New Infiniti Crossover

Infiniti had the entire lineup on display at its stand, but the big news was the release of pricing for the all-new EX luxury crossover SUV. Expected to arrive in showrooms on December 21, 2007, the 2008 EX will start at $31,300 for the RWD and $32,700 for the AWD.

Infiniti calls the EX a personal luxury crossover that combines the look and luxury feel of a coupe and the interior flexibility of an SUV. Vice President and General Manager Mark Igo says Infiniti customers "want the style and performance of a coupe, but need more utility, with the luxury of a sports sedan and the versatility of an SUV, all in a size that makes for easy maneuverability."

The EX front end looks similar to the G sedan's, and the crossover's shape resembles the FX SUV with its downward slope in back. Under the hood is a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission with Manual Shift and Drive Sport modes.

The EX comes with a long list of standard equipment and five optional packages, but three innovative features stand out: the Around View Monitor system, Lane Departure Prevention system and "Scratch Shield" clear coat.

An Infiniti first, the Around View Monitor allows the driver to see all four sides of the car with a "top-down view" when parking by utilizing four small cameras. For more safety, the Lane Departure Prevention system actively uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to help assist the driver in maintaining lane position if the vehicle inadvertently starts to drift out of the intended lane.

The paint on the EX is well-protected thanks to the "Scratch Shield" feature, which is a special "self-healing" clear coat designed to maintain its gloss level over time to keep the SUV looking new.

Infiniti hopes the introduction of the EX will continue the success that Nissan's luxury brand has seen with the new G sedan and coupe, QX56 full-size luxury SUV and M35/45 sedans.