MONTREAL, Jan. 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- INFINITI is pleased to announce the all-new 2019 QX50 luxury crossover has been named the Best Mid-Size Premium Utility Vehicle for 2019 by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) as part of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards program. Adam Paterson, managing director of INFINITI Canada, accepted the award today at the 2019 Montreal International Auto Show.
“It is an honour to receive this award from AJAC - a professional association comprised of over 100 journalists dedicated to providing the Canadian customer with advice on the best vehicle option for his or her needs,” says Paterson. “The QX50 offers a suite of advanced technology including semi-autonomous ProPILOT Assist; unrivalled interior space; stunning exterior design, and the world’s first variable compression ratio (VC-Turbo) engine. For those reasons and more, we consider the QX50 to be the most important vehicle in our lineup. We appreciate the added validation from AJAC, and look forward to sharing this important accolade with our retail partners and customers.”
Testing for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards involves AJAC members evaluating eligible vehicles in real world driving conditions to ensure results are relevant to potential car and truck buyers. Evaluation parameters include, but are not limited to: safety features, cargo capacity, vehicle dynamics, acceleration, braking and overall comfort.
The designation from AJAC joins a growing list of accolades for the 2019 INFINITI QX50. ALG recently awarded the Powertrain Innovation Award to INFINITI for the QX50’s VC-Turbo engine for its ability to embody the driving experience, taking into account the elements of power, efficiency and handling dynamics.
Wards named the QX50 to its 10 Best Interiors List, recognized for its exceptionally well appointed interior design and human-focused craftsmanship. The QX50’s VC-Turbo engine was then named to Wards 10 Best Engines list for 2019, which involved testing against a range of new and significantly improved powerplants from manufacturers around the world, along with Wards 10 Best winners from 2018.
The all-new QX50 in Canada saw a surge in sales growth (+ 134 per cent) since arriving to INFINITI dealerships in June of 2018. The popularity of the 2019 QX50 helped propel INFINITI to its seventh-consecutive year of record sales in Canada.
ABOUT THE INFINITI QX50
The 2019 QX50, one of the most compelling INFINITI models to date, is built on an all-new platform. Engineered with flexibility of application in mind, this platform sets new standards for refinement, rigidity and interior space in the compact premium crossover segment.
The bold exterior styling brings a fresh interpretation of INFINITI's distinctive, "Powerful Elegance" design language to the crossover segment. The unrivalled interior space, artistic application of high quality materials and advanced craftsmanship make the cabin as welcoming and comfortable as it is flexible.
The QX50's advanced VC-Turbo engine is the world's first production-ready variable compression ratio engine, transforming on demand. A breakthrough in combustion engine design, the 2.0-litre VC-Turbo engine adjusts its compression ratio to optimize power and efficiency. It combines the efficiency of a 2.0-litre turbocharged gasoline engine with the torque and power of a 3.5-litre V6 engine, resulting in a best-in-class highway fuel economy of 7.8L/100 kilometres, and a 25 per cent fuel economy gain versus the previous-generation.
The 2019 QX50 offers a suite of technologies to enhance the driving experience, including available ProPILOT Assist and Direct Adaptive Steering, which is now in its fourth-generation. Both technologies are key elements in INFINITI's vision for driver assistance technologies that allow drivers to retain ultimate control over their vehicles.
Additional technologies available with the 2019 QX50 include: Distance Control Assist, Back-up Collision Intervention, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention and Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection. The 2019 QX50 is offered in five well-equipped models – QX50 LUXE, QX50 Essential, QX50 ProACTIVE, QX50 Sensory and QX50 Autograph.
For more media information, please visit INFINITInews.com.
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with representations in 50 markets around the world. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States, United Kingdom and China. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing. INFINITI is in the middle of a major product offensive. The brand has been widely acclaimed for its daring design and innovative driver-assistance technologies. From the 2016 season, INFINITI is a technical partner of the Renault Sport Formula One team, contributing its expertise in hybrid performance.
More information about INFINITI and its industry leading technologies can be found at INFINITI.ca.
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Media contacts:
Didier Marsaud
Director, Corporate Communications
INFINITI Motor Company - Canada
Telephone: 905-629-6400
Email: didier.marsaud@infiniticanada.com
Jenn McCarthy
Manager, Product Communications
INFINITI Motor Company - Canada
Telephone: 905-629-6350
Email: jennifer.mccarthy@infiniticanada.com
Roxane Barry
Planner, Product Communications
INFINITI Motor Company - Canada
Telephone: 905-629-6461
Email: roxane.barry@infiniticanada.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0638b094-ff56-4c45-9eb2-6c0a9ee6c243