Infiniti dealers will get a new entry-level sport wagon.

Sources inside and outside the company say the vehicle will arrive in 2007 as a 2008 model. It will come in two versions, the CX25 and CX35.

Guido Vildozo, market analyst for Global Insight in Lexington, Mass., says the five-seat vehicle will be smaller than the Infiniti FX35 and FX45. It will come with a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine or a 3.5-liter V-6 and be built on Nissan's FM platform.

He says the four-cylinder engine may get a supercharged performance version similar to the supercharged engine on the Nissan Sentra SE-R.

"It's an X3-type vehicle," he says, referring to BMW. "The FX may eventually grow in size."

The 2005 FX35 starts at $35,710 including shipping.

Another source says the company is considering a hybrid version of the new vehicle. Hybrids use gasoline engines and one or more electric motors to power the wheels.

Nissan North America Inc. will introduce its first hybrid, an Altima, next year as a 2007 model. Infiniti spokesman Bill Garlin would only say that the company is "always looking at new stuff and new possibilities."

But Infiniti dealers are expecting the new vehicle.

"I can't confirm that it is coming, but they told us that was something they would prioritize," said John Capps, former chairman of Infiniti's dealer council. "As much as a year ago they pretty much did everything but outright tell us we would get it."

The new Infiniti wagon will have more than BMW to contend with when it hits the market.

The new Acura RDX sport wagon is scheduled to arrive next year as a 2007 model.

Cadillac also expects to have a similar vehicle in 2008 as a 2009 model named the BRX.

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=102712

 

Infiniti is doing a great job. I almost bought 2005 g35, but then opted for an used gs430.

Infiniti should also make a TSX competitor once they are at it.

 

Autoweek need to proof read before they publish. There's no such SE-R with a supercharged 2.5L I-4. I sincerely hope it'll be the 2.5L V6 (VQ25DD, DD for direct injection) they have in Japan making around 210HP than the QR25DE they have here. Considering Lexus, BMW, and other's 2.5L V6 make over 200HP, I seriously doubt it'll be a 2.5L I-4 (QR25DE). Those engine can bare hit 180HP much less over 200HP. Since it'll be released in 2007, it'll probably be on the next G platform since the next G should be out around that time too. I assume the VQ will be revised as well since it'll be a new G.

 

my experience with the G35 has changed my opinion of infiniti. they make "good" cars that fall short of "great." G35 and FX models are plagued with nagging assembly problems and quality isn't on par with lexus or acura.

 

What nagging problems are you talking about? I have my G35c for 8 months and 14k miles now and I don't see any nagging assembly problem @ all. The only $ I need to put in this car is oil changes. What other cars can you get for low 30k that has 280HP/270ft-lb of TQ and RWD? You always have to make sacrifices when you're not paying top $$. I would much rather sacrifice bluetooth and good stereo for power, tq, RWD, and a supportive seat. Everything you touch everyday in the G35 is soft leather. If you're talking about soft plastic, then the Mercedes still have Lexus and Acura beat.

 

i had my coupe for 2 years, 28k miles. im quite aware of the value it offers, no need to preach.

you dont call constant rattling/creaks/groans from your interior nagging assembly problems? sure they didnt cost me $ to get fixed, but it cost me time. i brought it back to the dealer six times to get the following probs fixed: headliner rattle, rearview mirror rattle, ticking from the dashboard and gauge cluster, creaking from the roof and c-pillar, rear parcel shelf rattle, grease streaks on the windows, squeaky clutch, and passenger side window regulator failure (twice). the sad part is that most of the problems came back. the number of topics on freshalloy and g35driver say i'm not the only one who has had these problems. in fact, i bet there's a current thread on rattles on the very first page.

add these annoyances to a clunky shifter, transmission that sounds like it has marbles in it at idle, cement mixer gear whine, cheap interior materials, and tire cupping even after an alignment, and i was one frustrated owner. not what i expected for $35k. im not an anal car owner, and understand by nature nothing is perfect. but compound all the issues i had with the G, and i reached the point where i didn't want to make payments on something i didnt love.

i'm happy your G35 has been trouble free, but there's a lot of owners who aren't so lucky.


btw the words "bose system" and "good stereo" should never be used in the same sentence.

 

Sorry, I don't have any of the rattling/creaks/groans you have, so I'll just say we'll agree to disagree here. No need to argue on these points. Sure the shifting could be smoother and the clutch could be better, but that's about all that I can see wrong about the car. I agree the interior is nothing to write home about. I would love to have Mercedes interior quality in my G, but hey, for the same price as my fiance's C240, I have 120HP more. I'm sorry you have such a troublesome experience. Definitely the G35c would be perfect if it has Lexus/Mercedes interior, BMW weight/handling and tranny, its' own HP and TQ. But to me, this best fit the bill for me.

Oh, and I agree, "Bose system" and "good stereo" should never be used in the same sentense. But "Boston Pros" and "Memphis/RF amps" and "great stereo" should. My stereo will surpass anything from factory for a little less than $2k more. If I go w/ the Acura, Lexus, Benz, I would have to deal w/ their crappy stereo for the life of the car.

 

yeah, i was really let down by the ownership experience. it started out as the perfect car for me but the problems wore me down. if the car was less troublesome and i loved it, i would have definitely kept it and endured the high payments i was making. i too looked at the competition (with their nicer interiors and all) but decided the extra power and value were worth it

 

Well, since you had the 03, maybe it was first model year bugs. But since Lexus is now stepping up to the plate w/ the next IS350 in term of HP/TQ, I hope Nissan don't slack off and answer back w/ more power, and much better interior. I wasn't even 100% impress w/ the M45 much less the current G in term of interior material. So, we'll see how it goes.

Now back to topic, I sincerely hope it'll be the 2.5L V6 like all of its competitors instead of a 2.5L I-4. This same 2.5L can also go into the next G as well and make it alot more affordable.

 

i hope it's a V6 also. i dont think an I4 would help infiniti's image. it might even remind people of the G20