Off(Road) And Running: Infiniti Unleashes The 'Rebelle' Within As Modified QX80 Begins Endurance Rally

•INFINITI enters demanding all-female 2020 Rebelle Rally with specially modified QX80 SUV

•Addition of off-road suspension, 3-inch lift, heavy-duty bumpers, and off-road wheels and tires ensure flagship SUV is Rebelle ready

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The gateway to exploration may already be sitting in your driveway. Following successful challenges in the Gobi Desert and Jordan, the next 'QXploration' task: tackling the American West's far-flung regions in an INFINITI QX80.

Today, the INFINITI team begins its trek in the 2020 Rebelle Rally — the first all-female navigational rally raid in the United States — with a rally-ready contender based on the 2021 INFINITI QX80 SUV. The specially prepared QX80 will tread through some of the toughest territories in North America along a 1,200-mile route from Lake Tahoe to the Imperial Sand Dunes near the U.S.-Mexico border. Teams must navigate each stage without modern tech; compasses, roadbooks, and maps are the only navigational tools allowed. The rally will be held Oct. 8-17, 2020.

Bakersfield, California-based off-road specialists CALMINI Products, Inc., prepared the QX80 with minimal changes to the already robust architecture of the brand's flagship SUV. A 3-inch lift, off-road suspension components, custom front and rear bumpers suited for demanding approach and departure angles, heavy-duty control arms, thicker skid plates, and chunky all-terrain tires were fitted to the QX80 for the adventure. Automotive journalists and mothers, Driver Nicole Wakelin and Navigator Alice Chase (Team Wander Women), will pilot the 2021 QX80 through the challenging terrain, ranging from rutted, tree-lined trails to punishing dunes — and everything in between.

The INFINITI QX80 is ready for the challenge. Heated and cooled, graphite leather-appointed seats designed for ultimate comfort — in traffic or on the trail — await Wakelin and Chase. A handcrafted and luxurious interior with dual touch screens for infotainment, Bose premium sound, and tri-zone automatic climate control are standard luxury features in every QX80 — including Team Wander Women's modified QX80 — and provide respite from the world outside, especially in the middle of nowhere.

The INFINITI QX80 was chosen for the rally for its already-impressive capability and sturdy body-on-frame construction. The three-row, luxury full-size SUV is equipped as standard with a smooth 5.6-liter V-8 that produces 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque and shifts its power to the rear or all four wheels via a confident seven-speed automatic transmission. The QX80's impressive All-Mode® 4WD system and Terrain Select system complements the potent powertrain to deliver confidence on any surface — on- or off-road.

'I'm excited to be driving a luxury SUV in such a challenging, adventurous and pioneering event. The QX80 has real capability, but it's not the kind of vehicle most people take off-road. Sure, everyone knows you can tackle that rutted dirt road up to the family cabin or driving across the grass and dirt to park at a local fair, but taking it out into the desert? Into sand dunes? That's different, and that makes this exciting,' Wakelin said.

A stock 'Coulis Red' INFINITI QX80 LUXE was adapted for the adventure with Off-Road Monster 18-inch wheels, rally computer, a PowerTank air-up tank and digital air-down kit, Nitto Terra Grappler G2 295/70R18 A/T tires, and off-road performance shocks. Essential recovery items such as heavy-duty shackles and ropes, tow straps, two sets of Maxtrax platforms, fire extinguisher, safety items, and two full-size spares are all safely stowed in the spacious interior of the QX80 in a unique and secure custom cage fabricated by CALMINI specialists. New for 2021, the INFINITI QX80 is equipped with an enhanced Smart Rear View Mirror (SVRM), which provides a crisp high-definition rearward view projected on a 9.6-inch display for the driver when passengers, cargo or lighting conditions obstruct its view. The enhanced SVRM is standard on all 2021 QX80 grades.

'We are excited to welcome INFINITI in this year's Rebelle Rally. As the ultimate proving ground for vehicles, we look forward to seeing the QX80 showcase its abilities through the course's wide variety of terrain,' said Emily Miller, founder of the Rebelle Rally. 'The entry is a testament to our motto, 'the vehicle in your driveway is more capable than you realize.''

'Our team training has been a world-class, collaborative effort. Early on we were fortunate to receive instruction and mentorship advice from a professional driver across the globe,' Chase said. 'Perhaps the most touching preparation and training has come from previous Rebelle competitors who have reached out to offer support and insight into what helped them succeed.'

About Rebelle Rally

The Rebelle Rally, entering its fifth year, is the first women's off-road navigational rally raid in the United States. The event has a unique challenge and scoring system where precise navigation, not speed, is the ultimate goal. Participants trade in cell phones and GPS for old-school navigation in a competition for the elements of time, distance, headings, and hidden checkpoints. Armed with just maps, compasses, and roadbooks, 40 teams of two will be pushed to their limits as they make their way across 2,000+ kilometers of Nevada and California's iconic terrain. Starting October 8 in Lake Tahoe and finishing October 17 along the famed Glamis Dunes, the competition is the longest competitive off-road rally in the nation. For more information including live show and tracking, visit www.rebellerally.com

About INFINITI

INFINITI Motor Company is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan with operations around the world including regional offices based in the Americas, China and INFINITI International Markets based in Dubai. The INFINITI brand of premium automobiles are assembled in manufacturing facilities in Japan, North America and China. INFINITI design studios are located in Atsugi-Shi near Yokohama, London, San Diego and Beijing.

Photo credit: Infiniti
posted on conceptcarz.com

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