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2016 Infiniti QX70 S Design pricing and specifications: New special-edition SUV hits Australia

Infiniti has added a new special-edition model to its QX70 SUV range, introducing the new QX70 S Design flagship to its Australian line-up this week.

Mike Stevens

12:2210 July 2015

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Available in V6 petrol and diesel forms, the new special enters with drive-away pricing of $85,900 and $87,900 respectively. From October, pricing will revert to $88,900 and $90,900 before on-road costs.

Based on the top-shelf QX70 ‘S Premium’ models, normally priced at $85,900 (petrol) and $87,900 (diesel), the S Design enters as Australia’s latest special-edition offering a blacked-out styling and trim pack.

First revealed overseas in October last year, the QX70 S Design adds a black finish to the SUV’s 21-inch six-spoke alloy wheels, along with its front grille, fog lamp bezels, front and side vents, side mirrors, roof rails and tailgate highlights.

In the cabin, there’s purple stitching to the leather steering wheel and gear-shift lever. Choose the ‘Graphite’ colour option (pictured) and that purple stitching extends to the seats, doors and centre armrest.

Features are otherwise unchanged from the S Premium grade, which means there’s adaptive damping with sport mode, rear Active Steer, 14-way powered seat adjustment, around-view monitor with distance sensors, forward collision-warning, brake assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and prevention and low-speed following.

Above: overseas 'Graphite' cabin shown. Australian photos still to come.

Other features offered with the S Design, S Premium and other QX70 models include bi-xenon lights, keyless entry and start, sunroof, 11-speaker Bose audio, hard disk navigation and music storage.

Powertrains are likewise unchanged, which means a 235kW/360Nm 3.7 litre petrol V6 (12.1 L/100km) or a 175kW/550Nm 3.0 litre diesel V6 (9.0 L/100km).

On the sales front, Infiniti continues to soldier along in Australia with low volumes, ending June with 271 sales year-to-date, against 210 for the same period in 2014.

The all-new Q50 sedan has done little to build the company's fortunes in Australia, contributing just 139 sales year-to-date - although that figure makes it the best-selling model in the Infiniti range, followed by the QX70 (92), Q60 (27) and Q70 (13).

But, as Infiniti Australia managing director Jean-Philippe Roux notes, there's more than a few bright lights on the horizon for Nissan's luxury marque.

“Expanding the Infiniti vehicle range is a key part of our plan for sustainable growth in Australia,” Roux said today.

Later this year and in 2016, Infiniti's Australian range will grow to include the big Patrol-based QX80 luxury off-roader, along with the Q30 'active compact' (a high-set hatch that isn't quite a compact SUV), the QX30 'active crossover' (a more obvious swing at the compact SUV market), and the production version of the striking Q60 2+2 coupe concept.

“These next four new models to join our range will see the Infiniti brand cover a much broader range of the local premium market. And we have even more all-new models planned.”