Infiniti has big plans for electrification in the future. After 2021, every new Infiniti model will be electrified, offering buyers a mix of fully electric, e-Power and performance hybrid powertrains. At the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, Infiniti has previewed its first fully electric vehicle launching in 2021 with the QX Inspiration concept, a sleek midsize electric SUV with a powerful all-wheel-drive powertrain and a new design language that will define Infiniti's future EVs.
"The Infiniti QX Inspiration marks the beginning of a new generation of Infiniti cars and establishes a direct blueprint for the brand's first electric vehicle," said Infiniti's President and Chairman, Christian Meunier. "Based on a new, dedicated electric vehicle architecture and inspired by Infiniti's Japanese DNA, the SUV concept previews a product portfolio which will offer high performance, ultra-low emissions and range confidence."
The QX Inspiration signals Infiniti's intention to produce a fully electric midsize SUV based on a new vehicle platform, which could accommodate a powerful electric all-wheel drive system. In the concept, the battery pack is located below the floor, ensuring a low center of gravity. Power is sent to all four wheels with a pair of electric motors, with one on each axle. Sadly, no details have been released about the concept SUV's performance or range, but Infiniti promises its electric all-wheel-drive system will deliver "blistering off-the-line acceleration" in future models.
Styling-wise, the QX Inspiration adopts a new version of Infiniti's form design language featuring straight lines and sudden creases, giving the SUV a bold, futuristic look that isn't overtly aggressive. It echoes the Q Inspiration sedan concept's muscular look while adopting certain details featured on the Prototype 9 and Prototype 10. Without the need for a large engine, Infiniti's designers have created a more balanced overall shape than the company's combustion engine-powered SUVs, featuring a shorter hood and a cab-forward design with short front and rear overhangs measuring 33 inches and 37 inches respectively.
The concept's overall length measures 15.25 feet, and the sleek, long roofline peaks at 64 inches in height. There's no grille, but Infiniti has incorporated shapes that would normally be reserved for the air intakes, along with slim headlights and an illuminated Infiniti logo. Other exterior highlights include Liquid White pearlescent paint inspired by the winter snows of Mount Fuji and 22-inch wheels featuring an aerodynamic design diverting air along the flanks of the car.
Inside, the QX Inspiration features a spacious, lounge-like interior that will inspire the cabins of Infiniti's future electric models. The dashboard is dominated by a widescreen display finished in polarized gold-tinted glass that extends from pillar-to-pillar, controlling functions such as the infotainment, cabin lighting, heating, and ventilation. Another screen is featured on the rectangular steering wheel trimmed in soft brown and white leather, while other digital displays are linked to rear-facing door-mounted cameras.
The steering wheel collapses into the dashboard and the pedals retract into the floor, hinting at autonomous driver assist technologies that could feature in future models. By contrast, the rear of the cabin is completely devoid of screens and technology, creating a more relaxing environment.
Photos by Samuel Weber