EVERY once in a while, an automaker breaks the mould and designs a vehicle so far out of the box that, instead of following the herd of boxy sport-utes, makes a functional ride with the sleek, curvaceous look and feel of a sports car.
Three years ago, when Infiniti's FX45 burst onto the scene, it was unlike any sport-ute or crossover that had come before it. For years, it's been obvious the SUV had become a status symbol for the droves of urbanites and suburbanites who scooped them up. But SUV owners were more likely to be spotted running their ute through the car wash than over a rugged rock crawl.
So, it is fitting the FX45 has become known as the sports car-like SUV. It has the looks, it has the guts and, for the 2006 model year, it gets a nip and tuck -- a new grille, new bumper, new wheel design and three new colours -- to keep it competitive and modern.
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