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Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept shows a future with variable compression

For weeks, Infiniti has been teasing the Q Inspiration Concept ahead of its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show. Details were absent, but the design was clean, swoopy athletic. Not seeing any tailpipes on the rear end, we hoped it could sport some kind of electrified powertrain, but surmised that Infiniti could take the opportunity to further showcase its variable compression turbocharged engine technology. Now, Inifniti has officially taken the wraps off its Q Inspiration Concept, and has indeed chosen to use the stunning show car to demonstrate "near future applications" of the potent yet efficient VC-Turbo tech. VC-Turbo made its production debut in the 2019 QX50 at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. Here, in the Q Inspiration, VC-Turbo allows Infiniti designers to make the most of the packaging, taking advantage of the compact powertrain to increase the size of the cabin while maintaining the footprint of a mid-size car. Electric automakers like Fisker, Lucid Motors and the like have been doing something similar with electric powertrains, but Infiniti's VC-Turbo allows the company to do something similar with technology that is ready for primetime, while still bridging the gap to more efficient future powertrains. VC-Turbo, as we've learned earlier, allows the engine to change and optimize compression ratios on the fly, between 8:1 for high-performance situations, to 14:1 for maximum efficiency. Mounted to the exhaust manifold integrated in the cylinder heads of the four-cylinder engine is a single-scroll turbocharger. The system, says Infiniti, provides the torque and response of a hybrid or turbodiesel powertrain without sacrificing efficiency. In the Q Inspiration, the power is directed to four wheels via a front-biased all-wheel-drive drivetrain. The system can direct torque to the rear wheels individually as needed. As a design study, the Q Inspiration is a success. The proportions and lines are sleek and attractive, accentuated by the car's white paint. There's kind of a lot going on up front, with a large "double-arch" grille at the leading edge. Everything behind that, though, looks particularly harmonious. Its elongated cabin and coupe-like dimensions help provide efficiency while maximizing headroom for the four occupants. It's a car that stands up to close inspection, as attention to detail makes it more interesting the closer you scrutinize it, inside and out.

Listen to the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400's screaming exhaust

The best thing about the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 is its engine. That 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 makes one of the better noises in the automotive landscape on its way to the 6,800 rpm redline. It makes 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, and the engine feels every bit that strong. Peak power is made at a high 6,400 rpm, so it feels linear all the way up to that point. There’s no mistaking this for a naturally aspirated engine with the lag off the line, but once itÂ’s up and running, thereÂ’s no obvious fading of power in the higher rpms. As for the sound Â… itÂ’s also pretty spectacular. We took the Q60 out to some of our favorite deserted backroads and let it rip with a GoPro attached to the bumper. This particular Q60 Red Sport 400 is fitted with a more aggressive exhaust from Infiniti. ItÂ’s an axle-back exhaust, aptly named the “Axle-Back Sport Exhaust Kit.” Infiniti sells the exhaust on its official online parts store — thereÂ’s one available for the Q60 and another for the Q50. ItÂ’s currently listed for $707 and is backed by the original factory warranty. Buy it from the store, and then have the dealer fit it to your new (or old) car. WeÂ’ve driven Infinitis with this engine that donÂ’t have the sport exhaust installed, and theyÂ’re nowhere near as loud. And after driving one with the exhaust, itÂ’s safe to say the factory exhaust is a bit too quiet for our tastes. Starting the cold engine up in the morning is much more satisfying. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. And under load this exhaust sounds fantastic, too. In the cabin we hear loud intake whooshes, and on the outside we get to hear its screaming yowl. ThereÂ’s enough sound deadening in the cabin to make it refined and luxurious on light throttle applications, but the exhaustÂ’s sound doesnÂ’t ever disappear. A bit of drone sneaks in on the highway, but if you turn up the decent-sounding Bose audio system, it fades away. More cars could use legitimately aggressive exhausts like this one. Manufacturers continue to pump fake audio into the cabin over the speakers, but itÂ’s not as authentic as something like this. All thatÂ’s missing are bangs and pops on shifts, but we can live without them. Each downshift is delightful, and the overrun is music to our ears. Related video:

2025 Infiniti QX80's Klipsch audio system previewed at CES

Infiniti hasn’t shown us the redesigned 2025 QX80 full-size, three-row SUV yet. But, the automaker is previewing its high-end audio at CES 2024. Infiniti has announced that the 2025 QX80 will feature an available Klipsch Reference Premiere audio system. But instead of showing it to us in the new production car, itÂ’s being showcased in the Infiniti QX Monograph concept, which we first saw at Pebble Beach last year. Klipsch, a high-end speaker company, will be supplying the QX80 with a total of 24 speakers, including ones located in the front headrests. The system includes 1-inch titanium tweeters and an 8-inch TriPower subwoofer, as well as a 24-channel amplifier. Klipsch, known for premium in-home sound, announced at CES 2020 that it would partner with Panasonic to bring its audio quality to the car, and demonstrated its immersive automotive audio at CES 2021 with Panasonic and Dolby Atmos Music. Just last year, the 2025 Ram 1500 debuted with Klipsch audio in its Tungsten model. Now, Klipsch enters a new vehicle segment with the Infiniti QX80. The fact that Infiniti is showing off the Klipsch audio in the QX Monograph has us wondering just how much that concept previews the 2025 QX80. The availability of the Klipsch audio system is just the first little tidbit about the 2025 QX80 weÂ’re getting from Infiniti, with more to come as the carÂ’s debut approaches later this year. “The all-new QX80 is poised to elevate InfinitiÂ’s flagship with evolved design language, exceptional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology that will make it the new standard in the luxury SUV space,” Craig Keeys, group vice president of Infiniti Americas, said in a statement. “As we embark on an Infiniti product renaissance, we canÂ’t wait to share all the ways QX80 will deliver extraordinary comfort and convenience for all three rows.” Stay tuned. Related video: