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Infiniti QX Inspiration crossover EV is another step toward a grille-less future

Infiniti has released its first image of its Detroit Auto Show concept car, and unsurprisingly, it's electric, and it's a crossover. Also, just as Nissan's design vice president hinted at last year, it pushes the design ideas of the Q Inspiration sedan concept a little farther, and in an arguably more controversial direction. Whereas the Q Inspiration concept had a mostly closed off grille with only a few openings, it was also still set back in a clear grille design. The QX Inspiration concept leaves the entire front end perfectly flush. There are still hints of a grille with metallic trim at the top and bottom that suggest a classic Infiniti grille shape, and the badge and logo float in the middle to further the idea. It's an interesting idea, but the ideas of having a grille and going without seem to be a bit at odds, and the result is a bulbous, flabby nose that doesn't flatter either design philosophy. We suppose it could be worse, though, and it may look better in person. What we don't question is the product type. An electric crossover seems like the exact vehicle the car market is looking for. Infiniti hasn't gone into detail about powertrain specifics besides it using electricity and that it previews future electric platforms. Nissan's design V.P. noted that the company will be introducing more full electric vehicles, and this concept could feature an e-Power series hybrid powertrain in which the gas engine mostly exists as a generator. So it's possible that a future Infiniti crossover EV could be offered in full electric and range-extender variants. We'll have more information and photos when the QX Inspiration makes its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show on January 14. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Nissan and Infiniti to get 6 EVs within 5 years

Nissan will get four new electric-powered vehicles, while its luxury division Infiniti will get two over the next five years, a top executive told Automotive News. The six EVs will make up Nissan and Infiniti's share of the 12 electric vehicles planned for Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi by 2022, though there's no word on how the numbers break down for those other brands. Infiniti last month announced plans for its first all-electric vehicle in 2021, plus new "e-Power" series hybrids like the ones it has introduced in other markets. But the six vehicles divulged by Toshihiro Hirai, Nissan's corporate vice president for powertrain and EV engineering, reportedly include only full battery-electrics and not hybrids. The only full-electric currently offered by either brand in the U.S. is the Nissan Leaf, which was just updated for 2018. Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has been a consistent supporter of electric vehicles, and he has said EVs need greater government incentives, lower development costs and a greater recognition among the buying public of the risks of climate change in order to gain traction among consumers. Last summer, Nissan-Renault announced plans to build electric vehicles in China in a new venture with Dongfeng Motor to meet EV quotas. They'll use a subcompact crossover platform from its own vehicle family.Related Video:

Infiniti spruces up the Q50 for 2018

Though overshadowed by the literally larger QX80 Monograph SUV concept, Infiniti's revised 2018 Q50 still made an appearance at the stand in New York. It joins a long list of cars including the Acura TLX, Hyundai Sonata, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, VW Golf, and Toyota Sienna and Yaris that all went under the knife for the show. The Infiniti Q50's update may be one of the most mild, though, as it only consisted of cosmetic changes. Up front, the grille has been enlarged and given more prominent swoops at each corner. On the S version, sharp creases appear on either side of the primary grille and descend down to the lower, center grille. The outboard grilles of the front bumper have changed shape, too, and they now feature contrasting black plastic trim. The standard Q50 has a new bumper, as well, and though less aggressive than the S version, it still looks sporty with a more pronounced chin spoiler. Both iterations of the 2018 Q50 share the same tail end. The main change is in the rear bumper. A center diffuser has now appeared at the base. The contour of the diffuser is echoed by two creases in the bumper at progressively higher points. On the S model, the panel between the diffuser and the first crease is painted black, and the diffuser is painted in the body color. The standard model's entire bumper is painted in body color, and the diffuser looks to be a more muted black or gray. Inside, even fewer changes have been made. A new steering wheel with reshaped thumb grips is now included. Infiniti also added new stitching to the instrument panel cover and leather shift knob. You'll be able to examine all of these changes up close at an Infiniti dealer this summer when the cars arrive. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.