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4 ways Infiniti’s Q Inspiration concept bridges present and future

Infiniti's new Q Inspiration concept is a striking fastback sedan that the company says reflects an inflection point for both the luxury brand and the broader auto industry itself. It represents a bridge between technologies. That's true in the literal sense; it employs Infiniti's new variable compression turbocharged engine technology, which provides performance features while maximizing efficiency, and bridges the gap to more advanced powertrains. It also features Nissan's ProPilot semi-autonomous driving technology. But it's also true for the concept car's design, which Infiniti says provides a simple, elegant solution to complex technological questions — offering a palate cleanser, if you will, for the complicated technologies hidden beneath the gleaming surfaces. Oddly enough, the futuristic-looking Q Inspiration owes a debt of gratitude to the Prototype 9, the concept based on a 1940s-style grand prix car that Infiniti released last year. Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti's senior vice president for global design, said that project became "a kind of a blank canvas for us to play with" and allowed for new discovery and expression with minimal brush strokes. It also led designers back to Ma, the Japanese concept of mastery of empty space. We spoke with Albaisa about how the concept's design echoes the theme of bridging the present and future. 1. The cabin's forward proportion and roominess Using the space-efficient VC-Turbo engine gave the designers space to shift the cabin forward and move the A-pillars back, creating a more centered and elongated cabin, with maximum headroom. The interior is clean, with orange and black leather with orange accents and backlit birch wood accents. The center console is floating, providing seamless connectivity to technology and hiding mechanical elements. Albaisa says it's the first manifestation of Infiniti's new form language for an era of advanced powertrain and future technologies. 2. The grille In what Albaisa describes as "a little bit of an accident" and "kind of tongue-in-cheek," the Q Inspiration's grille is a kind of trompe l'oeuil phenomenon. From directly in front, you can see the small fins, but viewed from the side, they disappear. So much so that Albaisa said he was initially fooled. "From a functional point of view, we need to breathe," he said. "But I think in the future, where there'll be a lot different types of technology, probably the car can breathe less. So we don't need that dominating big open mouth.

US-built Infiniti Q50 engines to go into Euro-only cars

Back in March, Infiniti announced that it would be adding a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder to its Q50 line for European and Chinese buyers. Now, we know where that engine will be built.
Nissan's Decherd, TN facility will receive the $319-million investment, which will see a separate, dedicated line for the Infiniti engines. According to Automotive News, this is more than a line running alongside the Nissan operations - the Infiniti facility will sport its own unique architecture and interior lighting, in a bid to distinguish the premium line from its mass-market parent company.
The logistics of all this do seem, on the surface, quite screwy. Building a new engine on one continent for a car built on another that will eventually go on sale on a third doesn't seem too bright, although there is a catch here. The new engine will also find its way into the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which will kick off production in Vance, AL later this year.

2022 Infiniti QX60 Review | Redesigned and relevant for the first time

Previously an afterthought in its segment, the completely redesigned 2022 Infiniti QX60 is a large luxury SUV now worth considering. It's far more stylish on the outside, and it's combined with a more luxurious interior with great standard technology and convenience features. It drives much better thanks to a new transmission and sharper suspension tuning. It all adds up to a real competitor. That doesn't mean it's a class-leader, but it's well matched to similarly priced options from Acura, Lincoln, Cadillac, Volvo, Jeep and Hyundai. In fact, with a base price of just over $47,000, it's cheaper than many of the luxury-branded alternatives, and very competitive with the high-end options of mainstream brands. Its one real weakness is a lack of powertrain options. Many vehicles in this segment have at least a couple engines to choose from, including hybrid options. Infiniti offers only a single V6 option. But the affordable price point, spacious and well-appointed interior, and good driving dynamics nevertheless make it a luxury SUV you should check out. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Features   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2022? The Infiniti QX60 is completely redesigned for 2022. You can read more about the changes in our first drive review. What are the QX60 interior and in-car technology like? Some of the biggest improvements to the QX60 are inside. The dash has a low and wide lower plane that feels modern and airy. The air vents are hidden in one wide opening in this zone, and various surfaces feature stitched upholstery. Base models feature gloss black trim, with upper trims getting aluminum or natural finish wood trim. The top Autograph trim, which is pictured in this review, combines that lovely wood trim with unique-looking quilted leather on top of the dash. All QX60s feature a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It runs basically the same infotainment suite that you find on Nissans, and that's a good thing. It features large, easy-to-find and easy-to-press icons. It all runs quickly and smoothly and is responsive to taps. We also appreciate that climate and audio controls have dedicated controls below the air vents. The volume and climate knobs are particularly appreciated, though the touch-sensitive buttons are less so.