The 2010 INFINITI EX35, which goes on sale at INFINITI retailers nationwide in fall 2009, offers an exceptional combination of advanced technology, seductive design and elegant interior. The EX35 will feature slightly modified packages for 2010 with even more advanced technology systems than the previous generation, including the Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS). Other features still available on the 2010 EX35 include Distance Control Assist (DCA),Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) and the advanced Around View Monitor (AVM) including front and rear sonar systems, which utilizes four small cameras to give the driver a “top-down view” of the outside of the vehicle while parking. Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system (which includes Lane Departure Warning) and Intelligent Cruise Control are also available.
“The EX35’s breathtaking design has brought a breath of fresh air to the segment with its sculpted elegance, engaging interior and exciting performance,” said Ian Forsyth, Director, Corporate and Product Planning, Nissan Canada, Inc. “This year we wanted to give it even more reasons to stand out in its class by adding even more technology to make the driving experience better, including the Advanced Climate Control System.”
Coupe-Inspired Exterior
The EX35’s 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.
Its sporty proportions include a long hood, short front and rear overhangs, rearward cabin and smooth coupe-like roofline arching over the windows to the C-pillars.
“The EX35 is the perfect fusion of a luxury coupe and a high-utility SUV,” said Forsyth. “Its ‘right-sized’ packaging gives it excellent around-town maneuverability, while the wide rear hatch and low load floor make it a versatile performer for everyday and weekend use.”
EX35’s exterior includes many signature INFINITI touches, including a double-arch grille, large L-shaped headlights with available Bi-Xenon Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS), integrated fog lights, distinctive LED taillights and “dynamic arch” profile. Other exterior features include a high-mounted rear hatchback spoiler, chrome-finished dual exhaust tips, an available power tilt/sliding moonroof with one-touch activation and standard roof rails and crossbars, which offer additional storage possibilities. EX35 also features a standard puddle lamp integrated in the side-view mirror as part of the hospitality lighting concept.
Eight exterior colours are offered: Aspen Pearl, Platinum Ice, Diamond Graphite, Black Obsidian, Scarlet Silver, Tidewater, Blue Onyx and Dark Currant.
Elegant Interior Design
Like all INFINITI vehicles, the EX35 was conceived to offer a reinvigorating and engaging interior environment, one that is both indulgent and inspiring.
The driver-focused “wave-inspired” cabin layout features an INFINITI signature “double-wave” instrument panel, easy-to-read high-contrast gauges with white-and-violet illumination and hospitality lighting with a pin LED light mounted over the centre console and INFINITI-signature analog clock.
The instrument panel also features a 7-inch colour display with INFINITI controller for the trip computer and additional vehicle information, including the available INFINITI Hard Drive-based Navigation System with 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for music storage and playback (available Navigation package).
Other technology systems include available Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System (available in Journey package), standard INFINITI Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, USB Connection Port with Interface System for iPod, XM Satellite Radio and standard Rear View Monitor. Front and rear sonar system are also available as well as Distance Control Assist (DCA), Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Zagat® Restaurant Guide, Bose® Premium Audio System , 11 speakers including 2 subwoofers, Single CD in-dash changer and Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) which uses an air purifier with Plasmacluster technology to help reduce pollutants in the cabin.
The interior is offered with leather-appointed seating surfaces, available in Wheat, Graphite, Stone and Chestnut leather appointments. There is also a leather and aluminum shift knob, and leather-wrapped steering wheel with controls for audio, cruise control, voice commands and Lane Departure Prevention (if equipped). Dual-zone automatic temperature control is also available.
An 8-way power driver’s seat with 2-way manual lumbar support and a 4-way power passenger’s seat and heated front seats are standard. A driver’s seat memory system (2 positions) is also offered, along with available 8-way power front passenger’s seat. Also available is a 60/40 split power-folding 2nd row seat (operated from front or hatch area).
“The EX35’s interior is all about driving pleasure and passenger comfort,” said Forsyth. “Like the exterior, it offers a coupe-like feel but surprising utility – ideal for today’s active lifestyles.”
Advanced Platform and Powertrain
Under the EX35’s dramatic body is an equally advanced platform and powertrain based on the latest INFINITI performance technology. Its advanced FM platform provides the same high levels of handling precision and balance as it does for the INFINITI M, FX and G Coupe and Sedan.
Every 2010 INFINITI EX35 comes standard with a VQ35HR 3.5-litre V6 engine rated at 297-horsepower and 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, DS sport mode with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM), and Adaptive Shift Control.
The engine block features ladder frame construction, variable exhaust cam timing (CVTCS), asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors and Iridium spark plugs. Its symmetric twin ram air intake system helps reduce airflow resistance, while the dual exhaust system has been designed with equal length exhaust manifolds and reduced muffler exhaust pressure to help improve engine breathing.
Both are tuned to create authoritative harmonies, helping enhance driving pleasure, and creating an exciting engine sound.
