Infiniti Hopes to Maintain QX80 Volume in Face of New Navigator

CHARLESTON, SC – Infiniti is hoping a refresh of its QX80 large luxury SUV can blunt the impact of a new Lincoln Navigator currently earning positive reviews.

In a segment with long lifecycles, the fully changed ’18 Navigator is the first redesigned rather than refreshed model since the current-generation Cadillac Escalade went on sale nearly four years ago.

The QX80 hasn’t been fully redesigned since ’11, when it was still known as the QX56, but it underwent a refresh in the ’14 model year and now for ’18.

Bob Welby, director-model line/pricing for Infiniti in the U.S., says he hopes QX80 sales will continue to tally roughly 1,000 units per month, given the updates to the SUV and how it will be priced.

“Pricing for this vehicle is going to start just under $65,000 for the 2-wheel-drive (model) and then just under $68,000 for the 4-wheel-drive (variant)… This is an extremely competitive price and we deliver a ton of value at those price points,” Welby tells media here at an ’18 QX80 preview.

Popularly equipped ’18 QX80s should sticker in the mid $70,000 range, he says.

The new ’18 Navigator begins at $72,055.

The QX80 has done better than 1,000 units monthly this year, with sales of 15,365 through November representing a 4.2% increase vs. the same period year-ago. WardsAuto data shows the best-selling large luxury SUV model through November is the Escalade, although its 20,113 sales are down 0.5% from like-2016.

While Infiniti considers the Mercedes GLS to be a QX80 competitor, WardsAuto places it in the large luxury CUV category due its unibody platform. GLS sales rose 36.3% through November to 29,057.

Changes to the QX80 for ’18 largely are technology related. Infiniti has increased the number of USB charge ports to keep pace with the popularity of hand-held electronic devices, and has upped the resolution of in-vehicle screens, both for the rear-seat entertainment system and the main infotainment system.

The single infotainment screen eliminates the dual screens in the ’17 QX80, in keeping with Infiniti’s single-screen setup in newer models such as the QX30 small CUV.

The QX80’s front screen remains 8 ins. (20 cm) diagonally. Rear screens grow from 7 ins. (18 cm) in the ’17 QX80 to 8 ins. for ’18.

Amazon Alexa Skills, allowing buyers to remotely lock, unlock or start their vehicle, is available on many new Infinitis, the QX80 included.

The refreshed SUV is the first Infiniti to get a digital rearview mirror. Similar to what is available in some General Motors models, including the Buick Envision CUV, the real-time video display shown in the mirror gives a wider range of view than does a traditional mirror and can overcome interior vision blockers.

“It gives you the ability to see beyond your passengers, beyond your cargo, beyond even the headrests if those are intrusive to you,” says Anand Patel, senior manager-product management and planning for Infiniti.

Other changes to the QX80 for ’18 include a wider version of Infiniti’s double-arch grille; a new liftgate, new standard 20-in. wheels; wider step rails; a new stain-resistant coating for leather seats to eliminate dye transfer from denim; more insulation to quiet the cabin; retuned dampers and tires for a more comfortable ride; and a reworked front center console with a dedicated cubby for phone storage.

Infiniti engineers carved some space out of the cupholders to accommodate travel mugs with handles, as well as the main storage box, which now fits a standing 1L bottle.

Blingy interiors are expected in the large luxury SUV segment so Infiniti has new quilting, piping and stitching on seats and other surfaces inside the vehicle, as well as a new burl wood trim. Charcoal-colored burl trim is paired with all-new saddle brown semi-aniline leather or new wheat semi-aniline leather, while espresso burl trim is mated to carryover graphite semi-aniline leather.

The QX80 continues offering a suite of advanced safety features, including some Infiniti claims as world firsts, such as predictive forward collision warning, able to detect a slowdown two cars ahead.

The QX80’s 400-hp 5.6L V-8, also making 413 lb.-ft. (560 Nm) of torque carries over for ’18 unchanged.

Patel says safety features as well as riding comfort and interior roominess are top QX80 purchase reasons. He cites data showing the QX80, among a competitive set including the Escalade, Navigator, GLS, Lexus LX and Land Rover Range Rover has the highest number of buyers who are married with children, as well as the highest percentage of female buyers.

The QX80 median buyer age also is the youngest, he says, at 46, compared with 54 for the segment.

The new QX80 is on sale this month at U.S. Infiniti dealers. It continues to be assembled for the U.S. at parent Nissan’s Kyushu, Japan, plant.

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