INFINITI Dubai - United Arab Emirates: Infiniti, the region's fastest growing luxury car brand has had its EX35 crossover vehicle honored as this year's 'Best Compact SUV' (sports utility vehicle).
The award was made by a panel of expert judges at CAR Middle East magazine which is one of the region's leading enthusiast automotive publications.
The EX35 was recognized as being the outstanding product launched into its segment this year with CAR Middle East's Editor, Tom Bird commenting: "When we road tested the EX35 earlier in the year, we were surprised at its agility - it felt more like a sporty hatchback than a high riding SUV. And although it's more at home on the black stuff, it won't turn its nose up at blasting along a wadi bed".
On hand to receive the award at Dubai's Grosvenor House hotel was Abhijeet Pandit, General Manager, Infiniti Business Unit Middle East. "I am absolutely delighted that CAR Middle East's esteemed judges have recognised the Infiniti EX35's arrival into the small luxury SUV market. We launched the EX35 across the region from March 2008 and we are delighted with the customer response so far. I'm sure the addition of this wonderful endorsement will encourage even more potential customers to visit their Infiniti dealers to discover what an inspired drive the EX35 is".
Like all Infiniti vehicles, the Infiniti EX35 has an impressive list of technology systems. It was the first Infiniti to debut the company's around view monitor (AVM) system. This technology uses four small external cameras that feed individual images to a dashboard screen to provide the driver with a "top-down view" of the outside of the vehicle while parking, making it an effective and simple parking aid system.
The Infiniti EX35 sculpted elegance expresses a timeless appeal - sleek lines that portray speed, grace and finesse. Its layout combines the look and feel of a luxury coupe and an SUV's flexibility. Like all Infiniti vehicles, the Infiniti EX35 was conceived to offer a reinvigorating and engaging interior environment, one that is both indulgent and inspiring.
The 2008 Infiniti EX35 is equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine rated at 350 horsepower (gross) and electronically controlled via a five-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and manual shift mode which offers sequentially selected manual gear shifts and downshift rev matching.
The Infiniti EX was the highest-ranked model in initial quality in the 'entry premium vehicle segment' in the 2008 J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Survey. The Initial Quality Study ranks new vehicle quality measured after 90 days of ownership across vehicles sold in the USA.
Infiniti's Middle East product lineup includes models such as the Infiniti G Sedan and Coupe, Infiniti EX35 crossover, Infiniti FX performance crossover, the M35/45 mid-size performance sedan and the QX56 full-size luxury SUV. Throughout the lineup, advanced technologies include innovations such as the Around-View Monitor, Intelligent Cruise Control, Intelligent Brake Assist and Four-Wheel Active Steering. Fuel-saving powertrain technologies are featured in the Variable Valve Event & Lift and seven-speed automatic transmission (FX35 and FX50 models only).
Infiniti's sales in the GCC have grown from approximately 4000 vehicles in 2005, to 5000 in 2006, 7000 in 2007 and in fiscal year 2008 they are expected to be in excess of 11,000 vehicles.
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For more local information you can visit the Infiniti Media Channel through www.infiniti-me.com or contact:
Hakam Kherallah
Senior Manager
Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +971 4 881 7500
Fax: +971 4 881 9747
E-mail: hakam@nissan-me.ae
Suzan Dargham
Infiniti Press Office
Tel: + 971 50 754 9845
E-mail: press@infiniti-me.com
© Press Release 2008
