2004 Infiniti QX56
PALM SPRINGS, CA: Nissan has a long-established tradition of offering two versions of many of its models, one bearing the modest badge and one bearing the pricier Infiniti marque.
So the auto media gathered in this town where money loves to go and relax in the outdoor air conditioning (that's no joke) and showed off the [link artid 29686"]Infiniti QX56[/link] version of the Nissan Pathfinder Armada.
Anyone who doesn't see the family resemblance is referred to the rear door of the QX56 and invited to check out the vertical handle in the C-pillar, which has been a signature Pathfinder look for more than a decade.
There may still be sensible people who shake their head in wonder at this kind of marketing flummery, but this is an automobile tradition going back decades in North America, so when the Japanese arrived with Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus and Nissan/Infiniti models it was accepted behavior.
It's certainly popular behavior with buyers, who are willing to spend extra money for the perceived cache of the more upscale name.
To be fair, there is always more equipment in the tonier models and always an attempt to give them a more expensive look, though that is always harder to accomplish than making leather and a killer sound system standard equipment.
So here's Nissan Canada rolling out the big-buck version of the sport-brute it will build in Mississippi, making the claim that the QX56 ''offers a new level of style, sophistication, luxury and capability.''
According to Mark Igo, vice president and general manager of the Infiniti division in North America, ''the QX56 offers buyers an unmatched array of ownership-enhancing technology and convenience features, such as a standard navigation system and auto-leveling rear suspension.''
This puts Infiniti up against some serious competition, but particularly the Cadillac Escalade, the 800-kg gorilla of the sport-brute category, favorite choice of rappers everywhere. Other competition would include the Lincoln Navigator and the Lexus GX470.
Given the competition and the nature of humanity, there's probably a lot of value to Infiniti's first pitch for the QX56 -- it's ''designed to target luxury SUV buyers who are looking for something new and different, providing a combination of practical elegance and ergonomic thoughtfulness with a rewarding level of comfort and indulgence.''
PALM SPRINGS, CA: Nissan has a long-established tradition of offering two versions of many of its models, one bearing the modest badge and one bearing the pricier Infiniti marque.
So the auto media gathered in this town where money loves to go and relax in the outdoor air conditioning (that's no joke) and showed off the [link artid 29686"]Infiniti QX56[/link] version of the Nissan Pathfinder Armada.
Anyone who doesn't see the family resemblance is referred to the rear door of the QX56 and invited to check out the vertical handle in the C-pillar, which has been a signature Pathfinder look for more than a decade.
There may still be sensible people who shake their head in wonder at this kind of marketing flummery, but this is an automobile tradition going back decades in North America, so when the Japanese arrived with Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus and Nissan/Infiniti models it was accepted behavior.
It's certainly popular behavior with buyers, who are willing to spend extra money for the perceived cache of the more upscale name.
To be fair, there is always more equipment in the tonier models and always an attempt to give them a more expensive look, though that is always harder to accomplish than making leather and a killer sound system standard equipment.
So here's Nissan Canada rolling out the big-buck version of the sport-brute it will build in Mississippi, making the claim that the QX56 ''offers a new level of style, sophistication, luxury and capability.''
According to Mark Igo, vice president and general manager of the Infiniti division in North America, ''the QX56 offers buyers an unmatched array of ownership-enhancing technology and convenience features, such as a standard navigation system and auto-leveling rear suspension.''
This puts Infiniti up against some serious competition, but particularly the Cadillac Escalade, the 800-kg gorilla of the sport-brute category, favorite choice of rappers everywhere. Other competition would include the Lincoln Navigator and the Lexus GX470.
Given the competition and the nature of humanity, there's probably a lot of value to Infiniti's first pitch for the QX56 -- it's ''designed to target luxury SUV buyers who are looking for something new and different, providing a combination of practical elegance and ergonomic thoughtfulness with a rewarding level of comfort and indulgence.''