JX is this premium Japanese brand’s first 7-passenger crossover SUV. It fills the gap in Infiniti’s product line between the midsize 5-seat FX crossover and 7-seat premium-large QX56. The latter uses body-on-frame truck-type construction while the JX employs a car-type unibody design. JX borrows some elements of its basic design from the Nissan Altima, which is produced by Infiniti’s corporate parent.
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Like the Altima, the JX is built in the United States. It will compete against similar 7-8-passenger premium-midsize crossovers such as the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, and Volvo XC90. Like the FX crossover, Infiniti offers the JX with optional all-wheel drive. Unlike the sporty rear-drive 5-passenger SUV, the JX comes standard with front-wheel drive.
Nissan/Infiniti is no stranger to 7-passenger SUVs, but this is its first effort at a crossover with such capacity. JX will pave the way for the next-generation Nissan Pathfinder, which is scheduled to debut in calendar 2012 as a 2013 model.
The first JX model will be known as the JX35, this nomenclature reflects the crossover’s standard 3.5-liter V6 engine. No word on the availability of other engines.
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