This nameplate was introduced for the 2003 model year as the V8-powered version of Infiniti’s original FX crossover, part of a new approach that blended sports-car-inspired packaging with SUV versatility. The FX was developed as a performance-oriented luxury crossover with a low, dramatic stance and a driver-focused layout, and the V8 model quickly became the more powerful, enthusiast-leaning member of the lineup. It helped establish the FX’s identity as one of the early luxury crossovers aimed at buyers who wanted style and handling as much as utility.
The vehicle remained part of Infiniti’s first-generation FX family through the 2008 model year. During that run, it served as the range’s V8 flagship and became closely associated with the model’s bold design and road-biased character. Infiniti later redesigned the FX for 2009 and changed the V8 version’s designation to FX50, marking the end of the original nameplate’s continuous production run. As a result, the model’s history is a single uninterrupted generation from 2003 through 2008, remembered as an early and influential luxury performance crossover.