The QX65 Monograph Evokes the Last Good Infiniti

The last great Infiniti SUV was the original FX. Based on Nissan’s rear-drive platform, the FX was a crossover with coupe-like styling and excellent driving dynamics that was years ahead of its time. Since its 2003 launch, Infiniti hasn’t created anything as great or as important as the original FX. So, it’s trying to evoke its previous success with its newest concept.

Debuting today at The Quail in Monterey, the QX65 Monograph previews a spiritual successor to the original FX. In profile, especially, you can see it: The QX65 has the same distinctive roofline as the FX. But, being based on the transverse-engine QX60 three-row crossover, the ’65 doesn’t have quite the same cab-rearward proportions. 

There are lots of modern design touches, too. The huge grille with vertical slats is similar to that of the recently updated QX60 and new QX80, and there are full-width lighting elements the front and rear. Infiniti is also jumping on the trend of using the DRLs as the car’s “eyes” while hiding the actual headlights in a smoked element lower down on the front fascia. It sits on 22-inch wheels and the matte purple-ish paint is called “Twilight.”

While the QX60 is a three-row crossover, the QX65’s sloping roof means it has just two rows of seating, making it a competitor to the likes of the Audi Q8, BMW X6, and Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe. Infiniti hasn’t said whether it’s putting the QX65 into production, but this does not look like some concept-car fantasy.

In fact, the company says “[s]tay tuned to see the extraordinary made real in the coming months.”