INFINITI Wins Popular Science Award For 50 Greatest Innovations

Popular Science recognized the 2025 INFINITI QX80 in the 2024 rendition of its Best of What’s New Awards, recognizing the INFINITI flagship SUV’s suite of advanced technologies and luxurious design.  

Popular Science recognized the 2025 QX80 for its many technological upgrades but singled out the company’s partnership with Klipsch to engineer a clever new sound system that can isolate certain audio streams to the driver. How? Infiniti’s Individual Audio system leverages the speakers mounted to each side of the QX80’s front headrests to focus audio elements – such as navigation directions, music, or phone calls – just to the driver’s seat.  

“For example,” Infiniti’s announcement said, “the driver can make a phone call while passengers continue listening to music, or the driver could listen to a favorite playlist and hear map guidance without disturbing those sleeping in the rear seats.” 

That’s just one of the new QX80’s party tricks. This new SUV comes standard with a robust infotainment suite, a host of standard safety equipment (both passive and active), and enough convenience features to keep the whole family occupied for hours at a time.  

“As our flagship SUV, the all-new 2025 INFINITI QX80 embodies bold design, advanced technology, and expert craftsmanship, showcasing the very best of INFINITI,” said Craig Keeys, Group Vice President, INFINITI Americas. “We’re honored to be recognized by Popular Science and proud to see QX80 featured among the top 50 innovations of 2024.” 

If all of that wasn’t enough, the 2025 INFINITI QX80 is also equipped with ProPILOT Assist 2.1 — Infiniti’s latest automated driver assistance technology. This hands-free highway suite combines Intelligent Cruise Control with steer-by-wire assist to allow attentive drivers to relax their hands and let technology take over. So long as the driver’s eyes remain on the road ahead, ProPILOT Assist 2.1 will take care of acceleration, braking, and steering — all without input from the driver. It can even help you overtake slower traffic without skipping a beat. 

First, you’ll need to be on one of the highways that INFINITI has digitally mapped for hands-free driving. A blue light will illuminate the interior, and an icon will appear on the information display to let you know the system is ready. After that, enabling ProPILOT Assist 2.1 is as simple as tapping the ProPILOT button on the steering wheel. The cluster icon will change to let you know the car has taken control. Relax your hands and feet and enjoy the ride! 

Popular Science’s annual Best of What’s New Awards honor five standout products and technologies across Aerospace, Automotive, Engineering, Entertainment, Gadgets, Health, Home, Personal Care, Sports & Outdoors, and Emergency Services. 

You can see the Award-Winning 2025 INFINITI QX80 for yourself at Dick Smith INFINITI of Columbia today.