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Infiniti Q70 won't live to see 2020

The Infiniti Q70 won’t be returning for the 2020 model year, effectively killing InfinitiÂ’s large luxury sedan. This news comes to us via a report from Motor Authority, citing “the automaker” and Infiniti spokesperson Kyle Bazemore. WeÂ’ve reached out to Infiniti to confirm the news, but it doesnÂ’t strike us as a surprising move whatsoever. Update: Infiniti confirmed the Q70 won't be sold in the U.S. or Canada for the 2020 model year. Back in July of this year, Nissan made it clear that we should expect 10 percent of its models to be cut from its global product lineup. We speculated then that the Q70 and Q70L would be part of these cuts, as itÂ’s the manufacturerÂ’s worst-selling model. To no oneÂ’s surprise, that eventuality came true. Infiniti moved 4,479 Q70s and Q70Ls in 2018, making it a super low-volume vehicle in a tough segment. Back in the mid-2000s, Infiniti topped 20,000 sales of its largest luxury sedan (not named the Q70 at the time). Cars like the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6 are all more enticing buys next to the aged Q70 — a slightly cheaper base price was the last stand for this vehicle, but it looks like a good deal wasnÂ’t enough to save it from our crossover apocalypse. Infiniti SUV sales are up, as the QX80 continues to gain more ground in 2019. More folks are opting for the raised and rugged options than smooth and comfortable sedans across the industry, which is why we continue to see news like this. Unfortunately, the Q70 isnÂ’t riding off into the sunset in any sort of glory. We can trace the Q70Â’s lineage back through a few name changes (Q45 into a series of M cars like the M45 and M56). Its oldest ancestor would be the Infiniti Q45, which was a revolutionary car back in the early 1990s. It featured an active hydraulic suspension system that aimed to provide a supremely comfortable ride and flat cornering at the same time. When equipped with the suspension system, hydraulic actuators on each wheel were able to counter the forces exerted on it from cornering, braking and acceleration. And remember, this was 1991!  Transitioning back to today, Nissan and Infiniti have made it clear that EVs will be the future. We know that weÂ’d love to see another industry-changing flagship sedan from Infiniti, and a fully electric vehicle might just be the way to go about it. Anybody wanting for a production version of the Q Inspiration Concept?

Infiniti teases a new concept for the Detroit Auto Show

Infiniti is the latest company to join a steadily growing list of big reveals at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. It just released a teaser image of a concept it will display. It looks fairly typical of Infiniti, with long flowing curves, and the company's signature grille. And of course, it will be painted white. The company revealed very little about it, not even a name. But a quote from Infiniti's Executive Design Director may shed a bit of light on the car. He talks about "more compact and less intrusive powertrains" giving freedom to design, and that this car has a "long cabin." This leads us to believe that this concept may feature some kind of alternative powertrain, perhaps hybrid or fully electric. It could even use a smaller version of Infiniti's variable compression engine. We also think that this car may have a profile akin to the Jaguar I-Pace, with a much more cab-forward look. When Jaguar revealed the I-Pace, it made a big deal about how going to electric propulsion gave them the opportunity to rethink what looks luxurious, sporty and aggressive, since there wasn't an engine at the front to require a long nose. Infiniti's design director's words sound pretty similar. We'll have more information and photos when the car is fully revealed at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show. Related Video: Image Credit: Infiniti Green Detroit Auto Show Infiniti Concept Cars

Infiniti QX Monograph Concept debuts at Pebble Beach looking large

The Infiniti QX Monograph Concept is here, and it sure presents like a veiled look at the next Infiniti QX80 SUV to us. Now, Infiniti didn’t make any allusions to the QX80 in its announcement at Pebble Beach, but the full-size dimensions and general shape tell us pretty much everything we need to know. This reveal is also a continuation of InfinitiÂ’s “Monograph” line of concept cars with the most recent one being the QX60 Monograph. That concept previewed what would become the production QX60, suggesting that this next Monograph concept will do the same for the larger QX80. As for the details of this particular design concept, Infiniti went into great detail about all its elements. Starting up front, the grille is meant to evoke a bamboo forest with its gentle arcing lines surrounding the new Infiniti logo. Meanwhile, the black finish and surround hint at the power found behind it — Infiniti didnÂ’t say what this concept is powered by, but we fully expect the next QX80 to have a gasoline engine situated under the hood. Flanking the grille are the lights that Infiniti says feature its “digital piano key” design and both “welcome” and “farewell” animation sequences. Since the headlights and DRLs are separated, Infiniti went ahead with that intricate “piano key” look for the DRLs to create a distinct signature. They wrap from the grille to around the side of the front bumper in an attempt to emphasize the width and height of the QX Monograph. You really get a sense of the QX MonographÂ’s size from its side profile. It has a vast monotone greenhouse that visually separates itself from the body by being painted entirely in black. The minimalist styling Infiniti says it used for this vehicle is best seen from this angle. It has electric door handles that pop in and out to create an uninterrupted look all the way down the side of the SUV. Meanwhile, the massive wheels bring some visual pizazz to the whole package. TheyÂ’re machine-finished wheels with both black and red accents arcing through, and Infiniti says its design inspiration for them was wind turbines. And on the topic of paint, Infiniti says it developed a new hue called Akane for this concept. ItÂ’s difficult to tell in photos, but the six-layer paint glows in the sun in an attempt to mimic “a warm glowing red sunset as it transitions into a dark night sky.” Of course, in most conditions, itÂ’ll likely just look gray.