Infiniti has been under the radar for some time, but Nissan’s premium brand is ready to bounce back with the all-new QX80. The premium SUV will be revealed today during a livestreamed event hosted at the Edge outdoor patio at Hudson Yards in New York. The luxobarge is also relevant to global markets as it previews the next-generation Patrol (Armada in the US).
Infiniti had an unusually long teaser campaign before today’s premiere. We’re not just talking about design details, but also technical specifications. For example, the new QX80 has already been confirmed with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 450 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. This will give it a nice increase of 50 horsepower and 103 lb-ft over the outgoing model equipped with the naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8.
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The V6 engine will send power to the wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission designed with a 40 percent wider gear ratio range. By downsizing and adopting forced induction, fuel economy is bound to increase. That’s great to hear since the aging all-wheel-drive QX80 on sale today returns 15 miles on the combined cycle. Infiniti says the next large SUV will also offer better performance despite losing two cylinders.
Elsewhere, the revamped three-row SUV promises to offer greater torsional rigidity and a smoother ride thanks to a new adaptive air suspension. The 2025 QX80 also benefits from active grille shutters that close at higher speeds to reduce drag and improve efficiency. Infiniti equips its Mercedes GLS competitor with a 24-speaker, 1,200-watt Klipsch audio system
The QX80 will be the brand’s first model to benefit from massaging seats in the second row. The first and second rows will be heated and cooled while the rearmost seats can also be heated. Interestingly, there is also biometric cooling for the second row occupants by installing an infrared sensor in the headliner. It detects when the passenger is hot and automatically sends cool air.
After its debut today, the 2025 Infiniti QX80 will head to the New York Auto Show next week before going on sale later this year.
The live stream begins at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
