It’s more of the same with the latest news - increased road tax levels and higher petrol prices are not stopping car makers from sending along bigger, faster, new vehicles.
Luxury brand Infiniti Europe now says its V8-powered Infiniti FX50 off-roader, revealed at the recent Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland, will be joined at the October UK launch by a V6 version, the FX37.
The FX37 has sports car performance, with 4×4 practicality, and will complete Infiniti’s range of luxury saloon, coupe and crossover models due out this autumn.
It can hit 62mph from standing in under six seconds, according to reports.
But that 3.7-litre, V6 petrol engine, delivering 317bhp, might be fully Euro 5 compliant in so far as carbon dioxide emissions are concerned, and even fuel-efficient for its size - but it will still cost a pretty penny to run.
Infiniti’s FX37 is a new seven-speed automatic, too, which does make for improved fuel consumption and driveability, says the firm, without actually giving away any figures at the moment.
That said, the FX37 will still be highly sought-after, and it will be one of the best-equipped cars in the premium sports utility vehicle class.
Standard equipment includes keyless operation, adaptive front headlights, and intelligent cruise control that maintains a set distance between the FX37 and the vehicle in front at both city and motorway speeds.
There’s also an electric sunroof, rear privacy glass, front fog lamps, light and rain sensors, and a rear view parking camera and display, full telephone communication, plus an in-dash six-disc CD changer with mp3 socket.
Available as an option is Infiniti’s around-view, which uses small cameras mounted at the front, rear and on the sides of the vehicle to project an all-round view of potential obstacles.
It’s an extension of the Infiniti’s rear-view parking camera, but the additional facility uses the SUV’s colour monitor to display a bird’s-eye view of the car as it parks.
As for a pointer to its success, V6 engine and all, Jim Wright, vice president of Infiniti Europe, said: “The FX37 is a significant model, and we expect it to account for as much as 80 per cent of FX sales.”
The new rear-drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe, meanwhile, is another big-engined debutant.
This petrol-burner might have the choice of a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine, but the range-topping all-aluminium 3.8-litre V6 takes the Korean firm closer to supercar territory for the first time.
This rear-wheel drive sports coupe was revealed at the New York International Auto Show, and it’s a stunning two-door coupe that Hyundai lines up in South Korea and North America early in 2009, and may come to Britain in limited numbers later the same year.
Both engines are mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission, with an automatic option, and have big 18-inch alloys, with the option of even meatier 19-inch wheels.
John Krafcik, of Hyundai Motor America, said: “The 3.8-litre takes things to an even higher level, rivalling the capability of premium coupe’s.”
As for that limited assault on the British market, Tony Whitehorn, managing director of Hyundai UK, has this to say: “Hyundai’s engineers are capable of producing cars which can match or better anything produced in Japan, Europe or America.
“We would love to be able to bring this amazing car to the UK, and are keeping a close eye on public reaction to see if there is demand.”
By Sharon Walters
One Comment
Can car manufacturers please, please just stop all this facination with SUV / 4×4 niche models. We don’t need any more of these “ego massaging” trucks with tinsel.
What drivers want (although they may not yet realise it) is a car with a 1.6 turbo engine producing 200bhp, weighs no more than 1100kg, seats four, does 40+ mpg combined, and has a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.