QX55

Make
Infiniti
Segment
SUV

Infiniti's new CEO walked into a tough job on day one. The luxury brand has been drastically losing sales and without many all-new incoming products, getting back to profitability is a difficult challenge. Starting with the recently-revealed 2022 Infiniti QX55, Nissan's luxury arm is gearing up for a product revitalization. "I'm really talking about a new era," Infiniti CEO Peyman Kargar told Automotive News. "Because from now, we are coming with a regular refreshment of our lineup."

Unfortunately, Kargar didn't go much deeper into what models Infiniti plans to reveal. While the QX55 is a pretty SUV, it's little more than a sportier-looking QX50. Infiniti also teased a new QX60 in concept form, and a production version in 2021 could significantly boost the brand's sales.

There's also the allure of Infiniti's upcoming electric models, which will likely offer a more powerful version of Nissan's e-Power drivetrain used in the upcoming Ariya. In his interview with Auto News, Kargar briefly mentions Infiniti's upcoming range extender hybrid models, which would pair electric motors with a gas range extender to eliminate the need for a plug. These models will produce anywhere from 200 to 400 horsepower.

Instead, the CEO spoke about how he plans to shake up Infiniti's customer experience. Kargar plans to expand the Infiniti Now program, allowing dealerships to pick up and drop off customer's cars for service at their homes.

"We don't want to replace physical purchasing, but we want to offer customers a very nice experience, a really smooth customer experience," he explained. "These kinds of things we are going to make them happen at a really excellent level, giving flexibility to our dealers and customers."

Turning Infiniti's fortunes around is no easy task, but with a slew of incoming electrified models, it's still possible. Judging by what Nissan has announced recently, Infiniti could reveal some compelling products, but they need to come quickly if the brand wants any chance to stay relevant.