2009 Infiniti FX50

Infiniti's cranked up the content levels for the new 2009 FX sport-utility - and accordingly, it's cranked up the pricing. A base rear-drive 2009 FX35 stickers at $40,950 - nearly $2900 more than the outgoing model.

Prices for the other models have also shot upwards; the FX35 AWD now retails for $42,350, a $2800 jump. The new all-wheel drive FX50 - surpassing the outgoing FX45 model with a new 5.0-liter V-8 - starts at a whopping $56,700, nearly $6600 more than the FX45 and just underneath the entry price for a Porsche Cayenne S ($57,900).

In fact, the only add-ons for the 2009 Infiniti FX50 are a rear-seat DVD package ($1600), a sport package ($3000) (including rear active steering, sports seating and adjustable suspension), and a technology package ($2900), which adds whiz-bang features like intelligent brake assist, lane departure prevention systems, adaptive cruise control and rain-sensing wipers.

The name change, as you might imagine, indicates a bump in engine displacement for the V-8 engine, from 4.5 to 5.0 liters. Horsepower also increases dramatically, to 390 hp, and there's now 369 lb-ft of torque. The 2009 Infiniti FX50 engine, which redlines at a lofty 6900 rpm, is mated to a new seven-speed automatic transmission with downshift rev matching and, of course, paddle shifters.

Front fender vents, just behind the front wheels. At least they are functional; Infiniti claims that they reduce front-end lift by five percent. The overall coefficient of drag has been reduced from 0.37 to 0.35. Front/rear weight distribution is 54/46 percent, and the front track is two inches wider.

The Infiniti FX's previous front strut-type suspension has been replaced by a control-arm (wishbone) setup, while the rear multi-link setup carries over from before, with some refinements. The electronically controlled suspension dampers can be set to "auto" or "sport" by the driver. Smart cruise control and brake assist are standard. The rear-biased all-wheel-drive system returns.

New to the second-generation Infiniti FX is the availability of a new 390-hp, 5.0L 32V DOHC V-8 engine with Variable Valve Event & Lift technology for the FX50, in addition to the standard 303-hp, 3.5L 24V DOHC V-6 placed in the FX35. Each engine is mated to a new seven-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control, Downshift Rev Matching, and available solid magnesium paddle shifters.

New features also making their way onto the 2009 Infiniti FX50 are distinctive, functional side air vents that help reduce front end lift by 5% and a new, aerodynamic flat blade wiper design on low-profile wiper arms, also assisting in reducing wind drag. In terms of safety, the new 2009 Infiniti FX50 offers two industry-first safety technologies: Intelligent Brake Assist and Distance Control Assist. IBA provides forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, while DCA assists with bumper-to-bumper traffic by helping the FX maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead.

Our intro to the new second-gen FX was earlier this year, when we discovered the 2009 Infiniti FX50 rocketed to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. That's only a hair slower than our supercharged long-term Jaguar XF (5.0). Its topline V-8, a 5.0-liter, 390-horse engine features Variable Valve Event and Lift to broaden its prodigious torque curve. The 5.0-liter offers 70 more horses and 34 pound-feet more torque than the prior 4.5-liter, is backed by a seven-speed automatic, and provides better fuel economy than the 4.5.

The Blue Slate long-termer arrived with the aforementioned rocketlike V-8 and seven-speed auto; that combination (which comes only with AWD) brings the price of an FX near $60 grand. We selected two option packages-Sport ($3000), which includes Continuous Damping Control, driver seat with power thigh support and power adjustable bolstering, rear active steering, and adaptive front lighting; and Technology ($2900), with numerous safety systems including those that alert the driver if the FX leaves the lane or gets too close to the vehicle ahead.