The Infiniti FX45 Concept was first unveiled at the 2001 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. It was to become the basis for the FX series, which included the FX35, FX45 and FX50. 

In a new video released to mark the 20th anniversary of the model, Infiniti’s design team outline the features of the old FX45, its evolution, and its overall impact on the automotive industry.

“I’ve heard from people in the industry that the FX was immediately benchmarked because, back almost 20 years ago when it was being drawn, there was nothing like it,” explains Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president for Global Design, Nissan. ”There were a number of relatively orthodox SUV’s available in the relatively new genre but the FX took it to another level because it was almost divorced from restriction even though it had as many as anything else, it was this kind of miracle project, where from the first sketch to the final one, both appeared to be from a dream.”

Last year Infiniti’s QX Inspiration Concept debuted at NAIAS. The design team said the new SUV concept signals a “new era” for the company. 

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