Infiniti Will Add Three Limited Editions to the QX80 in Hopes of Increased Showroom Traffic

• The Track Spec will have at least 550 horsepower along with improved brakes and suspension parts.

• The Terrain Spec will feature increased ground clearance, a locking differential, and roof storage.

• The third variant will appeal to tuners with its lower ride height and unique powertrain.

For years now, Infiniti has been underperforming in terms of sales and brand recognition when compared to its direct rivals.

While the new QX80 full-size SUV is expected to bring new customers to the automaker, it might need a bit of help to achieve this goal.

This is why Infiniti has developed three limited editions of this model, which will appeal to different types of buyers who would not have typically visited one of the brand’s showrooms otherwise.

The first of these models is the Track Spec, which will be a high-performance variant meant to compete with SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade V or the BMW X7 M60i.

At the heart of this variant will be a revised version of the twin-turbo 3.5L V6 engine that can be found under the hood of the current QX80. An increase of 100 horsepower (or more) is expected, which would peg the Track Spec’s output at around 550 horsepower.

To match this increased performance, upgraded brakes and reworked suspension parts will be included to ensure this variant sits at the highest performance end of the SUV segment, even if it’s not a true sports car, according to Nissan America’s Chief Planning officer, Ponz Pandikuthira.

While some rivals have more power, the executive says Infiniti engineers are trying to give buyers something special without harming the reliability of the engine by pushing it too close to its limits.

The second QX80 limited edition will be the Terrain Spec, which aims to improve the SUV’s off-road capabilities.

This will be achieved by pairing the standard powertrain with a locking differential and giving the air suspension increased ground clearance to improve approach and departure angles.

Protection plates and rugged body protection elements will prevent rocks and branches from damaging the paint, while roof storage solutions will make it possible to carry everything needed for a weekend overlanding expedition.

Beefier tires and smaller wheel diameters are also expected to be included, but no details have been revealed at the moment.

The goal here is not to make the QX80 into the ultimate rock-climbing machine, but rather to provide enhanced capabilities over the standard model while keeping all of its luxury attributes.

Both the Track Spec and the Terrain Spec will be unveiled in concept form later this month at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Monterey, California, with the production variant expected within the next 12 months.

According to Pandikuthira, the final plans for these versions have yet to be made up. Depending on customer interest, Infiniti could choose to manufacture 500 or 1,000 units of the limited editions. Another option on the table is to add either or both of these models as a regular production variant to the lineup.

We can get an idea of what to expect from the QX80 Track Spec and Terrain Spec by taking a look at the closely related Nissan Armada Nismo and Pro-4X, respectively.

Of course, there is a third model in the works. Slated to be unveiled at the SEMA show in November, this version is squarely aimed at tuners.

Considered by Infiniti as a concept that showcases what is possible to do with the QX80, this last variant will feature a lower ride height and a unique powertrain for which details are not available at the moment.

Expectations are high since Pandikuthira said to think of this variant as if “GT-R and a QX80 had a baby”.

It wouldn’t be the first time tuners are involved with Infiniti products, as the FX series of crossovers had a significant presence in this scene in the mid to late 2000s.

Like other high-performance and off-road capable variants of luxury SUVs, the QX80’s upcoming special editions are mainly intended to increase showroom traffic for the brand, something that has been requested by dealers for a while.

Source: Automotive News