08 INFINITI EX 35 By  ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net It’s an all-new luxury crossover.  Sleek.  Sporty.  Elegant.  Easy to drive.  Easy to handle.  I’m talking about the Extraordinary Infiniti EX 35, introduced in Pebble Beach in August and to the journalist community in September.  Availability in the showrooms will occur near the end of 2007 or early 2008.

The Infiniti EX 35 has a very unique, yet sporty design.  The PR folks said that the basic ingredient of design was to have all the attributes of a sports car.   It has a long hood that shows wave lines.  The front axle is moved slightly forward that allows short overhangs.  The overall look of the EX 35 is very consistent with Infiniti’s heritage.

Inside, the premium and luxury touch is evident.  The seats are a plush leather. The steering wheel features hand-stitched leather.  A special feature I’ve never seen before is located behind the driver’s seat.  There is a pull-out, headrest-mounted, coat hanger.  Most of the time, a guy’s jacket or suit coat is thrown limply in the back seat.  This is a great feature that only takes a minute to use and keeps the coat hanging free of wrinkling.

The EX 35 has a second row seating that offers power folding instead of having to push or pull straps and levers.  The center armrest is extra-long, making it very convenient for those who like to rest their elbows on long trips.  Bottom line – the interior is very roomy.  And another special feature –the EX 35 has a specially designed hip point height.  That’s the distance from the ground level that allows the easiest entrance or exit from the seat – the hip point height.

I was among the group of journalists test-driving the EX 35 around the Santa Monica, California area.  After spending a lot of time examining the exterior and interior, we slid behind the wheel and headed out along those southern California highways and into the mountain areas.  The EX is powered by an award-winning 3.5 liter V6. This engine has a low center of gravity and produces 297 horsepower.  It comes with a five speed automatic and either All Wheel Drive or Rear Wheel Drive.

This great vehicle features a number of innovative technological items and well as some that can be found on other luxury vehicles.  These include Lane Departure Prevention, an Around View Monitor, Welcome Lighting, and Scratch Shield paint.  During the test drive, I had the opportunity to try each of these out and they really do work as intended.  The Lane Departure Prevention uses a camera to monitor the stripes on each side of the lane.  The car beeps if the vehicle slightly strays over the line and stays there for any length of time.  But not only that, the steering wheel slightly nudges a correction so the driver can make the full correction. Switching lanes normally will not activate the Lane Departure Prevention warning.  The Around View Monitor utilizes cameras located in the right and left side rear view mirrors, as well as in the front and rear of the car.  This is very helpful, allowing an unparalleled view all around the car.  It is almost the ultimate system, yet simple, that assists in parking or maneuvering in tight places. The Scratch Shield paint allows small scratches to heal themselves, much like a sort of Silly Putty.  It only works if the scratch doesn’t penetrate down to the next level, and is designed to keep a glossy appearance for many years.

The Infiniti EX is a very personal and rewarding vehicle.  It has performance that lets the driver feel excited.  The technology is usable and inspires confidence. If you are looking for that EXtraordinary car, check out this all-new luxury crossover at your Infiniti dealership.