- INFINITI's unifying design language evident in family of concept vehicles
- Q80 Inspiration and Q60 Concept impress with their sharp bodies and fluid lines
- INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo offers a glimpse of a high performance INFINITI
Hong Kong/Shanghai – Displaying some of its most recent concept vehicles together for the first time, INFINITI is giving a strong indication of the progressive design vision that is and will be molding the brand's growing product portfolio.
From the luxurious proportions of the Q80 Inspiration to the sharp creases on the Q60 Concept and the bold lines of the INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo, INFINITI's creative direction is clearly evident.
INFINITI has put all three concept vehicles on the same stage at a bespoke design event in the lead-up to Auto Shanghai 2015 to demonstrate the brand's unique design language of power and artistry.
The Q80 Inspiration is the flag bearer of INFINITI's new design language while the Q60 Concept takes it one step closer to reality. The INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo goes into the realm of imagination, picturing what a high performance INFINITI could look like in the future.
"Design is a key differentiating factor as we continue to shape the INFINITI brand," said Roland Krueger, INFINITI President and CEO. "The concept cars foreshadow the design language that will make its way into production vehicles. Our passion for design will deliver a broad range of very distinct premium vehicles."
The alluring Q80 Inspiration
Long and sleek, fastback in silhouette, the full-size Q80 Inspiration is a concept vision of a range-topping INFINITI to foray into the upper echelons of the premium sedan category.
Organic and three-dimensional, the full-scale, chrome-edged front grille innovatively blends dramatic style, cooling and aerodynamics. The gills part to flow air into the engine at town speeds, sealing again as the road opens to direct air over the curving hood.
Branching away from the front grille are a pair of intelligent LED headlights, which are linked to the car's satellite navigation system and are able to adjust brightness and direction based on road contours ahead.
The portal doors of the Q80 Inspiration swing wide open for easy access into the "1 + 1 + 1 + 1" interior, which accords equal importance to driver and passenger alike.
The stark contrast between the two black seats in front and two white ones at the back heightens the artistry inside. Exuding romance in the shape of quilted leather and the softest fabrics, the standalone seats are luxuriously bathed in light from the panoramic glass roof.
Minutely laser milled aluminum satin surfaces and trim pieces please the eye and the fingertips, while horse hair in the front row carpet adds to the lushness. The soft leather in some areas is specially stiffened to give it a mosaic look and feel.
The sporty Q60 Concept
Inspired by Formula One car design, the two-door Q60 Concept previews INFINITI's next sports coupe. Its sharp edges and sporty cues convey superior power and performance.
The character lines running the length of the car from the double arch grille to the aerodynamic tail spoiler gives the vehicle its assertive look from front to rear. On the sides, the shoulder dips in with such a striking depth that it is reminiscent of chiseled cheekbones or rippling muscles.
The adaptive headlights have very fine fiber optic-like lines branching out from the projector. When lit, these filaments of LED lights look like lines of the iris radiating from the pupil, giving the headlamps a high-tech stare
To give the Q60 Concept a low and planted stance, the INFINITI designers made the 21-inch wheels more visible than the body. Painted in a mix of matte blacks and high-gloss black chromes, the impressive spokes are inspired by jet turbine blades and stretch to the edge of the wheel.
The inside of the INFINITI Q60 Concept has been designed to match with the sportiness and refinement outside
Stitched by hand, the leather-wrapped instrument panel, steering wheel and door inserts all bear testament to artisan finesse. Carbon fiber in the door accents also echoes the performance of the car.
The seats have also been designed to complement the car's character. An array of leathers was used to bring out the best comfort, from premium saddle leather to thick cushion-quilting. Even oft-ignored rear passengers get stylish bucket seats, adding to the premium environment in the car.
The dramatic INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo
The INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo is a vision of what a high performance INFINITI could look like in the future. Available for download in Gran Turismo®6 (GT6™) exclusively on the PlayStation®3 system, it was created through close collaboration with the creators of Gran Turismo®, the racing game franchise developed by Polyphony Digital Inc. that has sold more than 72 million copies worldwide.
The virtual concept car began as an ambitious global INFINITI Design competition to "design a pure INFINITI GT car", which INFINITI's Design team in Beijing won. Part beauty, part beast, its shape is powerful, sensual and audacious – articulating the team's ambitious racing language for INFINITI.
The team kept to INFINITI's design language and added some Chinese influences to the INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo. The fluid movement and the delicate gradation of the body are inspired by traditional Chinese calligraphy and landscape paintings, while the character lines uninhibitedly flowing through the car reflect the dynamism of China.
Up front, the INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo sports a sharp visage and a wide grille, giving it a wild and powerful look. The curves of the fenders wrap around the tires, and the car appears ready to pounce.
The design development of the INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo started with hand sketching, then refined digitally, refined again by hand sculpting, and then returned to digital for final refinement.
"The Q80 Inspiration, the Q60 Concept and the INFINITI Concept Vision Gran Turismo are all thematically different," said Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI Executive Design Director. "Yet the same thread of handcrafted artistry weaves through them, and they all speak with one INFINITI design language."
About INFINITI
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in over 50 countries. The INFINITI brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan, the United States and China. Production in the UK will start in 2015, bringing with it significant expansion of the brand's portfolio. INFINITI plans to also expand manufacturing into Mexico by 2017.
As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of INFINITI Red Bull Racing, INFINITI has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the four-time FIA Formula One World Championship winning Team.
More information about INFINITI, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infinitiUSA.com. For the latest news on INFINITI, visit INFINITINews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.
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Contacts:
For INFINITI U.S. Communications, contact:
Nick Twork
Director Corporate Communications
INFINITI Americas
(615) 725-4038
nick.twork@infiniti.com
Kyle Bazemore
Senior Manager
INFINITI USA Communications
(615) 725-3210
kyle.bazemore@infiniti.com
For INFINITI Global Communications, contact:
Matthew Davis
Director, INFINITI Global Communications
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd., Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3948 0127
Mobile: +852 9542 1711
Email: matthew.davis@infiniti.com
Jon Walsh
Senior Manager, INFINITI Global Communications
INFINITI Motor Company Ltd., Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3948 0129
Mobile: +852 9447 9705
Email: jon.walsh@infiniti.com
