Infiniti releases first look at JX crossover

Infiniti on Thursday released a first look at the JX seven-passenger crossover it plans to build at the Nissan assembly plant in Smyrna, Tenn.

A concept of the JX will be shown publicly during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August, and the production version is scheduled to debut at the Los Angeles auto show in November. The Infiniti JX is set to go on sale in spring 2012 as a 2013 model.

Infiniti has said the styling of the JX greenhouse will pick up cues from the Essence concept car that debuted in 2009 at the Geneva motor show.

A three-row crossover will give Infiniti a competitor to vehicles such as the Lexus GX and the Acura MDX.

The move will give the luxury division of Nissan three crossovers. The current two--the EX and the FX--are five-passenger, two-seating-row vehicles. Neither have been big sellers for the brand.

Infiniti plans to release more photos of the concept in the weeks leading up to the Pebble Beach event.

By Dale Jewett