The VQ engine design also includes a long list of advanced systems found on the previous design – including a Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS), a "noiseless" timing chain for quiet operation, an electronically controlled "drive-by-wire" throttle system, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, and molybdenum coated lightweight pistons.
Every 2010 EX35 utilizes a subframe-mounted independent front strut with coil spring suspension with aluminum-alloy upper and lower links, high-performance dual-flow pass shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. The rear suspension is an independent multi-link design with aluminum-alloy upper and lower links and axle housing, high-performance dual-flow pass shock absorbers and stabilizer bar.
Steering is provided by a vehicle speed-sensitive power-assisted steering system with power-assisted front and rear discs (vented front) and standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Also standard is Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS), while an advanced Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) with Preview Function is optionally available.
Available wheel and tire combinations include 17-inch 7-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/60 R17 tires or 18-inch 8-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/55 R18 tires.
The EX35 features INFINITI’s ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system, which is also utilized on the M, FX and G Sedan. The system utilizes an active torque distribution management system with an active centre clutch designed for smooth starts and better traction and maneuverability on snowy roads than conventional all-wheel drive systems, plus minimal compromise of rear-wheel drive performance characteristics on dry roads.
Advanced Safety Technologies
Several technologies designed to enhance safety and control are available on the 2010 EX35, including Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA).
Distance Control Assist is designed to help reduce driver workload in irregular traffic flows, such as city driving or urban/suburban highway driving. A laser rangefinder system is used to locate preceding vehicles and calculate the distance and closing rate. Visual, physical and audible feedback helps bring attention to increasing risk and the mechanism also assists with braking action. The DCA system can be easily switched on or off to easily suit individual driver preferences.
The Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) system warns the driver with a warning light and chimes when there is a risk of collision with the vehicle ahead in the travelling lane. The driver then knows to take avoidance action immediately. The system helps reduce the rear-end collision speed by applying the brakes when the system judges that the collision cannot be prevented.
In addition to these, the EX35’s advanced technology design also includes the INFINITI Around View Monitor and the Lane Departure Prevention system (available on select packages). The INFINITI Around View Monitor utilizes small front, side and rear-mounted cameras to project an all-around view of potential objects on every side of the vehicle – helping reduce blind spots when parking.
“Conventional mirrors, no matter how carefully you use them, just can’t provide a view around the vehicle that the Around View Monitor’s four-camera system does,” said Forsyth. “Rear bumper sonar systems help detect objects behind a vehicle, but again they can’t give the view of the space around the vehicle that the AVM does.”
The Lane Departure Prevention system builds on the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system. Rather than just use an audible/visual warning system to alert the driver of unintentional vehicle movement outside the designated lane, the LDP system uses the vehicle’s Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to help assist the driver in maintaining lane position if the vehicle inadvertently starts to drift outside of the lane.
Both LDP and the LDW systems use a small camera installed behind the windshield to detect visible lane markers in front of the vehicle and calculate its position relative to lane markers and warn the driver of lane drift (pending lane change without use of the turn signal) with a visual display and audible buzzer. At the same time, the LDP system assists the driver by using gentle control (generating part of the necessary yaw movement), using the VDC’s brake actuator to control the brake pressure of each individual wheel to generate the intended movement.
Every 2010 EX35 also features the INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification system, driver and front passenger side-impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bags for front and rear seat outboard occupant head protection, and Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Also standard are 3-point ALR/ELR seat belts (driver’s side ELR only) and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors, front seat Active Head Restraints and the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for the rear outboard seating positions.
EX35 also features advanced Zone Body Construction with front and rear crushable zones to help disperse crash energy around the passenger compartment.
Models and Packages
The 2010 INFINITI EX35 is available in five packages: Luxury, Journey, Premium, Navigation and Technology.
The standard Luxury Package contains many of INFINITI’s safety and convenience features and now also includes a USB Connection Port with Interface Systems for iPod users, while the new Journey package now contains Bluetooth Hands-Free phone system.
New additions to the Premium package include the Bose Premium Audio System with 11 speakers, two subwoofers, a 2GB Music Box Hard Drive and the Around View Monitor including front and rear sonar systems. It also includes the Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) with Auto Recirculation, Grape Polyphenol Filter and Plasmacluster™ technologies.
The 2010 Navigation Package now includes the INFINITI Hard Drive Navigation System, Voice Recognition for HVAC, Audio and Navigation, Zagat® Restaurant Guide, In-dash single disc DVD Audio Drive and a 9.3 GB Music Box Hard Drive for music storage and playback.
The 2010 Technology Package is unchanged, and features Distance Control Assist (DCA), Intelligent Brake Assist, Lane Departure Prevention System (LDP) with Lane Departure Warning System (LDW) and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC).
“This 2010 EX35 returns as simply an extraordinary vehicle, providing a personal reward for those who drive and own it,” said Forsyth. “With power and agility available on demand, it’s a perfect fit for buyers looking to add a little excitement in their everyday lives.”