FRANKLIN, Tenn., April 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Infiniti announced today that Edmunds.com has named the 2014 Infiniti Q50 among its "Top Rated Vehicles." The QX60 was also awarded as one of its "2014 Most Popular on Edmunds.com Midrange Luxury SUVs" and the QX80 was named as one of its "Most Popular on Edmunds.com Premium Luxury SUVs." Each of the vehicles was recognized during a presentation at the 2014 New York International Auto Show where Michael Bartsch, vice president of Infiniti Americas, accepted the award on the company's behalf. 

The Edmunds.com testing team evaluates about 200 cars per year.  Each vehicle is driven on a standardized road-test loop and evaluated on a test track for instrumented testing in controlled conditions.  Edmunds.com uses its findings to grade how a car stacks up against its direct rivals in its size and price class.  Infiniti's Q50 luxury sedan received an "A" rating when compared to its direct competitors in its class. 

Building on Infiniti's legendary sports sedan styling, performance and technology leadership, the 2014 Infiniti Q50S is designed to create a new, distinct level of customer engagement. This luxury sports sedan helped establish a fresh new design, performance and technology direction for the brand when it debuted in early 2014 and offers a choice of powertrains including 3.7-liter V6 and 3.5-liter gas-electric hybrid V6. The Q50 also features world's first technologies designed to enhance the driver's experience, including Direct Adaptive Steering™, Active Lane Control™ and Predictive Forward Collision Warning.

First introduced for the 2013 model year, Infiniti's QX60 shook up the status quo with its innovative style, interior flexibility, innovative safety features and advanced hospitality features. Today, continues to offer real-world three-row utility, as well as all the premium features, performance and technological innovations Infiniti has become known for worldwide. In addition to Infiniti's signature emotive styling and craftsmanship, the 2014 QX60 also features segment-leading passenger and rear cargo volume, and extensive safety and security technologies, including Around View^® Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection and an available world's first technology, Backup Collision Intervention (BCI) system.

The 2014 QX80 stands out in the full-size luxury SUV class, offering a unique and unmatched combination of the inspired exterior design, luxurious amenities for its 8-passengers inside   and brute performance from a 5.6 liter V8 that's rugged enough to tow boats and trailers weighing up to 8,500-pounds (when properly equipped). As with the QX60, the QX80 incorporates a number of exciting standard features, such as Infiniti's Around View^® Monitor with Moving Object Detection and the advanced BCI, available in the Technology Package for the 2014 model year.

Edmunds.com's recognition of the QX80 follows the global debut of a heavily refreshed QX80 at the New York International Auto Show for the 2015 model year. The 2015 QX80 offers many interior and exterior styling updates and for the first time ever, a new variant will be introduced. The QX80 Limited offers an extensive menu of exclusive ultra-luxury features and exterior styling updates that are part of an upgraded level of craftsmanship surpassing even the high standards of standard QX80s.

About Infiniti:
Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan and the United States. Production in China and Europe will start soon along with the expansion of the brand's portfolio.

As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Infiniti has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the Formula One team, and Sebastian Vettel, its four-time World Champion driver, serves as Infiniti's Director of Performance.

More information about Infiniti, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infiniti.com. For the latest news on Infiniti in Formula One, visit www.infiniti-gp.com, www.youtube.com/InfinitiGP or follow on Twitter @InfinitiGP.

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SOURCE Infiniti