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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.

Infiniti moves to trademark Eau Rouge

With Formula One taking to Belgium and the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend - boasting a reputation as one of the most beautiful courses on the calendar - all eyes will likely be on the tricky Eau Rouge corner, which challenges drivers' high-speed car control over a rolling, tree-lined hill. Infiniti played on the turn's iconic legacy for its ruby red Q50 Eau Rouge concept, and now the brand hopes to trademark the famous racing name so it can keep using it for a potential production version.
In January, the company filed for a trademark on Eau Rouge for "Automobiles and their structural parts; Fuel cell automobiles and their structural parts; Concept cars" with the US Patent and Trademark Office. According to Bloomberg, the application is still under consideration and not yet a guarantee. It's possible that the track could attempt to block the automaker from earning rights to the name. Alternatively, a trademark lawyer tells Bloomberg that the two of them could also strike a deal where Infiniti would pay a small amount for each car sold bearing the title, which could give Spa a bit of extra money in the bank.
Regardless of the name, a vehicle like the Eau Rouge is something enthusiasts have been wanting for years. It combines a modified, 560-horsepower version of the engine from the Nissan GT-R into a four-door sedan covered in aggressive, carbon fiber aerodynamic parts.

New details emerge on Inifiniti QX50’s unique new variable-compression engine

Infiniti will release the world's first production variable-compression engine when it releases the 2019 QX50 midsize SUV sometime next year. Now we have some new details on the innovative new engine, which Infiniti is calling VC-T, for Variable Compression Turbo, after the luxury brand offered a prototype test drive. We wrote extensively about the complicated technology underpinning the new engine last year. It's the latest novel development that could represent a range-extender, if you will, for the embattled internal combustion engine in an era when automakers and governments are shifting their focus to electric vehicles. The VC-T is a new inline-four, 2.0-liter that combines the power of a high-performance turbo gasoline engine with the torque and efficiency of an advanced diesel engine, but without the latter's notorious emissions. It features the ability to seamlessly raise or lower the stroke of the pistons in the combustion chamber, depending on the driving conditions it detects and inputs from the driver, to select the best compression ratio—anywhere between 8:1, typical for high-performance engines, and 14:1 for high efficiency. In essence, it delivers the performance of a V6 but is much more efficient, with improved fuel efficiency of between 10 to 15 percent with its best competitors, per Car and Driver. You can view how it works in motion via the video below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. It's also quieter, more lightweight and compact than V6 engines with comparable power outputs, estimated at 268 horsepower and 288 pound-feet of torque. In a prototype test drive, Car and Driver writes that the engine "felt very conventional" and responsive, with strong and smooth acceleration. "The only indication you have that the compression ratio is changing is from an indicator in the instrument cluster next to the boost gauge." The engine is expected to deliver fuel economy gains of 27 percent in combined city-highway EPA rating over the outgoing QX50, which had a 3.7-liter V6. The 2019 model, fitted with the VC-T, should get about 26 mpg in combined fuel economy, and it will get to 60 mph almost one second faster than its four-cylinder counterparts, Nissan's chief powertrain engineer, Shinichi Kiga, told Automotive News. The VC-T engine is the result of 20 years of development spanning more than 100 prototypes and around 300 patents at Nissan.