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Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration Concept previewed ahead of Beijing debut

Infiniti's exterior design has been on point lately. The Q50, QX30, and especially the new Q60 Coupe are among the best looking vehicles in their respective segments. The company's designers even managed to make the homely QX60 look good. And now, those same stylists have issued their official preview of the successor to the QX50. It's called the QX Sport Inspiration Concept and will make its official debut tomorrow at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show. It's not hard to look at this stylish concept and imagine the second-generation QX50, formerly known as the EX. The proportions are just right, for one. The rear overhang is perilously short and the rear glass is raked aggressively – both work with the squat greenhouse and powerful hood to cut a sporty silhouette. The QX Sport Concept's headlights are better looking than the current model's, but still provide a menacing scowl as they flank the trademark Infniti grille. We like the large, air-curtain-style vents behind the front wheels, too; they're a more aggressive, functional take on the current QX70's side vents. The QX Sport's cabin is bisected by a high transmission tunnel, emulating the cockpit-like layout of the current model. And like in that car, this driver-focused layout demands driver-focused interfaces, like the flat-bottomed steering wheel and aggressive, single-piece bucket seats. We wouldn't count on that last item making the production shortlist, though. We'll have more on the QX Sport Inspiration Concept when it debuts tomorrow evening. Stay tuned. Related Video:

Infiniti Q30 is the company's first small hatchback

Well, here it is. Despite every attempt to show us the car via teasers, Infiniti has made it to the week of the Frankfurt Motor Show before introducing the all-new Q30, the company's version of the jointly developed Mercedes-Benz A-Class hatchback and the first compact from the Nissan-owned luxury marque. The Q30 will be available with a wide and varied array of gas and diesel powertrains for its appearances in other markets. There will be two 1.6-liter gas engines, in 120-horsepower and 154-hp varieties, and two diesels. The oil-burners, which will not be coming to the US, displace 1.5 liters and 2.2 liters, respectively. As for North America, the Q30 will follow in the footsteps of its Mercedes cousins, the CLA- and GLA-Class, and offer a single 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Although it displaces just as much as the CLA's 2.0-liter turbo and matches that car's output, enthusiasts will appreciate the six-speed manual transmission being offered alongside the Mercedes seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic. Say what you will about its Mercedes roots, but Infiniti's decision to offer a six-speed stick here in the US should be respected. The specific set of drive wheels isn't mentioned, although if the A-, CLA-, and GLA-Class are any indication, the Q30 will offer standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive. That's speculation on our part, but it's a logical assumption. The Q30 has retained the A-Class' front McPherson struts and rear multi-link suspension arrangement. But while it uses an identical design, Infiniti has tuned the shocks to its own specification. Depending on trim, the Q30 will ride on either 18- or 19-inch wheels. Speaking of those trims, there are three of them. The base trim is, um, basic – Infiniti spilled very little ink on the entry level model. In fact, aside from a few simple descriptions, equipment details on the other two trims are quite scarce. Choosing the Premium line will net you unique 18-inch wheels, LED fog lamps, heated door mirrors with body color housings, and twin chrome exhausts. The Sport brings a bit more to the table, making a functional change by lowering the ride height by 0.6 inches and fitting 19-inch alloys. Gloss black and dark chrome accents on the more aggressive front and rear fascias round out the exterior enhancements.

Infiniti Qs Inspiration shows itself before Auto Shanghai

Infiniti's shown off a bit of the Qs Inspiration concept before debuting the creased contrivance at Auto Shanghai next week. The concept serves a few purposes, the first to reimagine a future for sports sedans on a planet of crossovers and SUVs. The result blends a fastback with high sides that connect low ground clearance below and an elevated seating position above. The Japanese luxury maker is all about sedans, the Qs Inspiration signaling how a carmaker watching the bottom line can maintain its interest in the passe bodystyle. The concept previews a production model, and perhaps the design language and lingo we'll see spreading through the range. We're not sure how the low floor and higher roof work out in the cabin, but Infiniti mentions a "low-mounted powertrain and potent e-AWD system." That's undoubtedly the promise of the "all-new flexible architecture developed to accommodate high-performance electrified powertrains." Production-izing for a non-electric version would mean laying in a grille for the ICE, but an electrified version would have plenty of room for batteries and e-motors. Before that retail model, it's possible we'll see Qs Inspiration cues on the Q50 and Q70 sedans. Take a long gander at the profile and the way the roof slopes, and you'll notice an elongated GT-R glasshouse profile. On top of that, before Infiniti released official photos, a few images leaked from China showing other angles of the concept. The rectangular steering wheel and massive digital dash cluster probably aren't going anywhere beyond Shanghai, but if Infiniti can bring that glass roof to production, that's a win in our book.