Infiniti appears to be changing direction in a meaningful way. We recently reported on plans to revive the Red Sport badge on a high-performance QX80 variant. Now, according to Automotive News, Infiniti is planning to add a more powerful V-6 engine to the QX65 not long after the new model arrives.
The QX65 is set to join Infiniti's lineup as a 2027 model in the coming months. At introduction, the SUV with the sloping roofline is expected to be sold exclusively with the same 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder shared with the QX60 on which it's based. The V-6 would follow in the summer of 2027.
According to Automotive News, the six-cylinder in question is the 3.5-liter V-6 already used in the Nissan Pathfinder. That engine makes 284 horsepower in standard Pathfinder trims and 295 hp in the Rock Creek edition. AN's report suggests Infiniti would tune the output to approximately 300 horsepower for the QX65 application.
The move fits into Infiniti's broader product strategy. Beyond the planned QX80 variants, the brand is also reviving the Q50 sedan — reportedly with a twin-turbocharged V-6 and possibly a manual transmission option. The QX60 itself, which underpins the QX65, may also receive the Pathfinder's V-6, making both candidates for Red Sport performance variants further down the road.
"The V-6 is still king in this segment for the perception of power," a source told Automotive News. "Infiniti wants a performance model for every vehicle eventually, and the V-6 makes that easier."