Infiniti Teases Sporty Crossover

Nissan Motor Co.’s Infiniti unit will add a sporty variant of its QX50 compact crossover next summer.

Dubbed the QX55, the new model will feature a coupe-like roofline and other updates. The vehicle will compete against similar luxury crossovers from Mercedes-Benz (GLC Coupe) and BMW (X4).

Infiniti released a brushstroke rendering of the QX55 today. The carmaker says the design was inspired by the 2003 FX crossover, which was renamed the QX70 before being dropped two years ago.

Power is expected to come from the variable compression 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that debuted last year in the QX50. Infiniti says the engine combines the performance of a gasoline-powered V-6 with the fuel-efficiency of a 2.0-liter diesel.

Infiniti had projected that the redesigned QX50 would be the brand’s top-selling model. But quality problems and other issues have plagued the vehicle since its launch in spring 2018.

U.S. sales Of the QX50 through the first seven months of the year totaled fewer than 10,500 units, which Automotive News notes was fourth-best among Infiniti models. The brand’s top-selling QX60 garnered nearly 25,700 deliveries for the period.