand in the loosest sense — chasing Cadillac buyers might be more aspirational than realistic.
“We have a tough road ahead,” the dealer said. “Consumers with this budget have a lot of other options.”
The new QX80 will trade a thirsty eight-cylinder engine for a fuel-efficient twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine that pumps out 450 hp.
The three-row SUV is beefier than its predecessor, with the blocky proportions of a Range Rover. It debuts a prominent grille, recessed door handles and slim “piano-key”-designed headlights and taillights. An air suspension system automatically adjusts height for easy ingress and egress.
Its cabin blends minimalism with luxury — one dealer described the interior as “Mercedes-Maybach GLS-like.”
A sweeping 24-inch display stretches the length of the dashboard, and there are front and rear touchscreens for climate control. Dealers said that second- and third-row passengers will enjoy the same roominess and seat comfort as those in the front.
The QX80 will come loaded with connectivity, safety and driver-assist technology worthy of a flagship. In-cabin sensors can detect occupants’ body temperature and adjust the air conditioning automatically.
In mid-2025, Infiniti will chase a different corner of the luxury market when it debuts a two-row midsize crossover. The QX65 — its first new nameplate since 2021 — has eyes on the Lexus RX, which sold more than 96,000 vehicles last year.
Built on Infiniti’s bestselling QX60 platform, the coupe-like QX65 ditches the boxy styling of its three-row sibling, sporting instead a sharply raked rear window, protruding shark fin-like taillights and the QX80’s large grille.
