Infiniti QX Inspiration Concept Foretells Brand's Electric Future

At the 2019 North American International Auto Show, Infiniti is finally lifting the veil of the QX Inspiration concept which previews a future production all-electric SUV and introduces the brand's new design language for EVs. At 183 inches (4,650 mm) long, the study is roughly the same size as the new QX50 but features a drastically different design approach with a more balanced, cab-forward overall shape and short overhangs at the back and up front.

The lack of a large internal combustion engine has allowed the designers to additionally adapt the proportions of the concept and give it a grille-less fascia with smooth surfaces and an illuminated Infiniti logo. The SUV rides on massive 22-inch wheels on all four corners which are housed within muscular wheel arches clad in black protective panels.

"Where a V8 engine might move the interior rearward, electrification has allowed us to the move the interior forward and provides for a balanced profile. But that doesn't mean that you can't express a new kind of performance. The power of the electric engine is expressed through the robustness and fullness of the body," Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President for Global Design at Nissan, explains the overall idea behind the concept's design.

No exact power and performance details are disclosed, but the QX Inspiration features a battery pack stored beneath the floor feeding two electric motors, one for each axle. This layout means there's no driveshaft or transmission tunnel which results in a "spacious, lounge-like" interior with a flat floor. The dashboard is dominated by a large screen flowing from pillar to pillar.

The Japanese premium manufacturer is not ready to confirm when we will see the production version of the QX Inspiration but is happy to announce the model actually "signals the brand's intention to produce a fully electric midsize SUV." It will be built on an all-new platform designed exclusively for electric vehicles and will be powered by an all-wheel-drive system (e-AWD) with a pair of electric motors. Infiniti  promises a "blistering off-the-line acceleration" combined with a low center of gravity for "confidence in all situations." Color us intrigued.