2008 Infiniti QX56 Preview
Putting lipstick on the pig © 2009 Autobytel Inc. All rights reserved.
Written By: MyRide.com
Reprinted under license.
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Introduction
Infiniti QX56 Preview - 2007 Detroit Auto Show: Infiniti's giant QX56 is a seven-passenger luxury SUV based on the Nissan Armada, which itself is based on the Nissan Titan full-size pickup truck. Because the QX56 is based on the Nissan Armada and Titan, luxury SUV buyers have easily seen through what has been a rather thin veneer of leather and wood trim concealing a pedestrian foundation. Add the effect of growing pains at the assembly plant in Mississippi and skyrocketing gas prices, and the Infiniti QX56 stumbled right out of the gate. Key updates for the 2008 Infiniti QX56 aim to correct this problem.
Why it Matters
Infiniti needs to get more QX56's into American driveways to improve sales and the company's bottom line. The significant cabin upgrades for 2008 should help improve the QX's appeal when compared to the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon Denali, Lincoln Navigator, and others.
What it Looks Like
It's not easy to distinguish the new 2008 Infiniti QX56 from the old model. Thanks to new front and rear fascias, the look is a little cleaner, and now that it's got standard 20-inch chrome wheels the stance is improved. Also new are the front fog lights, the roof rack, and two new colors: Serengeti Sand and Lakeshore Slate (shown here).
About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. "Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I'll choose the Accord," he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering "car" as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor's degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
