The History and Evolution of the Infiniti QX70

The Infiniti QX70 was produced by Nissan with assembly at their manufacturing plants in Tochigi, Japan and in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It was produced from 2003 through 2017. Prior to 2013, the QX70 was called the FX. The mid-sized compact luxury crossover SUV was the replacement model or the QX4 in their mid-size SUV lineup. It’s a rear-wheel drive vehicle that didn’t make any pretenses about being able to climb over mountains or rough terrain. What it did have to offer was an aggressive demeanor and handling that was nimble and quick in responsiveness.

The First Generation: 2003-2008

The first generation of the Infiniti QX70 came out with a 3.5-liter V6 24 valve engine that delivered 280 horsepower. It was mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode. It was labeled as the FX35 and was made available in a choice of two drivetrains with rear wheel drive and all-wheel-drive platforms. This vehicle was under development from 1999 and it took until 2002 to perfect the concept model that served as the introductory vehicle at NAIAS in January of 2002.

Enhancements were made to the 2004 model with an eight-way power seat for the front passenger and this was an upgrade over the four-way design found in the previous edition. It also received new chrome plated 20-inch wheels. More changes for the 2005 model included the introduction of lane departure warning technology that helped to prevent lane drifting along with a speed sensor and a small camera sensor along with a warning buzzer to alert drivers when unintentional drift occurred.

There were further upgrades in 2006 which included a facelift for the exterior with a brand new grill, wheel design, bumper and the addition of three exterior color choices not previously available. On the interior, the vehicle received an upgraded console along with a new color screen. Now standard was the previously optional 300 watts Bose audio system, a seven-inch color display, a rearview monitor, leather seating with heated front seats and an advanced airbag system as an enhanced safety feature. The FX-45 was the higher performing over the FX-35 with a top speed of 145 mph. Its zero to 60 acceleration time was 6.3 seconds versus the 7.1 it took for the FX35 to achieve the same speed.

The Second Generation: 2009-2017

The second generation of the FX made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008. There were some significant changes made although the exterior maintained much of its aesthetics from the previous generation. There were a few noticeable changes including headlights that were longer and which bore a resemblance to a shark. The grill now featured horizontal chrome waves that were darkened. The dimensions on the internal and the external were the same but there was a new front suspension design with a new double-wishbone as found in the EX35. The second generation also received clear accents on the taillight and the headlights with a new key fob and the implementation of an Intelligent Key system. They also offered two new colors for the exterior including sheer platinum and sapphire.

In 2013 the FX became known as the QX70 but we’re actually talking about the process in the evolution of the same vehicle when in later versions it’s referred to as the Infiniti QX70. It made a brilliant run that lasted from 2003 through 2017. This was one of those special SUV crossover rigs that really had nothing to prove except that it was a quality vehicle that offered reasonable performance without being over the top in mountain climbing abilities. It wasn’t made to be a vehicle that would conquer harsh environments. it was intended to be a versatile vehicle with excellent handling and performance. The QX70 was a car that you could depend upon to get you from point A to point B safely and in comfort with a generous helping of style. It was an attractive vehicle from the first edition to the last and it served its purpose and lived out its lifespan. The model was retired after the 2017 production year but there are still plenty of models out on the road today.

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