Infiniti Hands First FX Vettel Edition to Sebastian Vettel

Being that Sebastian Vettel helped create and even gave his name to the fastest production version of the Infiniti FX, it's only natural that the triple Formula One World Champion gets the very first example of the limited production FX Vettel Edition SUV.

Infiniti delivered the FX Vettel Edition number 001 (of just 150 made) straight to his home in Switzerland on the eve of Vettel's 26th birthday.

"I’m proud to now own the Infiniti that I helped design," said Vettel, who was recently appointed as the Japanese brand’s Director of Performance. "It has great performance, responsive handling and fits my daily life perfectly. The FX Vettel Edition is great fun to drive and I like that it is totally unique, I am sure many other Infiniti owners will feel the same way."

On sale across Western Europe, the Middle East and Russia, the FX Vettel Edition is the most powerful model in the Infiniti line-up with a tweaked V8 delivering 420-horses. It also comes with a host of aerodynamic enhancements inspired by F1 racecars, 21-inch wheels, a lowered chassis with a sports suspension, while it is also 46kg (101 pounds) lighter than the standard FX50S Premium dropping the curb weight to 2,049kg (4,517 lbs).

According to Infiniti, the FX50 Vettel version needs 5.6 seconds to reach 100km/h (62mph) from standstill (0.2 seconds faster than the standard car), and can reach a top speed of 300km/h (187mph).

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Infiniti JX Turns Into the New QX60 and Gains a 250hp 2.5-liter Supercharged Hybrid Powerplant

At the upcoming New York Auto Show that takes place in the Big Apple from March 27 through Sunday April 7, Infiniti will unveil the 2014 model year JX crossover, which adopts the brand's new nomenclature and will be known from now on as the QX60 premium crossover, while also gaining a new hybrid variant.

The QX60 Hybrid premieres the Nissan Group's new petrol-electric hybrid system that was first announced in late 2010 and which connects a 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine to a 15kW (20hp) electric motor and a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission).

Infiniti said the net output of the hybrid system is 250-horsepower and that with this powertrain, the QX60 will return an estimated combined and highway driving fuel economy of 26mpg (equal to 9lt/100km and 31.2mpg UK), which represents a 24 percent increase over the non-hybrid, 265HP V6 QX60.

The system uses a compact Lithium-ion battery to store energy, which is mounted right under the 3rd row seat, with Infiniti stating that "the QX60 Hybrid maintains its flat rear floor for easier passenger access to the rear seats and no impact to cargo room".

The QX60 Hybrid will be offered with all-wheel drive or front wheel drive and will go on sale in the States this summer, at a premium of around $3,000 over the regular QX60 that starts from $41,400.

Full details are to be released at the end of the month during the 7-seater crossover's premiere in New York.

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