Infiniti QX65 First Look: Fastback Design Elevates the QX60
"Imagine the three-row QX60, but in a sleeker, sportier two-row form—this is it."
Infiniti’s zesty FX crossover may have disappeared years ago, but the upcoming Infiniti QX65 hints that its spirit isn’t gone for good. So, what exactly is the QX65? Think of it as a two-row version of the mainstream QX60 midsize, three-row luxury SUV—similar to how the Audi Q8 relates to the three-row Q7. Yes, the numbering can be a bit confusing, with the smaller model sporting the bigger number, but you get the idea. To help you picture a QX65—a sleeker, sexier QX60—Infiniti unveiled the QX65 Monograph concept during Monterey Car Week.
The concept of trimming a three-row SUV’s taller, boxy roof into a sleeker, lower profile isn’t new, but the Infiniti QX65 clearly channels the design spirit of Infiniti’s earlier FX models.
If the FX models don’t ring a bell, they were early trailblazers of the big-wheel, low-roof, muscular-body style that many of today’s ‘coupe-SUVs’ embrace. And unlike some modern styling exercises, their sporty appearance was matched by real performance, thanks to platforms derived from Infiniti’s sport sedans. The last FX was sold in 2013, then lived on briefly as the QX70 until 2017.
The Infiniti QX65 roofline unmistakably echoes the classic FX, but because the Monograph is clearly based on the current QX60—and the production version likely will be too—there’s a subtle tension between that sleek, FX-inspired roof and the QX60’s more squared-off lower body and front end.
Even if you’re not deeply familiar with the QX60, the Infiniti QX65 Monograph concept makes a striking impression. Its sleek roofline and subtly upturned tail create a lively, sporty stance that surpasses the regular QX60, while the 22-inch wheels provide the perfect finishing touch.
Infiniti hasn’t revealed the powertrain yet, but the QX60 currently relies on a conventional 3.5-liter V-6 producing 295 hp, with front- or all-wheel drive. If the Infiniti QX65 Monograph concept makes it to production—as it seems likely—Infiniti might consider slotting in a more spirited option, such as the roughly 400-hp twin-turbo V-6 from the Q50 sedan.
Transplanting such a powertrain from Infiniti’s sedans to an SUV like the QX65 wouldn’t just boost performance for this two-row, sporty model—it would echo the strategy used with Infiniti’s earlier G sedans and the old FX, which offered a robust V-6 or optional V-8. Let’s hope Infiniti follows suit, because the Infiniti QX65 is a compelling addition to the lineup, combining the QX60’s refined styling with the swooping roofline that many upscale SUV buyers crave.
