Author: Robin Roberts
After four successful years as Infiniti’s icon and top-selling model in Europe, the Infiniti FX for 2012 is bolder and more distinctive than ever.
The 2012 range comes at unchanged 2011 prices, starting from £46,750 for the luxury FX37 GT model, and just £90 more for the V6 diesel equivalent.
Also unchanged: the stirring performance, rewarding handling, award-winning technology and five-star safety and standard equipment at the heart of every FX.
More akin in appearance to a sports car than boxy crossover, the FX for 2012 boasts even more street presence than the outgoing version thanks to changes to the front-end design, along with bold new colours and an exclusive new design of alloy wheel.
The expressive new look has been achieved by reprofiling the bumper section and subtly changing the grille, based on a design explored by the influential 2009 Infiniti concept car, Essence.
Sporting appeal is reinforced on GT and GT Premium derivatives with a new five double-spoke design of 20-inch wheel.
The S versions, with the availability of Rear Active Steering among a long list of handling-oriented features, stay with their distinctive 21-inch wheels.
More choice for FX owners is offered with the latest exterior paint colour, Iridium Blue. It is Infiniti’s newest Scratch Shield finish and available exclusively on the FX. Graphite Shadow is also additionally available on all FX models.
The FX range for 2012 is made up of four grades. The £46,750 FX37 GT is the complete luxury package powered by Infiniti’s charismatic 3.7-litre petrol V6 offering 316bhp. The entry FX30d gets all the same luxury features but with a lower CO2 of 238g/km 3.0-litre V6 diesel of 235bhp and impressive 550Nm of torque. Despite its high performance, the FX30d GT at £46,840 is credited with 31.4mpg on the combined cycle.
The S versions are more overtly sporting and come with Rear Active Steering, except FX37, and Continuous Damping Control, among other changes. They are set apart by their 21-inch alloy wheels, smoked headlights, red S badging and dark chrome exterior air vent and sill strip. The FX37 S is £48,850 and the FX30d S diesel £48,940.
The comparative rarity of the Infiniti models has made them highly desirable either among private buyers who know the strong residual value will help keep down pence per mile running costs or fortunate company car users who can benefit from business car finance packages.
