( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Infiniti FX50 S is a 390 horsepower all-wheel-drive luxury rocket on 21 inch wheels. So naturally we couldn't help but wonder if it's the ultimate ski car to take up to the top of Colorado's Loveland 12,000 foot Pass? It has everything you would want in the ultimate ski car except perhaps one small thing and that would be a turbo to help the engine breath better at altitude. So how does the 2012 Infiniti FX50 S drive and handle up one of Colorado's highest mountain passes? Check out this first drive video review to find out.
2012 KIA Soul 0-60-0 MPH Performance Test
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 KIA Soul with the 2.0L is certainly no hot rod. It's more of a funky and a bit boxy people (or it it hamster) mover? We recently had the chance to put 2012 KIA Soul to the test with our 0-60-0 MPH measure of a car's performance. So how did the Soul do when compared to the other car's that we tested? Just watch this video to find out.
2012 Mazda2 versus Infiniti FX50 0-60-0 MPH Performance Mashup Test
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Mazda 2 and the 2012 Infiniti FX50 have very little in common except for perhaps interior volume. In fact the two vehicles are about $50,000 apart when it comes to price. The Mazda 2 in this video has a sticker price of of around $17K while the Infiniti FX50 is just about $66K. So the question we wanted to answer was just how much more performance can do you get for your extra $50,000 USD. To find out we put the cars to the test to see how fast they go from 0-60 MPH and perhaps more importantly how far many feet it takes them to run from 0-60-0 MPH. If you are curious about the results. Check out the video.
2013 Infiniti FX37 AWD: Top 3 Unexpected Surprises
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The newly updated 2013 Infiniti FX37 is tall sports car with optional big and brawny tires. OK, so technically the Infiniti FX37 is a Crossover and not a sports car but it sure rides and handles like a sports car. In fact in our recent Mashup comparison of $53K Crossovers we picked it as the sportiest vehicle of the group. But what's is it like to live with the new 2013 Infiniti FX37? We spend a week driving and getting to know most vehicles that we review and sometimes we discover some unexpected surprises. Here's a brief review that demonstrates the top three unexpected surprises of the new 2013 Infiniti FX37.
2012 Infiniti G25 AWD 0-60 MPH High Altitude Colorado Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Infiniti G25x drive could be the perfect Colorado car with all weather all-wheel-drive and plenty of room for for skiers and their gear. But how does do when the air gets thin at the Top of Loveland Pass Colorado when we try to take it from 0-60 MPH.
2012 Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version
Just six months after the idea first surfaced, the Infiniti FX designed for reigning Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel is unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt International Motor Show. What began as a chat between the Red Bull Racing driver and Infiniti's Chief Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura, at the 2011 Geneva Show in March is revealed, in concept form, as Infiniti's fastest car yet and, probably, the most exclusive crossover ever made.
With its sophisticated technology, lightweight components and features such as Rear Active Steering for maximum agility, the V8 FX50S Premium - Infiniti's flagship as well as its best-selling model in some markets - provides the ideal starting point for the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version. Changes including increased power, lower weight, derestricted top speed, longer gearing, increased downforce and lowered and stiffer suspension turn what is already a sports car among crossovers into a crossover supercar - the 300km/h reality of the World Champion's vision.
Infiniti's Corporate Vice President Toru Saito said: "The FX Sebastian Vettel version is unique and very much Sebastian's car. But at the same time it is a concept car for Infiniti globally."
Sebastian Vettel, 2010 Formula One World Champion and Infiniti Global Brand Ambassador
"I have been driving an FX all this year and it is a car I love. It fits my lifestyle perfectly and is great fun to drive. But of course, it could go a little faster...
"I drive a lot in Germany on motorways that have no speed limits and have enjoyed my FX around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Driving at high speed where safe and legal is part of my life. As well as a higher top speed I wanted even better stability in my FX, and that meant work on the aerodynamics. It is a tribute to the excellence of the standard FX that achieving all my targets required so few changes.
"This is the first road car I have helped develop. Usually I have hundreds of engineers building one car just for me. So it is fantastic for me to contribute to the design of a car. The result is an Infiniti I am very proud to have my name on. It is all I hoped for: 300km/h, plenty of downforce - and I can still fit my mountain bike in the back. Plus it is totally exclusive - and as an Infiniti driver, that's important."
Design and aerodynamics
As Sebastian says, the first priority for his ultimate FX was to give it more performance. However, whether on the racetrack or the road, speed is just one part of the mix that goes to make a world-beater. All the car's systems, and in particular the aerodynamics, must be up to the task. In the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version they are.
The car's revised aerodynamics profile is the result of changes made by Infiniti designers and engineers after meetings involving Sebastian and Red Bull Racing personnel. A Red Bull Racing RB7 was even shipped to Japan to provide real life inspiration for the team bringing the World Champion's road car dream to life.
Riding 20mm lower than standard and featuring a more aerodynamic, as well as more distinctive, Essence-inspired grille, the most obvious change is the addition of a carbon rear wing. Tests show that it delivers everything that its looks promise - and Sebastian sought - in terms of increased downforce, and stability, at the 300km/h speeds of which the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version is capable.
As well as a 30 per cent improvement in the coefficient of lift (Cl), the special FX boasts a 5 percent lower coefficient of drag (Cd). Boosting downforce while simultaneously cutting drag is one of the concept's major claims to fame. Even the door mirror housings have been shaped to increase downforce.
