2022 Infiniti QX60 Teased With New 9-Speed Gearbox

We’ve been licking our lips in anticipation of the arrival of the new Infiniti QX60, and based on what we’ve seen of the new SUV’s interior and some teasers, it’ll be quite the looker. The Monograph version is going to take Infiniti design in a new direction, and while we expect the production version of the QX60 to look similar, further details have been hard to come by, until now.

Today, Infiniti announced that the QX60 will feature an all-new nine-speed automatic transmission developed in partnership with the masterminds at ZF. Paired to a 3.5-liter V6 with 295 horsepower, it should be a great combo.

It needs to be a great combo because Infiniti is touting this as its “most refined and advanced three-row crossover yet.” Furthermore, “the QX60 is a foundation for Infiniti”, a flagship if you will. As such, it needs to have a powerful but relaxing ride, so Infiniti’s engineers from the brand’s Arizona Testing Center have been working tirelessly on refining the engine and gearbox combination to minimize noise and maximize comfort.

Thousands of hours of driving over hundreds of thousands of miles was the only way to ensure that the new powertrain meets the targets Infiniti has set for it. Among these targets was the aim of minimum engine vibration, and this is helped along by a new Active Torque Mount that isolates these vibrations to optimize cabin comfort.

These testing miles weren’t covered in perfect conditions either. Specialized testing challenged every component down to the weather stripping around the windows. This attention to detail has culminated in the new drivetrain offering a “direct and linear acceleration feel.”

The nine-speed auto also gives you better acceleration, and Infiniti says that it downshifts almost instantly too. Fuel economy is also improved by this intensive development, and with much of the testing occurring in California’s Death Valley (where temperatures exceeded 122 degrees Fahrenheit), you can be sure that Infiniti’s promise of imperceptible shifts, a quiet ride, and easily accessible power will come to fruition.