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If Volvo and Cadillac belong to the second-tier luxury camp in China, then Infiniti may belong to the third-tier camp. Two days ago, because of the spokesperson's personal turmoil, he lay down a shot:
The comments below can be said to be mixed
When we rarely think about them, Infiniti introduced a new medium-sized SUV, the QX60, to China, and announced a pre-sale price of 450,000 to 66,000. Compared to the mid-size sUV from the BBA, the QX60's pre-price looks pretty affordable.
However, people who pay attention to this car, some people think it is too expensive. Consumers who don't understand the QX60 and the entire Infiniti brand generally don't care.
As one of the few luxury medium and large SUVs introduced domestically, what kind of car is the Infiniti QX60? Is its price really set high?
What kind of car is the QX60?
Considering that many small partners are relatively unfamiliar with Infiniti, let's first briefly introduce the situation of QX60.
A medium to large SUV
The QX60, which is about to be put into production, belongs to the second generation of products, and its first generation model was imported into China many years ago, but sales were dismal, with cumulative sales in China in 2020 being less than 2,000 units. QX60 was first released in 2012 and has taken 9 years to begin to evolve.
The first generation of QX60
As a luxury brand under Nissan, Infiniti has been introduced into domestic production since 2014, and it has been 7 years so far, but there are very few domestic models at present, only Q50L and QX50. The QX60 we talked about today is the third car introduced by Infiniti to domestically, positioning medium and large SUVs. It has only been launched abroad for less than half a year.
Most of the models of the same level are imported
Since positioning medium and large SUVs, QX60 is theoretically the same level as Mercedes-Benz GLE, BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 and other models, these 4 models have not been introduced into domestic production, of which the three models of BBA are close to 700,000 yuan, and the price threshold of XC90 has reached 638,900, far exceeding the pre-price of Infiniti QX60 450,000 yuan.
Theoretically, QX60 and Q7 are equivalent
However, the luxury camp to introduce domestic medium and large SUV is not only QX60, but also Lincoln Aviator and Cadillac XT6, of which the starting price of the domestic version of the Aviator is 509,800, and the starting price of the XT6 is only 392,700, and the actual entry threshold after the discount is even within 350,000 yuan.
The Aviator is one of the few domestically produced models of this class
In this way, the QX60 is significantly lower than the positioning of imported competitors, while compared with domestic competitors such as Cadillac XT6, it is more expensive. Whether the QX60 is expensive or not, we have to see its specific product characteristics.
How about QX60 products
Size pressure BBA
But the front suspension type exposes the identity
With a length of more than 5.1 meters and a width of more than 2 meters, the Infiniti QX60 is almost the largest model in its class:
However, as can be seen from the above table, the wheelbase of the QX60 2900mm is not outstanding, the smaller GLE, X5, Q7 and XC90, the wheelbase is close to 3 meters, the Lincoln Aviator is 3025mm, and only the wheelbase of the Cadillac XT6 in the same class of medium and large SUVs is slightly shorter than the QX60.
But in any case, the identity of the Infiniti QX60 medium and large SUV is unquestionable, and it also has three rows of seats like the Q7, XC90, Aviator and other models. Although the space in the third row is relatively chicken and basically cannot accommodate the normal sitting posture of adults, it is also a common situation for luxury medium and large SUVs, which is not a short board.
More notably, the front suspension of the QX60 does not feature the conventional double wishbones or multiple linkages of the luxury camp, but the MacPherson structure common in mainstream brands, or low- and mid-range models.
The technical differences between McPherson and double wishbones/multi-link front suspensions will not be repeated, in short, double wishbones/multi-link front suspensions have better handling and stability potential for mid-size and above models. Luxury brands that focus on handling and driving quality, especially European brands, whether BBA or similar to Volvo and Jaguar and Land Rover, have fully adopted double wishbone/multi-link front suspension since the beginning of medium-sized cars.
Of course, the Cadillac XT6 is an exception, although this car also belongs to the medium and large SUV, but uses a lower Specification McPherson suspension, so although its size has reached the medium and large level, its hardware specifications have not reached the level of BMW X5, Audi Q7 and other models, and the price positioning is only equivalent to the medium-sized SUV in the luxury camp.
The Cadillac XT6 itself is relatively low-positioned
The two-wheel drive version of the QX60 is also a front-drive layout. In contrast, the Lincoln Aviator is a rear-drive configuration based on a longitudinal platform, and its two-wheel drive version is rear-wheel drive. In addition to the McPherson front suspension, the QX60's transverse engine front-drive platform is also a more common type for mid- to low-end brands or models.
The entire series is equipped with a 2.0T engine as standard
There are not enough rows at the medium to large levels
Before the replacement of the QX60, in the domestic market, a 2.5T engine + CVT powertrain was used, and a 20-horsepower small motor was combined to form a Hybrid hybrid system. In its second generation, the QX60 was fitted with ZF's transverse platform 9AT gearbox, which was previously installed on the Land Rover Evoque, Jeep Free Light, Honda Guandao and other models.
As for the engine, the foreign 3.5L V6 engine is not unexpectedly introduced into the domestic production, the new QX60 domestic version of the full series equipped with a 2.0T engine codenamed KR20, that is, the same version of the Nissan Tianlai 2.0T version, but the calibration of power and torque is slightly different.
