Auto News & New car review

Infiniti FX45 AWD 2008 review.

11-speaker 300-watt Bose® audio system with AM/FM, in-dash, single-feed 6-disc CD autochanger with MP3 playback capability and XM® Satellite Radio[1] with body-colored antenna [1] XM® Satellite Radio requires XM subscription sold separately after first three trial months. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscriptions subject to Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com. XM service only available in the 48 contiguous United States. The XM name is a registered trademark of XM Satellite Radio Inc.

11-speaker 300-watt Bose® audio system with AM/FM, in-dash, single-feed 6-disc CD autochanger with MP3 playback capability and XM® Satellite Radio[1] with body-colored antenna [1] XM® Satellite Radio requires XM subscription sold separately after first three trial months. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscriptions subject to Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com. XM service only available in the 48 contiguous United States. The XM name is a registered trademark of XM Satellite Radio Inc.
3.5-liter 24-valve V6 with 275 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque on FX35 or 4.5-liter 32-valve V8 with 320-hp and 335 lb-ft of torque on FX45
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) VDC cannot prevent accidents caused by abrupt steering, carelessness, or dangerous driving techniques. Always drive safely.

Mechanical
3.5-liter 24-valve V6 with 275 hp and 268 lb-ft of torque in FX35 or
4.5-liter 32-valve V8 with 320 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque in FX45
5-speed automatic transmission on FX35 or super-wide ratio 5-speed automatic transmission on FX45, both with manual shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching
Front engine/All-Wheel Drive or rear-wheel drive
4-wheel power assisted disc brakes
4-wheel independent suspension on FX35 or 4-wheel independent sport-tuned suspension on FX45

Interior
Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control system with microfiltration and an odor- and smog-reducing charcoal cabin filter
Rear-seat heater ducts under front seats
Power windows with illuminated switches and front-window one-touch auto-up/down with auto-reverse feature
Power door locks
Retained accessory power for windows and moonroof (if equipped)
Illuminated visor vanity mirrors
Overhead sunglasses storage
Dual overhead front map lights; rear-seat reading lights
Front seatback map pockets; front door pockets
Sliding front armrest with storage compartment, coin holder and 12-volt power outlet
Rear-seat center armrest with storage tray and compartment
Electric cargo-door closing assist
Cargo tie-down anchors in cargo area (FX45 includes cargo cover and net)

Seating and Trim
10-way power driver’s seat with memory, including power lumbar support; 8-way power front-passenger’s seat
Heated front seats
Reclining rear seatbacks
Leather-appointed interior
Genuine aluminum interior trim on FX35 or genuine aluminum with inlaid rosewood interior trim and drilled aluminum pedals with ruber grips on FX45
Leather-wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel
60/40-split folding rear seatbacks that fold flat with the floor; includes quick-flip remote fold-down releases in cargo area

Audio System
Bose® premium 300-watt, 11-speaker audio system: three dash-mounted 3.15″ Twiddler™ mid- and high-frequency drivers, four 6.5″door speakers, two 3.15″Twiddler mid- and high-frequency drivers in D-pillars, and dual 5.25″Nd® woofers in a dedicated, tuned enclosure under cargo floor
Roof-mounted and in-glass diversity antennas. The radio tuner compares the signal strength of both antennas and automatically selects the strongest signal.
Steering wheel-mounted audio controls
XM® Satellite Radio[1] [1] XM® Satellite Radio requires XM subscription sold separately after first three trial months. All fees and programming subject to change. Subscriptions subject to Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com. XM service only available in the 48 contiguous United States. The XM name is a registered trademark of XM Satellite Radio Inc.

Instrumentation and Driver Controls
Vehicle Information System with 7″ color LCD screen: includes audio and climate-control displays, trip computer (elapsed time, distance and average speed), maintenance reminder, and fuel economy calculator (FX45 includes Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System)
Infiniti Controller for ease of use of Vehicle Information System
RearView Monitor[1] [1] The RearView Monitor is a convenience but is not a substitute for proper backing procedures. Always turn and check that it is safe to do so before backing up. The RearView Monitor may not detect every object behind you.
Electroluminescent analog instrumentation with chrome bezels
Power tilt and telescoping steering wheel moves in tandem with the gauge cluster for improved visibility
Memory system for driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors, linked to individual keyfobs/Intelligent Keys (Intelligent Key included in Hands-Free Package)
Electrochromic auto-dimming inside mirror with integrated digital compass
Cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted switches
Infiniti analog clock
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Exterior
Comprehensive airflow management for low 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd)
Aluminum hood
Black roof rails on FX35 or aluminum roof rails with chrome window molding and power sliding tinted glass moonroof on FX45
High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-xenon headlights
Front fog lights
UV-reducing tinted glass reduces transmission of radiant heat to vehicle’s interior
Dual heated power-adjustable outside mirrors on FX35 or dual heated power-adjustable and power-folding outside mirrors on FX45
Variable intermittent front wipers; intermittent rear wiper
Rear privacy glass
LED taillights and center high-mounted stoplight (CHMSL)
Rear spoiler
Dual chrome exhaust finishers
8-spoke 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels on FX35 or 8-spoke 20-inch unique aluminum-alloy wheels on FX45

Safety - Accident Avoidance
Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
Brake Assist (BA)
4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Infiniti Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)
Traction Control System (TCS)

Safety - Occupant Protection
Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System (AABS)
Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection
Front and rear head restraints for all occupant positions; front Active Head Restraints (AHR)
3-point height-adjustable front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, driver’s seat Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR), and passenger’s seat ELR and Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
Three rear 3-point seat belts with ELR/ALR: outboard positions height-adjustable
Zone-body construction with reinforced passenger compartment and front and rear crumple zones
Slide-away brake pedal assembly moves brake pedal away in certain frontal collisions
Break-away driveshaft helps maintain the integrity of the passenger compartment in certain collisions
LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) helps simplify proper installation of compatible child restraint seats
Snug Kids offers recommendations for choosing and installing child restraint seats.

Security
Remote keyless entry system with selective unlocking of driver’s door or all doors
Remote power-opening of windows; closing via exterior door lock
Infiniti Vehicle Immobilizer System with an encoded transponder chip embedded into the electronic key. The engine control computer will not allow the engine to start without the correct transponder signal.
Vehicle Security System sounds alarm if intrusion via doors or hood is detected
Battery saver helps prevent accidental discharge if electrical accessories are left on