Driving into infinity - in pure luxury.

Byline: With Mandeep Singh

Frankly, I am always surprised at myself. Having 'tested' half a dozen vehicles over the last few months, I have never quite decided which I liked best, or which one has impressed me the most. This is probably because I have got "better" and more expensive vehicles to test each time I have done so.

So when the Infiniti FX35 came along, I was once again impressed - not because of the hefty 'luxury' price tag it carries - but because I had almost begun to 'feel' the vehicle, after having seen it on hoardings all over Bahrain and read all about it.

I had been meaning to drive one so when the dealers offered one, I was quick to accept.

I'm often turned off by hot new vehicles, with ultra-modern designs. But just as often, I go 'gaga' over something that's really pushing the style envelope.

The FX35 does just that, with its 'extended' nose and extremely comfortable, cock-pit like interior.

There are a lot of new vehicles now in the market which compete with each other in the medium luxury sport utility vehicle market.

But, the BD21,000-plus price tag notwithstanding, this vehicle has just about anything that a luxury SUV enthusiast would want and more.

If you'll excuse the pun, it is so comfortable and luxurious, you feel like driving into infinity!

The first thing that hits you is its styling. Far more futuristic looking than its competition, it instantly draws the eye.

A sloped, rounded front end with almost 'miniature' headlights moves back to a cabin that arches over, then slopes, downward to the rear deck.

The rear-end design is as striking as the front.

Under the hood of the FX35 is a 3.5-litre V6 engine, which has been voted one of the world's 10 best engines by a leading automobile magazine. The engine is hooked to a five-speed automatic transmission, with a great manual mode - though there are few places in Bahrain to give it a challenging test.

The FX35 may not look it from the outside, but it is loaded with interior space. Two adults and two children are extremely comfortable, but it does get a little bit crammed with one more adult.

This is something which can easily be overlooked because the pure, leathered luxury compensates for anything else.

There is more then adequate rear-seat legroom and there is room in the cargo area for a few picnic boxes, the dog basket and some supermarket shopping thrown in as well.

In addition, the 'fresh air' air conditioning system keeps all four passengers comfortable, with the rear passengers having their own controls. The sunroof provided an extra 'entertainment' for the kids as well.

The front seats are power adjustable, with unique seat top-mounted switches controlling height, fore and aft movement and seat back angle. The seats are also heated - not needed in Bahrain, but certainly a bonus.

In between the two front seats is an arm rest-cum-console that is initially confusing. On top are two arm rests that are adjustable fore and aft for comfort.

These can also be lifted individually to provide small storage areas. Both can be lifted to expose a larger storage compartment below, which is large enough to hold a CD collection.

The instrument panel is a revelation - really classy. The dials are white on black with clear markings. In the centre of the dash is an information panel that provides a wealth of data.

The full-colour navigation system is also a pleasant sight telling you where you are at all times, even pointing to the street you are in.

In the console are also two cup holders that are able to accommodate large bottles of water and of course in the centre of the console, is Infiniti's trademark analogue clock.

Handling and steering feel were excellent, with very flat cornering and very good tyre grip. This was due to fairly stiff spring rates, which gave the car a firm and, on some road surfaces, a hard ride.

The FX35 has tough competition in a growing field. But there is no doubt in my mind that it is the equal of current competition, both in styling and performance.

Significant are the number of technology features available in the FX35. It is replete with sensors and systems that could practically drive the car, from a new system dubbed Distance Control Assist, which helps to release the throttle and apply the brakes in heavy traffic, to Intelligent Brake Assist, which can stop the car completely, then resume a preset speed.

I was initially taken aback at the car suddenly slowing down on its own and planned to call the dealers to find out why, but then read the manual for an explanation.

The car, to say the least, seemed to have a brain of its own.

There's also a new hard-drive-based navigation system that can store music files and a camera-based parking system as well.

But perhaps the most striking feature of the vehicle is the intelligent parking system, which allows you to park without looking out through the mirrors.

It has cameras mounted on all four sides so that you feel you feel very comfortable in handling the vehicle, even while squeezing into tight corners.

I was told later it is called a four-camera "Around View Monitor", which provides a 360-degree composite image of the vehicle from the outside.

All in all, the Infiniti offers a unique blend of style, luxury, utility and driving pleasure.

Like everything else on the FX, the new side air vents are about function, not mere ornamentation.

They allow air to flow through the engine compartment and out of the side of the vehicle, reducing front end lift by five per cent, in turn, improving high speed stability.

Another new feature is an Advanced Climate Control System that removes or neutralises interior airborne contaminants.

The system includes a "clean mode," which emits a low concentration of negative and positive ions that attach to airborne particles (mould, fungi, spores, etc), causing an attraction to interior surfaces, so they are no longer floating around, while rendering them harmless.

The vehicle comes equipped with state-of-the-art audio - an advanced Bose audio system, acoustically engineered to optimise sound within the FX's interior.

The 11-speaker system features an AM/FM/6CD player, diversity antenna and steering wheel-mounted remote audio controls.

Safety features found on the vehicle include a seat belt reminder system; standard Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System; dual-stage front supplemental air bags with passenger seat occupant classification system and seat belt sensor; and roof-mounted side-impact and rollover curtain air bag for enhanced outboard seat occupant head protection.

Though I would be wary of recommending the car for a family, it certainly is a 'must buy' for all those SUV enthusiasts who love the outdoors and want to do it in pure luxury and style.

The FX35 and the 390 horsepower V8 engine FX 50, are available at the Infiniti dealers, Almoayyed Motors, Sitra, at prices starting from BD21,000 and BD24,000, respectively.

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