Dubai show: Infiniti uncovers refreshed QX80 SUV

INFINITI has ripped the covers off the updated version of its hulking Nissan Patrol-based QX80 upper-large SUV at the Dubai motor show this week ahead of its arrival in Australian showrooms in the first half of 2018.

A number of new driver-assist safety technologies have been added, including lane-departure warning and prevention, intelligent cruise control, distance control assist, predictive forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot warning and intervention and backup collision intervention.

Most technologies operate between 32km/h and 145km/h, while the intelligent cruise control can operate from just 2km/h.

The hydraulic body motion control suspension helps minimise bodyroll through corners, while the suspension’s damping force has been reduced by 30 per cent.

Extra soundproofing has also been introduced for a five per cent reduction in cabin noise.

The Japanese luxury manufacturer has taken the knife to the new QX80, revising the look of the divisively-styled original model.

Infiniti has drawn on the design of the QX80 Monograph concept revealed at the New York motor show in April, ensuring a sleeker SUV than the bulbous model it replaces.

The most notable change is the design of the headlights, which have been altered to better match the look of its Q50 and Q60 passenger car siblings.

The headlights have also been set higher up on the vehicle’s front fascia, and brought forward, eschewing the low-set, sunken design of the model that first landed in Australia in mid-2015 after going on sale in other markets with the QX56 moniker in 2010.

Its lower grille design has been mildly tweaked, while the hulking mesh front grille has carried over.

Changes at the rear are minimal and include a chrome strip across the top of the numberplate that now reaches into the tail-lights, which have also been revised.

Wheel choices remain either 20- or 22-inch alloy hoops.

Interior changes are minor, with the new model retaining a similar centre console layout with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, quilted leather upholstery and choice of wood veneers.

New features include an upgraded rear entertainment system with full smartphone capability, while rear screens have increased by 1.0 inch to 8.0 inches with picture resolution also improved.

It also now features both HDMI and USB ports, meaning a range of devices including laptops, gaming consoles, smartphones and DVD players can be connected.

Front-row passengers can also disable the rear-seat system, as well as muting or turning off the rear screens.

No changes have been made to the QX80’s 5.6-litre aspirated V8 powerplant, which continues to pump out 298kW/560Nm, sending power to all four wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission.

Combined fuel economy for the big V8 is rated at approximately 15.6 litres per 100km for all-wheel-drive variants.

All-paw examples also come with high- and low-range gearing, as well as an active brake limited slip system that brakes freely spinning wheels and redistributes torque to the others.

Infiniti Australia has sold 64 examples of the QX80 to the end of October this year, representing a 42.2 per cent increase over the same period last year.

It is still off the pace of its main rival, the Lexus LX570 (281 sales), as well as other segment leaders such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS (830), Range Rover (354) and Mercedes G-Class (119).

Exact local timing, pricing and specification will be revealed closer to the model’s release date.