Infiniti pushes self-driving tech forward in QX50 SUV
Latest system boasts a ‘co-pilot’ with navigational aids
Infiniti plans to unveil a sleek new SUV concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month that will show off both its design and technology prowess.
The midsize QX50 is one of the brand’s most important vehicles since demand for crossovers and SUVs isn’t just limited to the U.S. anymore. Amid relatively low gas prices, motorists around the world are craving more space and prefer the higher seating position. The new design “shows how Infiniti could develop its future presence in the fastest-growing vehicle segment globally,” says the brand’s president, Roland Krueger, in a statement.
The design builds off the styling of Infiniti’s recently introduced Q60 sports coupe. The technology inches Infiniti closer to a self-driving car, which parent Nissan hopes to market by 2020.
But Infiniti is being careful not to imply that it is self-driving — yet. Rather it describes its ProPilot system as acting as a “co-pilot” for the driver by helping with navigating the car through slow stop-and-go traffic or watching out for other cars on the highway. Infiniti, with vehicles that have digital drive-by-wire systems, has been a leader when it comes to lane-keeping technology on highways, one of the precursors to self-driving cars.
The concept will also use Infiniti’s potentially revolutionary turbocharged engine with a variable compression ratio. Infiniti claims the 2-liter, four-cylinder engine is production ready and combines the horsepower of a high-output gasoline engine with a diesel’s fuel efficiency and torque.
The variable compression system can shorten or lengthen the pistons’ stroke to change compression ratios depending on whether the car needs maximum performance or efficiency. Infiniti hopes to generate 268 horsepower from the engine and a 27% increase in fuel economy vs. a similarly powerful V-6.
The concept’s styling features smooth sides that appear to be devoid of door handles, a large grille and unusual wheels that contain some spokes that are straight and others that curve and almost appear bent. A long roofline creates the impression of a roomy passenger compartment.
The concept draws inspiration from the Q60, the sports coupe introduced last year that drew attention for its bold styling.