Infiniti Essence GT Concept becomes a $300 Limited Edition Sculpture with its own Louis Vuitton Case

The well-received Infiniti Essence GT may not have become a reality -at least not yet- but it's getting its own artwork in the form of a collector's edition sculpture, penned by the car's original designer under the supervision of Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura. The "Essence Sculpture" is made from solid resin and production will be strictly limited to 300 individually numbered units worldwide.

Continuing its cooperation with the famed fashion house Louis Vuitton, Infiniti also ordered a bespoke carrying case that was handcrafted in Louis Vuitton's workshop in Asnieres, France.

The "Essence Sculpture" with Louis Vuitton case will get its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week and go on sale through the Infiniti merchandise website at infinitilifestyle.com beginning in December. The price for the sculpture alone has been set at US$300 plus shipping. If you want the personalized Louis Vuitton Damier Graphite case, you'll have to order and buy it separately, so forget about getting the sculpture and giving the case to your 'amore' as a Christmas gift...

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Nissan Recalls 2.1 Million Vehicles Worldwide Over Ignition Problem

A defect in the ignition system that can cause an engine to stall while running has prompted a massive recall of some 2.1 million Nissan and Infiniti cars and trucks worldwide.

In the U.S. and Canada, the recall involves the 2004-2006MY Nissan Armada and Titan, 2005-2006MY Infiniti QX56, as well as the 2003-2006MY Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra models. Other models in the global recall list include the Cube, March/Micra and Tiida.

Of the 2.14 million vehicles affected by the recall, Japan accounts for 834,759, North America for 761,528, Europe for 354,170, and China and Taiwan for 194,409 units.

The company said it will notify the owners of the affected vehicles. The inspection and repair is expected to be done free of charge.

2011 Infiniti EX: New Pricing, Added Content and 7-Speed Automatic

Infiniti has rolled out the revised 2011 EX that is on sale now at the firm's dealerships across the U.S. Pricing (not including destination and handling charges) for the EX, which is offered exclusively with a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, starts at $34,150 for the entry level RWD model and tops out at $37,750 for the Journey with all-wheel drive.

The most important update for the new model year is the introduction of a new and standard 7-speed automatic transmission that replaces a five-speed automatic version. Furthermore, there's a new white color scheme for the gauges and LCD instrument display while all models come equipped with standard 18-inch alloy wheels (previously 17-inch) and Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control (previously on Journey models only).

Other changes for 2011 include the introduction of three new exterior colors, the availability of Infiniti's advanced Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system, a revised Premium Package that combines previous Bose and Around View Monitor Packages and the renaming of the Premium Package to Deluxe Touring Package, which now also offers the option of 19-inch wheels.

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