CROSSOVER drivers who dare to be different are to have the choice of a diesel engine in the sporty Infiniti FX - and it costs just £200 more than the petrol model.

And in a double first for the Nissan-owned luxury brand in Europe, there will also be the availability of new safety technology like collision warning and lane departure prevention.

The Infiniti FX, previously only available with big, gas guzzling petrol engines, now gets a 235bhp 3.0-litre V6 oil burner that's more economical and lowers emissions.

Named the FX30d, the four variant range joins the petrol V6 and V8 models in a new look line-up with prices from £45,150.

Available in both luxury GT and more sporting S guises, the arrival of the diesel also marks the addition of new Premium specification grades with a raft of features included as standard - including the new safety technology.

Combined cycle fuel consumption is trimmed to 31.4mpg while CO2 emissions drop to 238g/km.

The diesel FX, however, remains a performance car at heart as the new engine's impressive 550Nm of pulling power, available at 1,750rpm, demonstrates.

Paired with the standard seven-speed Adaptive Shift Control automatic transmission, the piezo-injection engine powers the greener FX from 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds.

But with more torque than even the petrol V8 of the FX50, it's the diesel's effortless overtaking pace that Infiniti believes will leave the lasting impression.

As for driver appeal, the entry level S spec diesel includes 21-inch alloy wheels, sports seats, sports suspension and Rear Active Steering - the first time this handling technology has been available in the FX range on anything other than the FX50 flagship model.