Yup, it's because it's FWD/transverse. The 6 and 7 speeds used in other Infinitis are all longitudinal, rear drive. It's still disappointing that they went with the CVT, though. Nissan WAS building a decent 5-speed automatic just a few years ago (the RS5F) but stopped in order to force the CVT on every car they could. I think the RS5 would be much better suited to a big lux-crossover like the JX.
The FWD layout also means no VQ37VHR, since that's a rear-drive VQ. It'll probably get the Maxima's 290hp VQ35DE.
I'm sure it's built on the Murano's platform, but it's definitely bigger (7 seats rather than 5).
Infinitiguy19 wrote:They offer the JX in All Wheel Drive and Front Wheel Drive. Infiniti only offered the G20 as a FWD car since the JX. I am not a fan of a SUV thats FWD, Kinda kills it.
The I30/I35 were also front-drive. When Nissan killed it off back in 2004, they did it while talking loudly about 100% separation between Nissan and Infiniti models (the I was a rebadged Maxima), and about not wanting any FWD in the lineup. Now we've got a FWD CVT Infinti.
Of course, we can't really hold it against Infiniti. Everyone is so MGP-obsessed these days it's hard to stay competitive without a car-based 7-seat crossover. Pilot/MDX, Highlander/RX, CX9, Flex, Traverse/Acadia/Enclave...everyone else makes one. Nissan/Infiniti need to, too.