Along with today’s announcement of the new 2015 QX80 SUV, Infiniti also dropped a very special Limited model. The normal QX80 is far from plebian, but the QX80 Limited is sprucing up the New York Auto Show as one of the most luxurious vehicles to ever come from the Nissan group.

While the started with a very solid canvas, what Nissan managed to create for Infiniti moves the brand on the territory of its competitors and into a new market of vehicles that haven’t even arrived yet. We know that Bentley is making an SUV, and that Aston Martin may have one on the table as well, but it seems that the QX80 Limited may have beaten both of those models to the punch.

With an unprecedented amount of standard technology, convenience and luxury features, the Limited edition of the QX80 is setting a very high bar for anything that comes afterwards. If you think it feels weird to hear Bentley and Infiniti mentioned in the same breath, read on to see the sheer amount of class and refinement crammed inside of this rolling palace.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Infiniti QX80.

2015 Infiniti QX80

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2015 Infiniti QX80
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 400 @ 5800
  • Torque: 413 @ 4000
  • Transmission: 7-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Exterior

2015 Infiniti QX80 - Exterior Dimensions

Overall length (inches)

208.3

Overall width (inches) 79.9

Overall height with roof rails (inches)

75.8

Wheelbase (inches)

121.1

Track width (inches) Front

67.5

Track width (inches) Rear

67.9

Coefficient of drag with roof rails

0.36


Interior

2015 Infiniti QX80 - Interior Dimensions

Headroom (inches) 1st row

39.9

Headroom (inches) 2nd row

40.0

Headroom (inches) 3rd row

36.8

Legroom (inches) 1st row

39.6

Legroom (inches) 2nd row

41.0

Legroom (inches) 3rd row

28.8

Shoulder room (inches) 1st row

63.8

Shoulder room (inches) 2nd row

63.5

Shoulder room (inches) 3rd row

60.5

Hip room (inches) 1st row

59.2

Hip room (inches) 2nd row

58.4

Hip room (inches) 3rd row

48.8


Drivetrain

2015 Infiniti QX80 - Drivetrain/Specifications

Type

5.6-liter (5,552cc) 32-valve V8 engine, aluminum-alloy block and heads

Horsepower

400 hp @ 5,800 rpm

Torque

413 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm

Transmission

Electronically controlled 7-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC)

Fuel Economy (mpg) (city/highway)

14/20


Prices

Competitors

2015 Cadillac Escalade

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade comes in to wrestle the Infiniti QX80 as a brand-new vehicle. The overhauled SUV->ke145 sports an exterior design inspired by the 2014 CTS sedan, which includes a large, chrome grille and vertical LED headlamps that go all the way down to the bumpers.

The cabin, now features extra headroom and legroom, high-grade leather, improved seating, and GM's latest in terms of technology. It is also more quiet than ever and packs a state-of-the-art, 16-speaker, Bose Centerpoint surround system.

The 2015 Escalade is motivated by a 6.2-liter, V-8 engine that delivers 420 horsepower and 455 pound-feet of torque. With fuel economy rating estimated at 16 mpg city and 22 highway, the Caddy sits above the QX80 in both power and efficiency. And that's not going to change for 2015, when the Infiniti-built SUV will have the same powertrain underneath.

Priced from $72,590, the new Escalade can be had with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, with the latter fetching an extra $2,600. Unlike the QX80, Cadillac offers a slightly longer version of the Escalade, dubbed the ESV, that is priced from $75,590.

2015 Lincoln Navigator

The 2015 Navigator is a bit behind as far as design goes, with changes including Lincoln's signature split-wing grille and adaptive HID headlamps. Interior updates aren't wild either, but customers will be greeted by a new steering wheel (borrowed from the MKC) wrapped in Wollsdorf leather, an instrument panel also covered with leather and an optional Ziricote wood trim.

The big news lies under the hood, where Lincoln decided to ditch the good ol' 5.4-liter V-8 for downsized EcoBoost power. The new 3.5-liter V-6 delivers 370 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque, which is a hefty improvement over the mill used until 2014. Although the new unit is still inferior compared to the ones powering the Cadiilac and the Infiniti, the 2015 Navigator is expected to fare better on the fuel economy front.

Pricing for the revamped Navigator has yet to be announced, but Lincoln is likely to set the sticker just below the $60,000 mark, making its SUV cheaper than both the Escalade and the QX80.

History

The current Infiniti QX80 began its life back in 1996, when it was sold as a midsize SUV sporting a QX4 badge. Based on the Nissan Pathfinder->ke548, the first-generation model was Infiniti's answer to the Acura SLX->ke309 and the Lexus LX450->ke497.

The second-generation SUV, this time a full-size contender, was launched in 2004 as the QX56. No longer developed around the Pathfinder, the new SUV shared underpinnings with the Nissan Armada->ke551 and the Nissan Titan->ke482 pickup truck. The QX56 was also the first Infiniti SUV to switch from V-6 to V-8 power.

The third-generation QX56 meant a new platform shift, with the full-size SUV becoming a luxury version of the Nissan Patrol->ke2954. Although it has a slightly shorter wheelbase than its predecessor, the current QX80 (renamed for the 2014 model year) is longer and wider.

2014 Infiniti QX80