Time to expand the crossover lineup even more?
Mainstream and luxury automakers are all in a hurry these days. It's not just the drive towards electrification that's pushing them. No, there's a far more immediate need that must be fulfilled: more crossovers. As traditional sedan sales continue to fall because of crossover popularity, automakers are keen to catch this crossover wave as far as it'll take them. Business is business, after all. Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, has certainly had its share of ups and downs lately, but it has typically always been fairly solid in the crossover realm. Why not bank on that even further?
AutoGuide has learned that Nissan has filed trademarks for the QX55 nameplate in both the US and Canada with the US Patent and Trademark Office and Canadian Trademark Database, respectively.
Don't be confused by the name because it's awfully similar to an existing Infiniti crossover, the QX50. This BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC fighter, currently in its second generation, has a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. It's adequate power, but there's always more to be had. And that's where a possible QX55 could be helpful.
Given the numerical similarities, our best guess is that the QX55, assuming it becomes a production reality, will be a coupe body style QX50 variant, just as the BMW X4 is to the X3. And with that sexier design, a more powerful engine may be in order.
Fortunately, Infiniti happens to have one in the shape of the 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, which is capable of producing upwards of 400 hp. Could this even become a potential BMW X4 M fighter? Perhaps, but this is purely speculation for now. The point being is that Infiniti has all of the right components ready to go, as well as a newly bought nameplate. A 300 to 400 hp Infiniti QX55 featuring even sleeker styling than the QX50? Sounds like a winner to us.
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