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Infiniti’s next-gen QX50 crossover is seen as the car that could change the fortunes of Nissan’s still obscure premium brand. The concept car revealed at Detroit hints at what to expect.
The Infiniti QX50 Concept is a reimagined version of the 2016 QX Sport Inspiration, adapted to showcase a future production model.
The concept’s emphasis is on the ‘driver-centric, passenger-minded’ cabin, designed in harmony with the exterior shape The design exercise also previews the brand’s autonomous driver assistance technology and variable compression (VC-Turbo) engine.
The edges of the grille disguise the bonnet’s relatively short length, suggesting a production car could be adapted for more compact drivetrains, such as Infiniti’s economical but powerful VC-Turbo petrol engine.
The cabin has a handmade feel and is the result of two Japanese approaches to craftsmanship: ‘mitate’ – the practice of curating and bringing together the best materials – and ‘shitate’, the desire to tailor the combination of materials, bringing out the best.
The ‘driver-centric’ and ‘passenger-minded’ layout of the QX50 Concept’s cabin is divided into distinct zones for driver and passengers.
The production QX50 will be built in Mexico from later this year and is expected in Australian showrooms by Q2 2018 to face off against the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
