Infiniti’s upcoming QX60 three-row crossover will feature a more advanced Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system that's not only more compact and more advanced but also quicker to support the driver with all-wheel traction in nearly any condition.

The 2022 Infiniti QX60 combines its award-winning 3.5-liter V-6 engine with an all-new 9-speed automatic transmission and the new all-wheel-drive system, which has been rigorously tested in varying conditions from scorching sand and slippery wet roads, to thick blankets of cold snow — and nearly every type of surface in between, says the car-maker.

"We listened to our customers and we wanted to deliver an all-new Infiniti QX60 that could perform with confidence in nearly all-weather conditions," said Infiniti’s General Manager, Product Strategy and Planning Eric Rigaux. "Our newest Intelligent All-Wheel Drive exceeds our expectations with seamless power delivery, right when the driver expects it — or even before."

Part of that near-instant response is thanks to the all-wheel-drive system's new direct coupling mechanism that engages the rear wheels almost instantly when more grip is needed, using a host of sensors to predict when more grip is needed — sometimes even before the wheels slip.

"The all-new QX60 is really designed to encounter a wide variety of situations with its all-wheel-drive system," said Chris Fischer, manager of marketability for Infiniti. "The system will monitor the road surface and very quickly move the power from the wheels that don't have traction to the wheels that do. What this allows you to do is to continue driving forward with good confidence."

INFINITI's engineering team has spent years testing the vehicle throughout North America in far-flung, desert locations such as Death Valley, California, and Moab, Utah, in addition to cold-weather testing in areas such as Alaska, northern Quebec, and Michigan. This has allowed engineers to tune and calibrate the new all-wheel-drive system for better responsiveness in slippery conditions, it said.