Tianlai guidance price: 17.98-26.98 million
The most prominent feature is the use of VC-Turbo variable compression ratio technology. With a maximum power of 185 kW and a peak torque of 376 Nm, the QX60 2.0T engine has quite eye-catching parameters, but at the level of medium and large luxury SUV, there is no support for larger displacement models, or it seems a bit shabby:
The high-end version of the Mercedes-Benz GLE is equipped with a 2.5T engine, and the BMW X5 and Audi Q7 each have a 3.0T six-cylinder engine, of course, the price threshold of these high-powered versions exceeds 700,000. Although the Volvo XC90 also comes standard with a 2.0T engine, in addition to the standard B5 power version, there is also a B6 version with dual supercharging, as well as a stronger T8 plug-in hybrid version. The power performance is much stronger than the QX60.
As for the Lincoln Aviator, which also introduced domestically, the whole series is equipped with a 3.0T V6 engine as standard, and matches the 10AT transmission with a higher gear, and the specifications and power parameters of the powertrain are far beyond the QX60. In terms of powertrain, it is comparable to the QX60, or cadillac XT6.
Even if other brands of competitors are put aside, the price threshold of the imported QX60 old model is only 479,800 in the case of a 2.5T engine, while the pre-sale threshold of the new QX60 is still as high as 450,000 after the use of a 2.0T engine with reduced specifications. However, it should also be pointed out that the main sales version of the luxury medium and large SUV is basically based on 2.0T.
The threshold for active security configuration is too high
The upcoming domestic QX60 has a total of 6 configuration versions, but the specific pre-price is only two-wheel drive entry (450,000), four-wheel drive entry (500,000) and top flagship version (660,000) top-mounted flagship version, and the price of the rest of the configuration will be between the above three models.
There are two versions of the two-wheel drive, the four-wheel drive starting threshold is 500,000, as a non-first-line luxury brand model, the QX60's functional configuration will not be too low, but it is not too fine to see. For example, the standard panoramic sunroof, electric trunk, keyless entry, electric seat adjustment and other configurations are also commonly standard in other medium and large luxury SUVs, but the most basic active safety configuration of active braking only appears from the secondary low, and in the case of no option, the price threshold of L2 driver assistance has reached the second low, and it is expected to be about 600,000 yuan.
In addition to the two key differences of the front suspension type and the horizontal front-drive configuration, the QX60 has a high-end configuration shortcoming compared to the BBA, and even the medium and large SUV of Volvo and Lincoln, that is, the entire series is not equipped with air suspension, which is a hard injury for consumers with sufficient budgets and more attention to the quality of driving. Of course, whether it is the pricing range or the brand orientation of the target group, the Infiniti QX60 and the medium and large SUVs from the BBA are difficult to become direct opponents.
Compare XC90\XT6\Aviator
The real competitive relationship with the QX60 should be the same introduction of the domestic Cadillac XT6, Lincoln Aviator, and the Volvo XC90 with more overlap in the price range after the price reduction. In the terminal market, XC90 has the largest discount, about 100,000 yuan, the main sales range is actually between 550,000-700,000, and XT6 also has more than 50,000 yuan of terminal discounts, the actual main sales range is 35-50 million, Lincoln Aviator is relatively firm, the terminal price and the guidance price are basically consistent.
Compared with the other three cars, the replacement QX60 also has the basic momentum of a medium and large SUV, but the appearance and interior are still too decent. In the medium and large SUV level, the QX60 can dominate in terms of overall texture, basically only the Cadillac XT6 with much lower pricing.
Infiniti QX60
Volvo XC90
Especially for the interior, rich materials ensure a basic sense of luxury, but for a luxury medium and large SUV that will be replaced in 2021, the overall layout is too traditional. For the embrace of new design trends, it is not as good as the XC90, which has been replaced for 6 years, and it is not as good as the Lincoln Aviator for the interpretation of traditional luxury.
Lincoln Aviator
Compared with the specific functional configuration, although the QX60 is missing air suspension, the actual threshold of the XC90 and the aviator is generally close to 700,000, which also exceeds the actual price positioning of the QX60. L2 level driver assistance is the configuration of QX60, compared to XC90, XT6, aviator's price threshold is much higher, as for seat ventilation, high-end audio, multi-color mood lights and other configurations to enhance the luxury experience, QX60 in front of XT6, aviators, there is no advantage.
Is the QX60 worth buying?
Infiniti is also a brand with a large discount, the Q50L, QX50, terminal discounts are about 50,000 yuan, and after the QX60 listing, the stable terminal price is expected to appear similar preferential margins, when its real price range is expected to be between 400,000 and 600,000 yuan.
If there is such a discount, the QX60 has shown a more obvious price advantage compared to the XC90 and the Aviator, and is expected to become the only luxury medium and large SUV that can be entered by about 400,000 yuan outside the Cadillac XT6.
While this may not necessarily appeal to high-end customers who go straight to luxury mid-sized SUVs, for customers of luxury mid-size SUVs such as BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Audi Q5, etc., the large-level QX60 will also become a differentiated choice worth considering.
It is not enough compared to Q7, but it is more than Q5L
Write at the end
In the fiercely competitive car market, everyone is willing to give the strong applause, but they are very stingy to find and praise the highlights of the weak. Compared with the BBA, Infiniti does have a certain distance from both the brand and the product.
But if we only stare at these gaps, it is difficult to find the bright spots in it. In fact, whether in the United States or China, Infiniti is not to become a brand with the same name as the BBA, and I think it is more appropriate to see it as a more diverse and personality supplement outside the BBA. With this attitude, we can be more tolerant of the gap between QX60 and even the entire Infiniti, and appreciate its highlights and unique selling points more.
Therefore, QX60 can be domestically produced into China is certainly a good thing, and we do not have to worry too much about how it is better than BBA, people who like it, just need to see if it can meet your needs.