Detroit Motor Show: Infiniti Q60

YOU might think that domestic sales rising by 45 per cent on 2013’s numbers would be cause for celebration at Infiniti, but when 2014 only signed off on 441 registrations, it’s clear there are some hefty expectations on the broad shoulders of the latest Q60 concept.

It gets the big billing too, ‘foreshadowing the next generation of Infiniti’s premium sports coupe’ although it clearly draws heavily from the same chatty design language of the Q80 Inspiration Concept that appeared at the 2014 Paris Show.

The bottom-feeder front end has been toned down but there’s the same blend of smooth Bezier curves and aggressive swages along the flanks. The 21-inch alloys with their jet turbine-inspired design probably won’t make it to the production version but the interior looks production-ready, with quilted leather surfaces and aggressively encompassing dash architecture.

The Q60 majors on individual settings with Infiniti InTuition, where each driver can set a profile for not only driving position but also heating and cooling, audio, navigation and telematics.

Chief designer Shiro Nakamura has indicated that the Q60 will be gunning for the BMW 4 Series but will be slightly larger, and will also draw a bead on the Audi A5, Lexus RC and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe when it goes on sale at the tail end of this year as a 2016 model.

A convertible model has also been pencilled into Infiniti’s projections and although there’s no definitive word on powerplants, the smart money’s already on the twin-turbo 3.0-litre V-6 from the Q80 Inspiration, sold alongside a subsequent hybrid option. Speaking of money, the target market suggests $70,000 should be the starting point.