INFINITI'S flagship FX model has undergone a facelift for 2012 - but you will have to look close to spot it.

The luxury car maker knows only too well that the dramatic styling of the FX is one of the main reasons why customers buy it, and was anxious not to dilute its macho looks.

So in a "if it's not broke don't fix it" move it has settled on just changing the grille and front bumper design to freshen up the car's face without spoiling the package.

Interior changes have been limited to changing the colour of the needles on the dials from red to white and installing clearer white illumination on the trip computer panel.

The new front end has been inspired by the company's Essence concept car and the dramatic FX Vettel Version, as designed by Sebastian of that name who knows a thing or two about fast cars.

The FX Vettel Version is due to reach its first owners early next year with a price tag of around £100,000.

It's the most powerful, expensive and exclusive Infiniti ever.

Just 200 of the 420ps V8 models will be available worldwide and you can have any colour as long as it's white.

Potential customers in the UK will have to move fast, however, as just 50 are bound for the European market.

Apart from the Vettel Version the all-wheel-drive FX is available with a choice of either 3.0-litre V6 diesel (238PS) with a top speed of 132mph a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds and average consumption of 31.4 mpg; a 3.7-litre Petrol V6 (320PS) with a top speed of 145mph and 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds, or the range-topping 5.0-litre V8 (390PS) which blasts to 62 mph in just 5.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155mph.

There are four specs, GT, GT Premium, S and S Premium, with prices ranging from £46,780 to £53,280 and with emissions ranging from 238 to 307g/km all are in high tax bands.

On the road the sheer size of it makes it feel like a beast of a car and this is one of its big attractions.

The FX is not for wimps. As you look out from the driving seat the huge front wings dominate your vision.

Inside it's luxury all the way, with quilted leather, maple wood trim and magnesium gear shift paddles for when you want to change gear manually.

You can adjust the ride to suit yourself. On the normal setting I found it a little on the soft side but a quick flick of the switch to the sport setting soon sorted that out, removing any slight roll on corners and giving a superbly crisp, rewarding drive.

I tried the torquey V6 diesel which is sharp, responsive and always anxious to please as soon as you dip your right foot.

Mated to a seven-speed automatic gearbox it provides quiet, luxury motoring with the added bonus of sports car performance when you need it.

In fact the FX still represents the ideal fusion of sports car and SUV.

Infiniti, the luxury arm of Nissan, has come a long way since it launched in Europe in 2008 having already established itself in America.

"Launching a new premium car brand in Europe in 2008 was looked upon by many as Mission Impossible," said Infiniti director for Northern Europe, Tony Lewis.

"But just like the stars of the films of that title we have successfully achieved our mission and there is a great future ahead,"

Speaking at the launch of the company's latest version of the FX model, in Munich, he revealed that Infiniti was on course to grow its dealer network in the UK from the current six to 42 by 2016 as it goes all out for growth.

"In Europe we are opening one Infiniti centre every two weeks and we will have 230 in Western Europe by 2016," said Mr Lewis.. .

He said Infiniti had sold 145,000 cars last year, which was more than Porsche and Jaguar, and there had been a significant jump in brand awareness.

Sales in Britain, where Infiniti has a handful of showrooms including ones in Birmingham, Glasgow and Reading, were around 500.

By 2016 Infiniti says it's on course to sell 500,000 cars per year globally, 100,000 of which will be sales within Europe.

"Today we cover nine per cent of the premium car market but by 2016 we will cover 35 per cent, and it's that which is fuelling the growth of our Infiniti centres," said Mr Lewis.

The key to the expansion was the agreement signed with Daimler on April 7, 2011 to take new, state-of-the-art, four cylinder diesel and petrol engines.

Infiniti had established itself as a sporting brand with its V8 petrol engines and big V6 diesels but was now looking towards a different sector of the market.

The Mercedes-Benz engines agreed in the April deal will be used in Infiniti's new G class saloon which will go on sale in 2013, and challenge cars like the BMW 3 Series and the Audi A4.

Following on - in 2015 - will be a new luxury smaller car to rival the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3, the platforms for which will also come from Mercedes..

Even before the smaller cars come on stream, however, the average age of an Infiniti owner - at 48 - is younger than that of it's competitors. They invariably own their own business and have traded up from other premium brands, most commonly BMW.