Carbon is used for the splitter, sills, front grille, mirror covers and rear diffuser, trimming the weight of what is already one of the lighter SUVs in its size class. Design of the splitter and diffuser is inspired by the F1 car, as is the central rear fog light - just like an F1 car's rain light.
The wheels are 21-inch black multispoke alloys with silver rims, designed exclusively for this car; they don't just look the part but also save weight over the standard 21-inch FX50 wheel. At 2049kg, the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel version weighs 46kg less than a standard FX50S Premium.
Mechanical changes
With an already potent 5.0 liter V8 under the bonnet, relatively little needed to be done to enable the world's most special FX to hit Sebastian Vettel's maximum speed target of 300km/h.
The first job was to free the car of its speed limiter which electronically restricts all other FXs to 250 km/h. Even in standard form, with the VVEL V8 producing 390PS at 6500 rpm, the car has plenty of performance beyond its artificial top speed, but even so more power had to be found to deliver 300km/h.
2012 Infiniti G37 IPL Drive & Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Infiniti G37 IPL is premium sports coupe in a filled with great German cars. Love it or hate it...there are very few people on the fence when it comes to the Infiniti's fluid styling. Unlike the German rivals the Infiniti is certainly not sculpted but rather looks like something that comes out of a fluid mold. If you notice the grill on the front of the car. Those silver horizontal slats are supposed to look like Japaneses Samurai swords turned on their side facing you.
The car is fast...in fact very fast. But has to be as it competes with cars like the BMW 3 series coupe and the Audi A5 coupe both of which also are spirited performers. But unlike the BMW and Audi the Infiniti does not offer a turbo option...which today is all the rage.
Ride and Handling: In a word "sporty" the car is set up to go around curves quickly and that comes at small price. The cost? Firm (read verging on harsh) ride across bumps and expansion joints.
In this review Dave Erickson drives the Infiniti through rain and snow to get the scoop on this premium luxury sports coupe.
2012 Cadillac CTS versus Infiniti M56x All-Wheel-Drive Mashup Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Cadillac CTS Sport wagon and the Infiniti M56 both come with all-wheel-drive. The Cadillac's Borg Warner system "uses sophisticated controls and algorithms to augment vehicle handling and traction by optimally using grip at both the front and rear wheels," according to Cadillac. It can shift up to 100% of available torque to the front axle if needed.
The 2012 Infiniti's M56x All-Wheel-Drive system is designed "specifically for a front engine/rear-wheel drive biased setup. 0 to 50 percent of the power can be sent to the front wheels for better control. The active brake limited slip differential can shift power side to side. The system uses an advanced torque split control strategy that automatically redistributes torque to the wheels (0:100 up to 50:50 front to rear) according to road and driving conditions." according to Infiniti.
So which is better up Lick Skillet Road (America's steepest country road) when it's muddy, wet and slick? Watch the video to find out in this All-wheel-drive mashup review.
2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 Drive and Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 is a muscle car with four doors and enough room for a small family. In this first drive review Dave Erickson (the newest member of the TFLcar team) lives with the Charger SRT8 for a week in Spokane, Washington and comes away impressed with the car's power, speed and bad boy looks. Check out this first drive review of Dodge's newest and meanest Charger
2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year - Competition Overview
Find out how the Range Rover Evoque was chosen as the 2012 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year with this behind the scenes look at the 2012 SUV of the Year test program.
FOR THE COMPLETE STORY on why we picked the Evoque as our 2012 Sport/Utility of the year, click the links below:
http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/1112_2012_suv_of_the_year_land_rover_range_rover_evoque/
http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/1112_2012_suv_of_the_year_contenders/
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Jeep Wrangler 0-60 Off-Road Mashup Review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon can both venture off-road into the Colorado Rockies, but one of these vehicles is certainly more capable of taking on the rough stuff, and of course of these vehicles is better on the road, and of course one of these cars is faster 0-60. So which one is the better, faster, on-road and off-road. We put these two cars to the test in the 0-60 Off-Road Mashup Review. Check out this video. You mighty be surprised by the results.
2012 Jeep Cherokee SRT8 vs Toyota Yaris 0-60-0 MPH Performance Mashup Test
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Jeep Cherokee SRT8 and the 2012 Toyota Yaris have very little in common except for perhaps that they both have four wheels and an engine. One is designed to be the ultimate HEMI powered all-wheel-drive jeep and cost about 65K with every possible luxury feature while the other one is a small efficient car that good good on gas mileage. So naturally we decided to put them to the test against each other in another TFLcar 0-60-0 MPH Performance Mashup Test. If you are curious about how fast each car can get from 0-60-0 MPH as well as our current car leader board...just check out this mashup video.
2012 Infiniti M56x first drive review
( http://www.TFLcar.com ) The 2012 Infiniti M56X AWD packs a powerful punch. With a 420 horsepower V8 engine and a seven speed automatic transmission this car will rocket from 0 to 60 in just under 5 seconds. That's fast for a car that can easily haul 5 people in style and comfort.
2012 Infiniti M37 S HD Video Review
http://drivencarreviews.com/ Infiniti could have copied BMW or Mercedes like so many have before, but they've clearly taken their own road with the M37 S. It delivers the stuff needed to play in this market, the only thing missing are enlightened buyers. Tom Voelk follows a BMW 7 Series in downtown traffic without touching the brake pedal to see how well Distance Control Assist works.
