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Infiniti Vision Qe concept will preview the brand's first EV

Infiniti released a dark preview image to give us an early look at its next concept. Called Qe, the design study will make its debut in October 2023 and provide a glimpse at what the Japanese brand's first series-produced electric car will look like when it lands later in the 2020s. Details about the Qe concept are few and far between, and the dark picture published by Infiniti leaves a lot to the imagination. It shows light reflecting on what looks like a fastback-like silhouette, so we know we're not looking at a convertible or at a big, burly SUV like the QX80. We think we see four doors, but the bottom part of the car is obscured so it's too early to tell whether this is a low-slung sedan or a crossover. Out back, a rear light bar is seemingly integrated into a spoiler that's positioned above backlit "INFINITI" lettering. We'll need to be patient to find out more, but an earlier report casts a little bit of light on what to expect from the Qe. Although unofficial, it details four new Infiniti models due out in the coming years, and two are electric. The first is a replacement for the Q70. It will reportedly land by the end of 2026 as the brand's first electric car, and it will feature shorter overhangs as well as a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, which retired in 2019. The second was described by insiders as "a midsize crossover." That's all we know, but odds are the Qe previews one of these two EVs. Infiniti will fully unveil the Qe on October 24, 2023. It also pledged to announce "several stunning new models" at the unveiling event. We're notably expecting to learn more about the next-generation QX80, which was previewed by the QX Monograph concept in August 2023.

Recharge Wrap-up: Infiniti considers EV for China, NextEV hires former Tesla, Apple engineer

NextEV has hired Tesla Autopilot and Apple veteran Jamie Carlson as Senior Director of Advanced Technologies. The seasoned autonomous driving engineer joins fellow former Autopilot engineer Kurt Thywissen, who is now NextEV Senior Director of Human-Machine Interaction. NextEV, which is working on an all-electric supercar before focusing on mainstream EVs, recently obtained a self-driving car permit from California and opened its North American headquarters in San Jose. Read more at Electrek. Infiniti is considering launching its first EV in China. "When I think about EV, we design it for China definitely, even as the first market to launch," says Infiniti President Roland Krueger. "We are discussing this internally constantly what is the right timing for Infiniti to have such vehicles." Infiniti has held back on launching an EV, focusing instead on hybrids, but says it could be "very fast" in deploying an EV once it decides to do so. Having Nissan and Renault backing Infiniti, the luxury brand is confident about its access to proven EV technology. Read more at Automotive News Europe. Thrifty car rental has added a Tesla Model S to its fleet in Canberra, Australia. Available at the Canberra Airport, it's the first luxury EV offered for rent from a mainstream rental company in Australia. Australia's capital offers a small registration discount and no stamp duty for EVs, making it a cheaper and more practical place to locate the country's first rental Tesla. Thrifty's parent company, NRMA, is calling on Australia's other states and territories to remove financial and regulatory barriers to EV technology. Read more at The Motor Report.

Infiniti looking for a new boss after Christian Meunier leaves to lead Jeep

Nissan's premium division Infiniti is expected to announce a new acting global chief for the brand, the company said, after its current head, Christian Meunier, left to lead the Jeep unit of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Nissan's chief quality officer Christian Vandenhende will oversee Infiniti's global operations effective immediately, until a new brand chief is named, Infiniti said in the statement on Tuesday. Meunier, 51, was named Infinit's global chief in early January after its previous boss Roland Krueger left the Hong Kong-based brand. Meunier will take over as global president for SUV-focused Jeep effective immediately, Fiat Chrysler said in a separate statement. Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley had been running Jeep until he was elevated to the top job in July after the death of Sergio Marchionne. Meunier has international experience from his years with Ford, Land Rover, Nissan and Infiniti, which may prove valuable as Jeep attempts to expand overseas with a lineup of new products including the Gladiator pickup, a Wrangler plug-in hybrid, and the revived Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates. He's worked mostly in sales and marketing roles, including as senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations for Nissan North America; chairman of Nissan Canada; and his recent role heading up Infiniti. An Infiniti spokesman said Meunier's resignation was not related to Nissan's internal investigation into its former leader Carlos Ghosn.