The next-generation Infiniti QX50 has been spotted
in Arizona, United States, as the crossover undergoes testing while wearing
black camouflage. The test mule seen here appears to retain some of the styling cues of the
show car, with a few tweaks to be production ready.
The Infiniti grille is retained,
flanked by a pair of headlights that are reminiscent of those found on the Q60
coupe. The corner intakes on the front bumper are also reshaped here, each with
a fog lamp beneath them. Other changes from the concept include a more
prominent lower intake, previously a large skid plate.
The QX50’s profile also appears to be carried over,
with Infiniti masking off the C-pillar in an attempt to hide what should the
kink beneath it, as seen on the concept. The character line that originates
from the front bonnet, proceeding through the door handles beneath the
beltline, is also seen here. Even the wheels look like
the fan blade units from the Detroit debutant.
A view of the rear shows us a set of stylish
taillights, which are two-piece units with part of them being found on the
tailgate, just like on the concept. The exhaust outlets aren’t as pleasing to
look at but as this is merely a prototype, they should be changed to closer
mimic those on the concept.
Infiniti has hinted that its new variable
compression ratio 2.0L VC-Turbo engine may make its way into the QX50 when it
goes on sale sometime in 2018, although we’ll have to wait for the carmaker to
reveal the car in full for more details. Other technologies that are said to
feature include autonomous driving systems, likely adopted from Nissan’s
ProPilot.