Infiniti will be unveiling an all-electric SUV concept at the Detroit Auto Show which kicks off from 14 January. The Japanese luxury automaker plans to showcase the concept as part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations.
Is this SUV coming out of the blue?
The premium brand has stated on record before that all its new vehicles launched 2021 onwards will be electrified. This means that Infiniti will launch both purely electric cars as well as petrol-powered range-extender hybrids. The new concept is not just a design study with no production vehicle to follow. Infiniti calls the concept “QX Inspiration”. The company has forecast that half of the vehicles it sells by 2025 will be electrified. It is pretty clear then, that the firm is betting big on a battery-powered future.
Additionally, Infiniti has also showcased cars like the Project Black S that features a wealth of Formula E-derived technology, and the Ptototype 10 racer that is fully electric. So the company planning to make an electric SUV should not come as a surprise.
What is the QX Inspiration made of?
The Infiniti QX Inspiration concept takes after the same futuristic design that recent concepts like the Q Inspiration Luxo saloon and the Prototype 10 race car wear. The SUV will sit on a platform derived from that of the Q Inspiration. The concept saloon has a compact VC-Turbo engine making for a short front end, releasing that much more space inside the cabin.
Infiniti design director Karim Habib spoke about the SUV: “The concept car we will show in Detroit is the beginning of a new era for Infiniti, and an illustration of where we want to go with the brand. Electrification and other new technologies have given us the opportunity to evolve our design philosophy. Development of new electric vehicle platforms enables the formation of spacious, lounge-like interiors.”
Infiniti also boasts of an interior that is inspired by the Japanese hospitality principle of 'Omotenashi'. Expect a welcoming environment in the cabin, along with driver assistance and connectivity technologies with the QX Inspiration.
Infiniti is finally getting its A-game on with the QX Inspiration concept. While the production version will be nowhere as close to the prototype, we are in for a treat if the new EV picks up the concept's silhouette.
