“Behold the iconic performance crossover,” says Infiniti about this scorcher of a vehicle – and that it is. Exquisitely styled, it’s a vision of perfection. Almost too beautiful to catapult into the bundu, the XC70 is the kind of vehicle that begs long journeys. Available in three engine derivatives – the 3.7 petrol, the 5-litre petrol and the 3.0 litre diesel, all with 7-speed auto transmission – it’s as at home on the tar as it is in the rough stuff.
By Peta Lee
Sumptuously luxurious, the XC70 offers a range of high-technology features to enhance your driving enjoyment. Think forward collision warning, for instance. Laser sensors scan ahead to help warn you of a potential collision and can trigger intelligent brake assist to apply brakes to minimise an unavoidable one. Then there’s the intelligent all-wheel-drive, which adjusts for better traction when you need it and more dynamic handling when you don’t.
Another key feature is the downshift rev matching: this expertly translates performance driving technique. Flick the magnesium paddle shifter for a lower gear and it blips the throttle to ready the engine for the new gear. Smoother, quicker downshifts mean balance and response. Perfect!
Sit in the cockpit and behold the most breathtaking cabin. Where interior components meet – where the dash meets the door or the centre console – they are assembled not to be mathematically perfect, but to look perfect.
Infiniti believes “a luxury vehicle should connect you to the road, not insulate you from it. It should put you in charge, not take charge. It should make your heart beat faster, not lull you to sleep”.
How perfectly they’ve achieved that.
Priced from R679 131.
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