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Infiniti spruces up Q70L Bespoke Edition for Shanghai [w/video]

"Luxury" is a relative term. Take the Infiniti Q70, for instance, which most of us would find plenty luxurious. But some buyers – in China especially – wanted more, so Infiniti stretched it out into the Q70L. And now it's revealed the even more luxurious Q70L Bespoke Edition. Revealed for the first time at the Shanghai Motor Show down the coast from the company's global headquarters in Hong Kong, the Infiniti Q70L Bespoke Edition is designed to "fill the gap between the current interiors in production cars and luscious interiors of Infiniti's concept cars." That's been materialized through a quilted white leather cabin space with four individual seats hewn "by meticulous craftsmanship and three-dimensional textures." It all looks pretty swank to us, but not the kind of space you'd want to put your kids in with their juice boxes, crayons and dirty soccer uniforms. Check it out in the video clip, high-res images and press release below. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Apr. 19, 2015 Infiniti unveils Q70L Bespoke Edition at Auto Shanghai; joins Q60 Concept and Q80 Inspiration in show debut - Infiniti Q70L Bespoke Edition revealed with concept-car inspired interior - Q80 Inspiration and Q60 Concept vehicles also make China premieres - Infiniti design, plus Global and China growth, highlighted Hong Kong/Shanghai – Infiniti today took the covers off its Infiniti Q70L Bespoke Edition at Auto Shanghai 2015, showcasing its concept car-inspired interior for the first time in front of the predominantly Chinese crowd. The special version of the production Q70L, with a 5.9-inch (150 mm) longer wheelbase, features four luxurious seats wrapped in rich white quilted leather. This exploration is meant to fill the gap between the current interiors in production cars and luscious interiors of Infiniti's concept cars. Shaped by meticulous craftsmanship and three-dimensional textures, the cabin of the Q70L Bespoke Edition has been transformed into a cossetting space, hinting at how the artistry of Infiniti's concept cars can become reality. The production model of the Infiniti Q70, and two more Infiniti concepts – the Q80 Inspiration and Q60 Concept – were also making Auto Shanghai debuts.

Formula 1 seeking independent engine supplier

Formula 1 could get a new engine supplier in the near future, if Bernie Ecclestone and the independent teams gets their way. According to Autosport, the FIA is soon to open the contract up for bids, and there are already several manufacturers that have expressed interest. Currently Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault, and Honda supply engines – both to their own premier teams (Red Bull and McLaren for the latter two) but also to other teams like Williams, Sauber, and Toro Rosso. Because the new turbocharged V6 hybrid power units cost those four suppliers so much to develop, they're charging their customer teams big bucks – around $20-30 million per season – to provide the engines. These costs are much higher than the $10 million or so it used to cost to purchase a V8 engine under the previous regulations. Ecclestone figures it's time to bring in another supplier who will not run their own team and not play favorites, but will supply engines to private teams at a lower cost. There are already a number of potential suppliers under consideration. One of them is said to be Cosworth, which has a long history in the series stretching back to 1963. The British firm stepped back between 2007 and 2009, returned in 2010, and dropped out again after 2013. The development could be of particular benefit to Red Bull, which has been unable to find an engine supplier and could be forced out of the series as a result. The team has long been powered by Renault, but that relationship has grown sour. And the other three engine manufacturers have not been forthcoming in offering an alternative arrangement for the team. Related Video: News Source: AutosportImage Credit: Cosworth Motorsports Ferrari Honda Infiniti McLaren Mercedes-Benz Renault F1 engine contract

Infiniti puts EV plans on hold again

Think of it as the green-automotive industry's version of Groundhog Day. Nissan's Infiniti division is putting plans for its first mass-production electric vehicle on hold. Again. The Infiniti LE, whose concept version was unveiled 2012's New York Auto Show, is again being put up on the proverbial blocks, USA Today says, citing a presentation by Infiniti executive Michael Bartsch at a recent company event in Detroit. Essentially, the Nissan division has bigger fish to fry, in the form of boosting overall Infiniti sales, and doesn't yet want to put the effort into introducing the Infiniti LE. The Infiniti EV plans were first postponed by then-Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen during the summer of 2013, as de Nysschen wasn't quite buying into Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn's ambitious electric vehicle sales projections. De Nysschen resigned last summer to join General Motors' Cadillac division. One issue may be the fact that the Infiniti wouldn't be all that different from the Nissan Leaf. Despite the fact that US sales of that EV surged 34 percent last year compared to 2013, to 30,200 vehicles, an Infiniti version was apparently not enough of a selling point within the company. While the Infiniti is sportier looking than the Leaf and would boast inductive, wireless charging, it would have a similar power output and single-charge range as the Leaf.