Would you not make way if the above image appeared in your mirrors? Even if you discount the unconventional styling, the sheer size of the Infiniti QX80 (and its shiny grille) demands attention.
This hulk of an SUV is over two metres wide and towers over everything but the lorries at 1,940 mm. The near 2.8-tonne beast has a wheelbase that’s longer than a SWB W222 S-Class’ and makes an Audi Q7, as well as rivals Lexus LX, Range Rover and Mercedes-Benz GL look small.
We’re surprised that the QX80, designed for America and the Middle East, is now available in right-hand drive. Not only that, the beast is currently in Malaysia and will go on sale here early next year – this unit is a prototype of the RHD version, which will also go to Australia and Indonesia.
We were tipped off by reader William who works in the buliding that houses Infiniti Center KL – the good man told us that “a very big SUV” is in the showroom, and we popped by for a jaw dropping photo session.
Everything screams big. The QX80 is powered by a 5.6 litre V8 engine (‘5.6′ badge on the side) with 405 hp and 560 Nm. The direct-injection VK56VD is paired to a seven-speed automatic gearbox and power is laid down via the All-Mode 4WD system with computer controlled transfer case (Auto, 4H and 4L modes). The big dial behind the gear lever also has Snow, Sand and Rocky terrain modes.
Those large wheels are 22-inch forged aluminum alloys wrapped with 275/50 Bridgestone Dueler H/T (road) rubber, by the way. How much per piece, we wonder…
Climb onboard the eight-seater (thank you, side steps and pillar grab handles) and you’ll find lots of leather and wood, plus triple-zone Plasmacluster climate control, a 13-speaker Bose sound system, two seven-inch screens for the rear passengers (with wireless headphones, we were told), and the brand’s “Safety Shield” suite of driver assistance systems.
The latter, also available in the Q50, includes Distance Control Assist, Forward Emergency Braking, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Blind Spot Intervention and Backup Collision Intervention.
How much do you think the Infiniti QX80 will sell for? The Mercedes-Benz GL 500 (4.6 V8) goes for RM913k while the Range Rover 5.0 V8 Supercharged breaks the million dollar mark at RM1,089,888. Not very pretty, but surely there aren’t many better ways to stand out than in this beast.
- Source: paultan.org
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