Infiniti Shows New Design Direction Hoping for Another Fresh Start

Infiniti is a struggling car brand with few customers left and even fewer reasons to get excited about. If it were not for the QX60 (based on the Nissan Pathfinder) and QX80 (derived from the Nissan Armada/Patrol), Nissan’s luxury division would probably be extinct by now. The QX50 and QX55 compact SUVs have vastly underachieved so far, while the Q50 compact sedan’s days are numbered.  

But today at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo, Infiniti announced plans to launch four new models as part of a comprehensive range refresh.

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The first one is the next-generation QX80, previewed by the QX Monograph concept that initially made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. It will go on sale next year as a 2025 model. A redesigned Nissan Armada will inevitably show up at around the same time.

Next, Infiniti will introduce the QX65 as a two-row midsize crossover with a coupe-like body style, taking inspiration from the late Infiniti FX. It will likely be based on the current QX60, albeit with five seats only due to the sloping roofline. Picture this model as a future rival of the BMX X6 and Audi Q8. We’ll see it next year as a MY2025 vehicle.

Infiniti Qe

That being said, most of the spotlight in Tokyo is turned toward the new Infiniti Qe concept, a battery-powered fastback sedan that previews the design of the brand’s first all-electric model—part of Nissan’s Ambition 2030 electrification plan.

The car pairs a low and wide profile with full-width digital piano key lighting and striking machine-finished wheels. It looks pretty good overall and would most certainly attract a greater number of drivers than the agonizing Q50. A future BMW i5 and Mercedes-Benz EQE challenger? We’re merely speculating at this point, but that is what we have here.

The sedan will spawn an SUV variant previewed by another concept in Tokyo, this one called Vision QXe. Sounds like a wise thing to do considering the growing list of electric SUVs and crossovers in North America.

Infiniti did not say when we should expect to see the production models developed from these inspiring concepts. One thing’s for sure, the company can’t afford to wait much longer, otherwise it’ll find itself lagging even further behind the competition.