FACT travels to Georgia to explore the all-new 2023 Infiniti QX60 model, learning what the Japanese manufacturer is bringing to the roads this year.
At first, the destination caused us to raise our eyebrows and drop our jaws, given the contrast of landscapes, roads and temperature between the sunny emirates and late-autumn weather in Georgia. While most car brands headquartered in the Middle East choose to host launch events in the local valleys, deserts, or mountains, Infiniti Middle East, following the example of its new QX60 model, decided to stand out from its competitors. The fresh air, green landscapes, and Georgian hospitality complemented every moment of a truly special driving experience.
To set the scene, we’ll briefly walk you through the beautiful Vazisubani Estate in Kakheti, Georgia, where we and the Infiniti cars spent our nights. The estate was established in 1891 and is located two hours away from Tsibili (subject to how fast you drive). Aside from being a prestigious vineyard, the palace is well-known for being the meeting place for writers, artists, innovators, and the Infiniti QX60 launch event.
The refreshing cold walk from the shuttle bus to the palace was countered by a warm cocktail reception next to the fireplace (where yours truly won a game of chess), followed by a welcome dinner hosted within the estate’s cellar. An Infiniti lounge was set up in the adjacent cellar, where we were invited to learn more about the cars (and each other) whilst waiting for the ‘Ride and Drive’ safety briefing.
Shortly after the briefing, we were paired up and introduced to the new features of the new XQ60, both as a driver and passenger. GQ Middle East’s Monique Spearman and yours truly gave the Bose Performance series 17 speaker audio system a thorough quality check, shuffling between 90s pop songs, Beyoncé’s new album and (of course) a dash of light techno songs to match the landscapes.
As a devotee of the cruise control feature, I was impressed by QX60’s ProPILOT Assist which kept us in our lane whenever the music took over. The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive offered us a smooth drive to our first stop of the day, Amo Café, Sighnaghi. The elevated coffee shop offered us a traditional Georgian spread of finger food and juices, which complemented the breathtaking views of the valley and fuelled us for the rest of our trip.
For the next section of our journey, Monique took the wheel, allowing me to appreciate the semi-aniline leather seats, open-pore wood details and the massage features. The natural light made its way through the panoramic sunroof, enhancing the crisp colours Infiniti chose for the new interior and complementing the beautiful landscapes we passed on our way to the family-owned Javakhishvili Estate.
Here, we got a chance to dive into the local traditions and bake our own bread and pastries before exploring the family features of the QX60, such as the generous cargo space, seamless access to the third row, and lift-gate feature which comes in handy, when… well when your hands are full of gifts for the colleagues and friends back in Dubai.
We got back on the road to reach our final destination of the day, Chateau Buera, Lopota Lake. As this was my final shift behind the wheel, I made sure Monique and our backseat passenger Ibrahim had their seatbelts fastened, before summoning the 279 horsepower produced by the 3.5-litre direct-injected V-6 engine. It’s safe to say we saw the angry side of the new QX60, and we liked it (or at least I did). Reaching our final destination safely, we took our time to appreciate the blue skies, nature and to snap a few Instragrammabel shots of our ride.
Monique made sure we returned to our hotel safely after a copious Georgian meal, which made me appreciate the massage chair feature even more.
Our trip ended with a traditional dinner at the estate, where a Georgian performer joined us to enrich our knowledge about Georgia’s history and heritage.
GO: Visit www.infiniti-me.com for more information.
