2018 Infiniti QX80 – Powerful Luxury Full-Size SUV. 2018 Infiniti QX80 – Drive, Interior and Exterior. Color: Liquid Platinum.
The four-wheel drive system is backed up by the 2018 QX80’s four-wheel Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS) system, which responds to wheel-spin by automatically applying brakes to each spinning wheel, and redistributing torque to other wheels to maximize traction and control.
Both two- and four-wheel drivetrains are paired with an advanced 5.6-liter DOHC V8 engine, delivering ample on-road performance. Combining the combustion efficiency of Direct Injection Gasoline, and the responsive acceleration of VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology, the V8 engine produces 400 hp (298 kW) and 413 lb ft of torque. The smooth-shifting seven-speed automatic transmission, fitted as standard to every model, allows the driver to access the engine’s power and torque reserves at any time. The automatic transmission features Adaptive Shift Control, and manual shift mode with Downshift Rev Matching.
A flagship model for the brand, the QX80 has established itself as a major contributor to the image of INFINITI in many of its key global markets.
The new model has been created to meet the needs of today’s luxury car buyers, and introduces a more modern interpretation of upscale luxury to the full-size SUV segment. It will appeal to a buyer that wants for nothing: affluent, high-achieving entrepreneurs and business leaders, often with families, who demand space and utility, hand-crafted quality and modern design, and effortless on-road performance. INFINITI customers enjoy using technology and innovations to make their lives more enjoyable and hassle-free.
The new QX80 provides all this for seven or eight passengers, bringing a confident, modern representation of luxury to the market. Combining supreme space and utility with advanced technologies and high sophistication, the changes to the car’s design – inside and out – more closely align the new model with the most recent INFINITI vehicles through the application of signature design cues.
The full-size SUV segment is among the fastest-growing globally, with demand increasing annually. Currently accounting for over 50 percent of all full-size luxury car sales globally, the full-size SUV is expected to take an increasingly large share of the high-end market, and INFINITI’s full-size luxury SUV market share is forecast to rise from 2018 onwards.
The new QX80 therefore arrives at a moment of opportunity for INFINITI, and is designed to further enhance the brand’s profile. The new model will occupy a unique position in its class, boasting a truly modern exterior design, a cabin designed around the concept of inclusivity and engaged relaxation for all occupants, and technologies engineered to maximize safety, comfort and on-board entertainment.
Powerful Elegance design language reinterpreted on a new scale
With its muscular lines and generous proportions, the 2018 QX80 sees INFINITI’s ‘Powerful Elegance’ design language applied on a new scale. With a forward-looking new appearance, the new QX80 is the ultimate expression of modern luxury SUV design.
At 210.2 inches in length, 75.8 inches tall with roof rails, and 79.9 inches wide, the new QX80 has a truly commanding on-road presence. Created by INFINITI’s design studio in Atsugi, Japan, the exterior of the new QX80 incorporates geometric and organic shapes to combine power with elegance. As the largest vehicle INFINITI makes, the new model expresses solidity and power from all angles yet eschews the more aggressive styling espoused by rival SUVs. Despite its scale, the design communicates a clear sense of elegance and human artistry.
The smooth, rounded curves of the outgoing model give way to more modern, angular and sculptural forms along with a more upright, athletic stance. The impression is one of greater height and length, despite the car’s footprint and 121.1 inches wheelbase remaining unchanged from the previous model.
The new QX80 appears longer, with more clearly defined character lines, and the front appears more purposeful, with large, functional fender vents maximizing air delivery to the engine. A thin strip of aluminum beneath the grille emphasizes width, while the grille itself sits more upright. The leading edge of the hood extends 3.5 inches further forward and sits 0.79 inches higher, creating a more squared-off, vertical front section and a visibly longer, flatter hood when viewed in profile. The lower section of the bumper is raised, elevating the 2018 QX80’s visual center of gravity.
The headlamps wrap around the front corners of the hood and into the fenders. As they taper, the lamps lead into a strong, straight shoulder line that runs from the grille all the way to the rear. Paired with upright air vents aft of the front wheel arches, and 0.79-inch wider aluminum sill step running between the axles, these geometric lines convey a muscular, almost architectural statement in profile.
