The Infiniti QX80 is a large, beefy-looking SUV, but it has never been as rugged as it looks. That’s expected to change soon, as the automaker reportedly plans to release three limited-edition QX80 models with upgrades that boost its off-road capabilities and on-road performance.
Note: Images are of the standard QX80. Photos of the upcoming models will become available closer to their announcement date.
Infiniti is expected to tease two of the three new models at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California later this month. The Track Spec model receives a significant power boost to 550 or more horsepower, and the Terrain Spec has off-road and cargo-carrying upgrades. The third upcoming variant will be a tuner-friendly model aimed at high-speed on-road performance, and it’s expected to break cover at this year’s SEMA Show in November.
The changes can’t come soon enough for Infiniti’s dealer network, which is struggling with lower sales and traffic. Store owner Ed Lennon said, “We are starved for showroom traffic. If these variants get the brand looked at a little more, that’s a good thing.” Another said, “These variants speak to opposite ends of our client base, allowing Infiniti to explore what resonates most.”
Nissan made similar moves with the related Armada last year, unveiling the rugged Pro-4X and aggressive NISMO variants. The automaker feels that buyers want the capability to go off-road or push the vehicle to its limits, even if they never actually do those things. Nissan Americas product planning lead Ponz Pandikuthira said, “Having that capability on Pro-4X has one wonders for the rest of the Armada lineup.”
[Images: Infiniti]
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