Audi chose the 2008 Beijing Auto Show to debut their new Q5 crossover, further signifying how important the Chinese market is becoming. The Q5, which will be pitted against the BMW X3, Infiniti EX35, and Lexus RX350, will come with Audi's 3.2L V6, a 6-speed automatic, and AWD when it comes Stateside in 2009.

Here's Inside Line's take: 2008 Beijing Auto Show: 2009 Audi Q5

Looks like the rumors have proved true. The next Nissan Titan will be built by Dodge in their Saltillo, Mexico plant.

No word yet on the specifics, but it's safe to assume it will be merely a Dodge Ram with Nissan styling cues. Think Nissan Frontier/ Suzuki Equador, and you pretty much have the picture.

And from my perspective, it's not a pretty picture. Oh, I have absolutely nothing against the new Ram. In fact I'm pretty impressed with what I've seen so far of it. I just HATE badge-engineered vehicles, and that's what this will be. So in a nutshell, Nissan is packing it in, and will let Dodge do the heavy lifting (pun intended) from here on in.

The vehicle will go into production in 2011. No word yet as to whether Dodge will supply heavy duty versions, but my guess is that's part of the plan.

With this announcement you have to wonder what's next for Nissan's and Infiniti full-size SUVs, as they shared many components from the current Titan? Will they now also become Ram-based?

Full story here. The press release issued by Nissan can be found here.

Here's AutoObserver's take: Chrysler, Nissan Link to Share Models

Most of us expected the smaller engined all-new FX to be powered by a version of the new 3.7L V6 found in the G37. Nope, not gonna happen... At least not yet, as the new 2009 FX V6 will retain the 3.5 engine. Hey! That's a great engine too—and it did just fine in the last FX.

Full story here.

As has already been posted, Infiniti has introduced the next-generation FX (2009 Infiniti FX50 & 2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan: 2008 Geneva Auto Show (after the party)), of which there is now an FX50, which indicates a new larger 5.0-liter V8.

Now the first thing that came to my mind upon hearing this news is what other Nissans and Infinitis might also use this new engine. I can't help but think that engine is also destined to see action in their full-size trucks and SUVs. As it stands, Nissan and Infiniti only offer one engine choice, the 5.6-liter V8, in those vehicles. As great an engine as it is, the competition offers more engine choices than Nissan; and that's always been a strike against the Titan and Armada, that being lack of engine choices. Adding this new 5.0L unit as an additional choice could help stem that criticism.

We breezed through the Infiniti stand today in Geneva and found the 2009 Infiniti FX50 on a turntable with a companion. The lighting was more favorable, so we took a photo. Here you can see the oversize rear spoiler and the unusual right angle in the hatch.

There was also a cutaway of the new 5.0-liter V8 engine.



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We've been anticipating the day the Infiniti G35 sedan would become the G37 sedan to match the G37 coupe, and while it's not here yet, the cars' attendance at tonight's Infiniti party suggests it can't be far off. Same goes for the Infiniti EX37.



Because of the foothold BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have in Europe, Infiniti wanted to go in with its best V6 engine, the new 3.7-liter VQ, for the brand's launch here in October 2008, said Nicolas Tschann, director of product planning and product marketing for Infiniti of Europe. "We're not going to start with four-cylinder diesels," he offered.

All of these cars will have a seven-speed automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual will still be available on the G coupe and sedan.

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Carlos Ghosn rose from the mist of Geneva's Halles des Sablieres (which sounds poetic but is in fact just a big warehouse) to tell us about the Infiniti brand's October 2008 launch in Europe. Right now, you can't buy Infinitis here, not even badged as Nissans. He was as quotable as ever: "If all we had to offer was the me-too type of luxury, then we could never be successful." "If something is exclusive, then someone will inevitably be excluded from it."

Then, he disappeared, and a man in a large, flowing bat costume appeared. As he flapped, seductively dressed dancers joined him, but none held a candle to his battiness.





How this relates to the 2009 Infiniti FX50 that dropped down from a coffin hung in the rafters, we're not sure. But this is a hugely powerful SUV. A 5.0-liter V8 with variable valve timing and lift delivers 390 horsepower and, says Infiniti, upward of 435 pound-feet of torque.

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From the day it was announced that the GT-R was coming Stateside, I was wondering why they didn't badge it as an Inifiniti instead of a Nissan. I mean this is the halo car for corporation, and as such wouldn't it make more sense to be selling it as an Infiniti, and not a Nissan?

Interestingly, Nissan’s global design Chief Shiro Nakamura has stated that Infiniti could do its own version of the GT-R. “We have developed the platform and the transaxle powertrain – an Infiniti version is a future possibility,” adding, “I have not done a study yet, but we are thinking about it.”

One possibility under consideration is convertible version, another being an even more luxurious coupe. Full story here.

Images of a lightly disguised 2009 Infiniti FX are up on the Net. The vehicle is to be introduced at the Geneva auto show next month.

The vehicle is slightly longer than the current model, and like the Nisaan Murano, is clearly is an evolutionary step in terms of design. It's believed that the base model will get the larger 3.7L V6, and will be called the FX37. The V8 version may also get a larger engine, probably 5.0L or maybe even a 5.5L unit.

Full story here.

Here's Inside Line's take: Spy Photos: 2009 Infiniti FX and 2008 Geneva Auto Show Preview: Infiniti Confirms Debut of Second-Generation FX

Okay, will someone please lift the rock off of me that I've been living under for the last couple of years? I just found out the Infiniti Q45 is no longer being sold here! In fact it's been MIA since 2006 in the North American market! It is, however, still sold in the Middle East.

Where have I been? Maybe a better question is where has the Q45 been, as it certainly hasn't been on my (or customer's) radar for some time?

At any rate, Autoblog has an entry up on Carlos Ghosn being asked about a possible replacement for this car (here).