Infiniti QX Inspiration Concept Portends Brand's First Electric SUV
Looks like: A high-riding hatchback
Defining characteristics: Flat floor, dual electric motors, full-width interior widescreen
Ridiculous features: Rectangular steering wheel, marble center console, wood-slatted roof
Chance of being mass-produced: Infiniti calls this a “direct blueprint,” so count on it.
Aside from the so-called “design study” Prototype 9 and 10, Infiniti’s recent concept cars lean more toward presumptive than whimsical, at least in exterior design. The QX Sport Inspiration became the redesigned QX50; the Q80 Inspiration foretold the Q60 coupe. What will the latest concept from Nissan’s luxury brand — simply called the QX Inspiration, unveiled at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit — become? An all-electric SUV, it appears.
Related: More 2019 Detroit Auto Show Coverage
- ${price_badge()}
- ${battery_badge()}${ev_report_link()}
- ${hot_car_badge()}
- ${award_badge()}
- ${cpo_badge()}
${price_badge_description}
The EV Battery Rating is based on this vehicle's current expected range relative to the vehicles expected range when new. ${battery_badge_text}
Certified cars are manufacturer warrantied and typically go through a rigorous multi-point inspection.
This car is likely to sell soon based on the price, features, and condition.
${award_blurb}
${award_two_blurb}
Shop the 2019 INFINITI QX50 near you
Avid readers should find none of this surprising, as Infiniti posted the first full image and details on the QX Inspiration in early January (and a teaser before that). The concept follows the mold of a muscular, high-riding hatchback with a low grille, or at least outlines of it amid a mostly closed-off nose. L-shaped outer portals and twin lower grates gird the front bumper, while the roof features portions of louvered slats in Japanese sugi red cedar wood.
Infiniti says the QX Inspiration “establishes a direct blueprint for the brand’s first electric vehicle” and rides its own dedicated EV architecture. That means this car could realize plans announced a year ago for Infiniti’s first all-electric car in 2021.
A battery below the vehicle floor feeds power to electric motors at each axle. The cabin sports a full-width widescreen monitor, a feature touted as being “destined for future Infiniti models.” It’s a safe bet that many other features — a rectangular steering wheel, 30-degree-rotating front seats and Bianco Carrara marble for the center console — are destined for an automotive museum, at best.
Related: 2019 Infiniti Q60 Luxe on Family Duty: 3 Hits and 3 Misses
Infiniti promises “a range of electric, e-Power and performance hybrid vehicles” down the road. Among them are high-performance electrified cars that can go far enough on a single charge for drivers to avoid so-called range anxiety, Infiniti says, with platforms that enable spacious, lounge-like cabins.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
