TOKYO — Infiniti is late to the electric party, with its first battery-powered model — a fastback sedan — not arriving until well into the decade's second half.
But the Nissan-owned luxury brand hinted at what's to come with a swoopy concept revealed Tuesday ahead of the Japan Mobility Show.
The Vision Qe, which sits low and wide, is a sleek affair, heavy on aerodynamic flourishes and muscular lines.
The concept showcases a new design language from Infiniti that will debut in production models as early as next year.
The coupelike concept features a stretched hood, prominent chin, sharply raked rear window and tapered rear fenders.
The Qe re-imagines Infiniti's double-arched grille for an EV era. The closed grille features sculpted lines within the front fascia and is illuminated with an LED outline. The brand's redesigned three-dimensional logo sits front and center.
Slender headlights connect from fender to fender, highlighting the vehicle's width.
Kerrigan Advisors’ proprietary annual OEM Survey of over 100 executives reveals that the majority of respondents are worried about the financial impact of Chinese automakers’ growing global market share, and most expect that the EV transition to be slower than expected. The survey also queried executives on their outlooks for dealership valuations and profitability, as well as their expectations for the future of dealer networks and facility requirements.
Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan's design boss, likened the styling to "abstractions of a bird in flight — powerful, almost motionless, but generating such speed."
After the automaker showed a clay model to U.S. dealers in June, one retailer described the design as a "striking evolution" of the brand's discontinued Q70 sedan.
Digital "piano-key"-designed taillights run across the rear and are integrated within an aerodynamic lip. The lamps arch gently, intersecting with the side panels.
The concept rides on large wheels that feature a geometric pattern inspired by the "tightly wound coil of an electric motor," Infiniti said. Gold treatment on the accents contrasts with the blue body color.
Infiniti's entry into the EV arena shows signs of further delay: According to a supplier memo obtained by Automotive News, the planned EV's start of production at Nissan's Canton, Miss., factory has been pushed from November 2026 to February of the following year.
Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions, said that with EV demand softening, Infiniti's late arrival to the segment might be the "right business case."
Portfolio revamp
The Vision Qe's unveiling Tuesday at an event alongside Tokyo Bay was about more than fanciful vaporware. Infiniti also showed off products that will arrive at dealerships in the next few years.
In the spring, Infiniti will deliver a bold redesign of its QX80 flagship SUV with a Range Rover aesthetic and a six-figure sticker price to match.
The third-generation QX80 is beefier than its predecessor and debuts a prominent grille, recessed door handles and slim "piano-key"-designed headlights and taillights. An air suspension system automatically adjusts height for easier ingress and egress.
In mid-2025, Infiniti will target a new corner of the luxury market when it debuts a two-row midsize crossover.
The QX65 — the brand's first new nameplate since 2021 — has eyes on the Lexus RX, which sold more than 96,000 vehicles last year.
Built on Infiniti's bestselling QX60 platform, the coupe-like QX65 ditches its three-row sibling's boxy styling, sporting protruding shark fin-like taillights and the QX80's large grille instead.
Infiniti also briefly teased a rendering of a second electric vehicle — a crossover slated for 2028.
