TEST DRIVE ~ 2011 INFINITI QX56

Travelling east from Louisville, home to the Kentucky Derby, birthplace of Muhammad Ali and former home to such notables as Colonel Sanders and Diane Sawyer, there's no better way to enjoy the verdant, rolling terrain than from within the executive-jet-like confines of the 2011 Infiniti QX56.
All new for 2011, this full-size luxury SUV is right at home among the sprawling estates and picturesque horse farms that span the surrounding countryside.
It is available in two models: the QX56 4WD seven-passenger and the QX56 4WD eight-passenger. The former gets captain's chairs in the second row; the latter gets a 60/40-split folding bench seat. The MSRP for both well-equipped versions is $73,000, with an optional technology package for another $8,000.
Vehicles like these - no matter how much bling they carry - are typically big and trucky both in appearance and in how they perform.
Not so, with the new QX, which although slightly longer and wider than the previous model, is also substantially lower - which is good for handling. It has even shed a few pounds.
Front underbody and rear spoilers improve aerodynamics, and its contours are smoother and more pleasing than its boxy Nissan Armada-based predecessor.
The vehicle's standard 20-inch and optional 22-inch alloys nicely fill the pronounced wheel arches that include integrated body-colour front and rear splashguards. Between these, and helping you climb in and out of the QX, are body-colour running boards.
From the front, wraparound, projector-style bi-xenon headlights sit relatively low astride the large, double-arched chrome grille, but the look works. And I like how the lights follow the contour of the front wheel openings.
These lights also feature pop-up washers, with an optional auto-leveling, adaptive front lighting system. Heated, power-folding sideview mirrors help cut wind resistance, and include integrated turn signals, courtesy lights and reverse tilt-down feature.
Other exterior niceties include a standard power moonroof, power rear liftgate and concealed tow hitch. I like the side port holes, which seem more of a retro touch than a nod to Buick. They are functional on the driver's side, acting as a cold air intake for the all-new 5.6-litre DOHC V8.
This is the same engine used in the new M, but specifically tuned for the QX, giving it a broader torque curve to push this heavier vehicle. It has the same displacement as last year's powerplant, but delivers 400 hp (80 more horses) and 413 lb/ft of torque (up 20 lb/ft). All this comes with 12 per cent better fuel economy.
Power is routed through a new seven-speed automatic with adaptive shift control, manual shift mode and downshift rev match. Compared with last year's five-speed gearbox, the new one provides a wider range of gear ratios, a variable lockup torque converter and improved shift schedule.
Unable to drive both back-to-back, my only comment here is that the new transmission shifts readily when pushed, yet is nearly imperceptible in regular driving.
I tried the paddle shifters, and while you wouldn't expect to use them on this type of vehicle, found them remarkably effective on the twisty-turny backroads.
More on that later.
Kentucky's late spring weather provided no opportunity to put Infiniti's All-Mode 4WD to the test. This system offers three modes. Auto is rear-drive biased and ideal for most conditions, continually adjusting power front to rear. Depending on demand, 100 per cent can be directed to the rear or up to 50 per cent in front.
4 High functions up to 100 km/h and locks the centre differential; 4 Low locks it in low range for when you're really bogged down.
Hill Start Assist is appearing more and more on trucks and SUVs, and is standard on the QX. It prevents rollback when starting on an incline, making it easier to switch from brake to accelerator.
Snow Mode adjusts the throttle for smoother starts on slippery surfaces and Tow Mode changes the transmission's shift patterns to hold each gear longer when pulling a heavy load.
The QX has a maximum towing capacity of 3,856 kg (8,500 lbs) and I had the opportunity to test some of this capability at the very scenic Ardmore horse farm near Versailles, about an hour east of Louisville.
Hitched to a 6000-lb horse trailer, I barely felt a tug as the QX moved easily from rest, even on an incline. And when faced with a tight turn on one of the farm's driveways (they don't like you driving on the grass) the standard-equipped Around View Monitor, with eight-inch colour display, kept me on the asphalt and out of trouble.
Another cool feature is the standard tire pressure monitoring system that eliminates the need for a tire gauge. If your tire is down a few psi, just start inflating and the horn will honk (and hazards flash) when the correct pressure is reached. It will also let you know when you've overinflated.
Part of the Technology Package, which includes loads of leading-edge safety and handling tech, is the Hydraulic Body Motion Control System.
It uses hydraulic cylinders at each shock absorber, cross-connected to allow the fluid to move from side to side. In a nutshell, it adapts to increased pressures on either side of the vehicle - for example during cornering - and reduces body lean, not to mention bounce on rough roads.
I will attest to its effectiveness on twisty roads, as it noticeably flattened the ride during hard cornering. This was more of what I'd expect from a sports sedan, rather than a full-sized SUV.
Inside, the smooth-riding QX has one of the quietest cabins I've experienced - thanks in part to the all-new body and frame, designed for increased stiffness and reduced vibration. Insulated noise reducing glass also plays a role.
All three rows of seating are appointed in semi-aniline leather. The driver's seat is 10-way power adjustable with memory, which also takes in the steering wheel and outside mirrors. The front passenger seat is 8-way power adjustable. Both are heated and cooled, with the second row outboard seats also heated.
There is loads of legroom in the middle row - even with tall occupants up front - and the captain's chairs tip up for easy access to the third row.
Here, you'll find reasonable room for those about 5-foot-nine or shorter. But for long trips, the third row is best left for the kids.
The 60/40 split power third row also reclines, and there's plenty of cargo room behind it. If you need more space, it drops for a flat cargo floor.
The "base" QX includes many more standard features including heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel; tri-zone automatic climate control; hard drive navigation system; Bluetooth; Bose two-channel, 13-speaker audio system (with two subwoofers and roof-mounted third row speakers); rear entertainment system with dual seven-inch colour headrest monitors and much more.
The Technology Package adds Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Distance Control Assist (DCA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), adaptive front lighting system and more.
The QX offers much in terms of amenities and technology, with many of the above contributing not only to safety, but making driving - especially long trips - less of a drain and more of a pleasure.
I hope to cover this luxo SUV in more detail in the coming months, but if you want your own experience, check it out at the dealerships when it arrives this summer.


BODY STYLE: full-size luxury sport utility vehicle
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, four-wheel-drive
ENGINE: 5.6-litre, 32-valve, DOHC V8 (400 hp and 413 lb/ft of torque)
FUEL ECONOMY: 15.7/10.3/13.2L/100 km (city/hwy/combined)
PRICE: seven- or eight-passenger (base) $73,000; Technology Package adds $8,000