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| Cato on
canadacar
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| 22 September 2000
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INFINITI QX4 GETS MAJOR POWER BOOST
Power. Now it's got power, lots of it and it's about time.
Because while for years the Infiniti QX4 has had the best all-wheel-drive system in the luxury
sport-ute class (not to mention excellent ride dynamics and outstanding quality) at just 170 horsepower it was left in the dust of rivals such as the Lexus RX300 (220 hp.) and Mercedes-Benz ML320 (215 hp.) and
ML430. Can you say anemic? In 1999 it was spelled QX4.
Now along comes an engine upgrade that puts the QX4 at the head of its class. What was 170 hp. is now 240 hp. What was a heavy, cast-iron block engine is now a lightweight aluminum block. What was two valves per cylinder operated by a single overhead camshaft is now four valves per cylinder operated by dual overhead camshafts. What was the award-winning Nissan
Maxima/Infiniti I30 engine is now the QX4 engine - with a few special tweaks.
Can you say brawny? Spell it QX4.
Just so you know, the QX4 for 2001 has also been massaged in other ways, with a price increase to $48,000 from $45,500. Aside from the new engine, the interior has been given a luxurious revamp, and the body outside has been given a brawnier look. Notice the new rear fascia, heavy body cladding, flared wheel arches over 17-inch alloy wheels and Xenon headlights and integrated foglights that wonderfully light up the nighttime highway.
Particularly noteworthy inside are the near-3D electro-luminescent instruments, heated seats front and rear, a dressy analog clock in the centre of the dashboard and a cabin awash in chrome accents and bird's eye maple. The
leather/woodtone steering wheel is a stand-out and for safety there are whiplash-preventing active head restraints, not to mention front and side airbags for the front seats. Why re-work the QX4 now, less than two years before the vehicle gets completely reinvented stem-to-stern?
"We needed to react to people in this class of vehicle who want special things," says Nissan Canada marketing boss Ian Forsyth.
What people in this and any other class don't want is a thirstier engine, not with fuel prices on the upswing. On that point Forsyth insists that real-world fuel economy in the 2001 model will be more than competitive.
"It's a very efficient engine, given the power it generates," says Forsyth. "Fuel economy might be down ever so slightly, but with such a huge increase in power... In terms of real-world driving, we expect an improvement in fuel economy."
The technical details of this engine are too numerous to get into (check out the sidebar if you want more), but suffice to say this upgraded QX4 moves. Really moves. Yet there's no harshness. Look for 0-100 km. times of about nine seconds (compared with better than 11 sec. in the old model). Shifting of the improved five-speed automatic transmission is smooth as Bill Clinton before a Grand Jury.
And did I mention this truck is loaded. In fact, there are no options. Standard gear runs from leather seating to power front seats to a HomeLink Universal Transeiver for remote activation of garage doors, gates, lights and security system. Of course the impressive all-wheel-drive system instantly moves torque to the wheel or wheels with the best grip.
In highway driving, the improved QX4 is quiet for a somewhat boxy truck and the seats are very comfy. The slightly elevated rear bench makes for better visibility of those riding in back and the rear 60-40 split seat is useful for handling a variety of cargo. The cabin itself looks as up-town as the $48,000 price tag would suggest. And the step-in height is suitably low for shorter folk or those wearing tight skirts. That said, the ride height is adequate for scurrying down gravel roads to your cottage or cabin.
Still, while there is anti-lock braking the brakes themselves remain a front disc/rear drum combination, not four-wheel discs commonplace with rival trucks. And it should be noted that the QX4 does share this engine with the less expensive Nissan Pathfinder - which boasts 10 more horsepower.
The QX4 is, in short, a completely user-friendly luxury sport-ute. The quality numbers say it's also as good as it gets in this type of vehicle. Now, with the better engine's added oomph, I'd recommend the QX4 to anyone.
THE NEW ENGINE
"It was a re-thinking of the powerplant to make it better in every way," says Nissan/Infiniti marketing director Ian Forsyth.
Infiniti borrowed and then gave a second-generation refinement to the (code-named) VQ engine doing service in the Nissan
Maxima/Infiniti I30. This is the engine that has been rated one of Ward's Automotive World's 10 best engines in the world for six years - all six years Ward's has done comparison engine testing.
Thus the QX4's new engine (code-named VQ35 is all-aluminum (head and block), with all the high-tech bells and whistles - continuously variable valve timing control system
(CVCS), a variable intake system (VIS), direction ignition and high compression (which means you need premium gas).
As techno-wizards will know, CVCS uses computer controls to adjust hydraulically the lift and duration of the intake valves, optimizing the timing for engine output at the appropriate engine speed and performance demand. Meanwhile, the variable intake system controls airflow, again based on performance demands. Better breathing equals better performance.
"The idea was to raise power and torque at low speeds without compromising high-speed power," says Forsyth.
Mission accomplished.
 MARKETING
The QX4 is the most successful product Infiniti has ever offered. It accounts for 60 per cent of all Infiniti sales in Canada. In all, Infiniti has sold more than 5,500 QX4s.
But this is a growing segment with plenty of competitors - good news for buyers. Sales last year were up 27.6 per cent to 13,000 vehicles.
Now vying in this segment are not only the QX4, but also the Lexus RX300, Mercedes-Benz ML320/430, BMW X5, and other models from Range Rover, Ford, Lincoln, Cadillac, Jeep and others. All offer a little something different, at different pricing.
In terms of head-to-head rivals, here are the vehicles that stack up best against the QX4 (the ones you might consider also testing) in terms of price, size and features: Land Rover Discovery II, RX300, Mercedes ML320 and a loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee. You might also consider a Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer edition and a GMC Envoy.
2001 BMW Z8
Engine: (front-engine/all-wheel drive) 3.5.0-litre V6, DOHC with electronic engine management; 240 hp at 6,000 rpm; torque rated at 265
lbs-ft at 3,200.
Transmission: five-speed automatic.
Steering: power-assist rack and pinion.
Brakes: power-assisted front disc/rear drum w/anti-lock.
Tires: 245/65R17.
Wheelbase: 2,700 mm. (106.3 in.).
Max. towing: 2,268 kg. or 5,000 lbs.
Price (MSRP base): $190,000; Freight: $150.
Key standard features: Xenon headlights, Bose CD6 audio system, Fine-vision instruments, analog clock, power front seats w/driver memory, steering wheel mounted controls for cruise and audio, heated seat cushions front/rear, leather seating, bird's eye maple
woodtone/chrome accents, leather/wood steering wheel, automatic climate control,
Homelink, cargo cover and net, power windows/door locks/mirrors, remote keyless entry.
Key Options: none.
J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study (number of owner-reported problems in first 90 days; lower number is
better):
BMW vehicle line: 118 (industry average 167)
Performance in 0-100 km/h: 9.0 seconds
Consumer Reports Predicted Reliability: Excellent (recommended).
Safety/security: dual airbags; side airbags; all-wheel drive;
anti-lock braking; no rating for headrest effectiveness (new); no rating for driver/passenger front crash protection (new); no rating for front/rear side crash protection (new); no rating for insurance claims;
anti-theft device.
Warranty:
Basic: 4 years or 100,000 km.
Major components: 6 years/100,000 km.
Rust perforation: up to seven years/unl km.
Roadside assistance: 4 yrs./60,000 km.
Pros
* Loads of power
* Luxury features right for this class
* Above average road manners
* Excellent quality history
Cons
* Disc/drum brakes
* Shares engine with more powerful Nissan Pathfinder
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