INFINITI has been coasting on updates to existing models for what feels like forever. The QX50 and QX60 have soldiered on with refreshes, but the brand hasn’t launched an entirely new nameplate in ages. That changes with the 2027 INFINITI QX65, a sporty fastback SUV arriving at dealers early this summer with a starting MSRP of $53,990. And the thing most people will notice first isn’t the silhouette, the tech, or the price. It’s the color.
Sunfire Red: Actual Gold, Not Marketing Fluff
INFINITI’s launch color for the QX65 is called Sunfire Red, and it contains genuine gold-coated glass flecks embedded in the paint. Not “gold-toned.” Not “metallic finish that looks kind of gold-ish.” Actual gold pigment bonded to microscopic glass particles, layered into a tri-coat process that gives the paint a depth you simply don’t get from a standard two-stage application.
The process starts with a red ground-coat, followed by a transparent mid-coat carrying the gold-flecked glass, then sealed with a clearcoat. According to INFINITI, a simpler two-coat approach would have washed out the gold effect entirely. The result is a deep red that shifts depending on the angle and the light, revealing warm gold tones that move across the body panels as you walk around the car. Color designer Yasuhito Oba described the inspiration as a fiery morning sunrise, and having seen the press photos, that tracks.
The gold connection isn’t arbitrary, either. The iconic Nissan GT-R offered a similar gold-infused red called Regal Red starting in the 2015 model year. INFINITI is openly leaning into that lineage, positioning QX65’s paint as a deliberate nod to GT-R heritage. The security logistics alone are worth mentioning: suppliers used armored trucks to transport the gold pigment to the manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. Once mixed into the paint, roughly two gallons coat each vehicle in a hyper-sterile environment monitored by AI for imperfections.
Sunfire Red is one of nine exterior colors offered on the QX65, with seven available with a contrasting black roof. The AUTOGRAPH trim also gets Vermillion Red leather interior seating, so you can go full red-on-red if that’s your thing.
The Fastback Shape INFINITI Needed
Beyond the paint, the QX65 is doing something INFINITI hasn’t done since the original FX: building a luxury crossover that actually looks athletic. The design language here is “fastback SUV,” with a dramatic arching roofline that sweeps back to a rear spoiler, wheels pushed to the corners, and wide fenders that give the thing real presence. It measures 198.9 inches long on a 114.2-inch wheelbase, rides on standard 20-inch wheels (21s on the AUTOGRAPH), and the rear wiper is hidden inside the spoiler for a cleaner look.
The front end features a three-dimensional grille inspired by Japanese bamboo forests, flanked by INFINITI’s digital piano key LED lighting. There’s also a welcome lighting sequence when you approach and unlock the car, starting with the illuminated grille emblem and cascading through the front lighting elements. The available Light Path feature projects geometric wing-shaped patterns onto the ground beside the vehicle. It’s theatrical, but INFINITI clearly wants this car to feel like an event when you walk up to it.
Under the Hood: VC-Turbo and a 9-Speed
Power comes from INFINITI’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder, producing 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque. This is the variable compression engine that made the Wards 10 Best Engines list back in 2018, and INFINITI has continued refining it since. The variable compression ratio ranges from 8.0:1 to 14.0:1, adjusting mechanically for either performance or efficiency depending on driving conditions.
It’s paired with a 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters, tuned with a sportier shift schedule than you’d find in the QX60. Standard Intelligent All-Wheel Drive handles traction duties, and the QX65 can tow up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped. The drive mode selector covers Standard, Sport, Eco, Tow, Snow, and Off-Road settings. Curb weight sits around 4,663 pounds for the base LUXE, climbing to 4,715 for the AUTOGRAPH. EPA fuel economy figures haven’t been released yet.
Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Enhancement work together to kill unwanted cabin noise while pumping up sportier exhaust harmonics through the speakers. It’s the same concept luxury brands have been using for years, but it matters here because a turbocharged four-cylinder can use the help.
Inside: Klipsch Audio and Genuine Craftsmanship
The interior is where INFINITI is trying hardest to justify the premium positioning. Dual 12.3-inch displays come standard across all grades, with Google built-in providing navigation, app access through Google Play, and voice control via Google Assistant. Wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, four USB-C ports, and a Qi2 wireless charging pad with magnets and a cooling fan round out the connectivity.
The audio situation is genuinely interesting. The base LUXE gets an 11-speaker system, which is fine. Step up to SPORT and you get a 16-speaker Klipsch Premium system with 600 watts, an 8-inch subwoofer, and titanium dome tweeters. The AUTOGRAPH pushes that to a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere system at 1,200 watts, adding Individual Audio technology that uses headrest speakers to direct different audio streams to the driver and front passenger independently. The driver can take a phone call while the passenger keeps listening to music, or hear navigation directions without waking up the kids. There’s also a Personalized Sound app that calibrates the system to your individual hearing profile through an in-car hearing test.
Cargo space is competitive: 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 67.7 cubic feet with the 60/40 split seats folded. The AUTOGRAPH trim goes further with semi-aniline leather seats featuring kimono-inspired diagonal quilting, open-pore wood accents, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, and 64-color ambient lighting themed by Japanese seasons.
Three Grades, One Clear Target
INFINITI is offering the QX65 in three grades: LUXE at $53,990, SPORT at $55,690, and AUTOGRAPH at $62,590 (all before the $1,545 destination charge). The SPORT grade swaps in a more aggressive grille mesh, gloss black exterior accents, unique 20-inch black wheels, and the Klipsch 16-speaker system. AUTOGRAPH gets the 21-inch wheels, satin chrome trim, the full Klipsch Reference Premiere audio, and an available Technology Package that adds ProPILOT Assist 2.1 for hands-off highway driving on compatible roads.
The QX65 is built at the same Smyrna, Tennessee plant as the QX60, and it’s clearly aimed at buyers cross-shopping the Acura RDX, BMW X4, and Audi Q5 Sportback. Whether the VC-Turbo four-cylinder can compete with the six-cylinder options in that segment remains to be seen, but INFINITI is betting that the design, the interior quality, and yes, that gold-flecked paint will be enough to pull people into showrooms. For a brand that’s been relatively quiet on the product front, the QX65 feels like a genuine statement of intent.
