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Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration Concept fits perfectly in the QX50's shoes

If there was any doubt about whether the Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration Concept is a preview of the next QX50, the official details presented at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show should erase them. The concept is smaller – a lot smaller – than the last QX70. And despite a recent update to the QX50, the brand's midsize crossover is due for a new model. We're basing that statement on dimensions. The QX Sport Inspiration Concept rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase, and is 181.1 inches long, 74.8 inches wide, and 65 inches high. The last QX50, meanwhile, rides on a 113.4-inch wheelbase, and is 186.8 inches long, 71.0 inches wide, and 62.7 inches high. Ignore the different lengths – the concept's front and rear overhangs are remarkably short and aren't likely to translate to production – but the wheelbase, width, and most importantly the height, present a footprint that's remarkably similar to the QX50. Combine that with our assessment of the QX Sport Inspiration Concept's styling, and it's a virtual certainty that we're looking at the QX50's successor. As we said yesterday, the high beltline, tight greenhouse, long hood, and aggressive headlights are all trademarks of both the QX50 and QX70. Infiniti didn't say what kind of engine is under this concept car's hood (if there even is one – it might just be an engineless shell), but we're almost certain it's something performance-oriented. That would prove true if and when a new production QX50 is unleashed. We're betting the company will opt for the increasingly familiar setup of the new 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6, a seven-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive, like what you can get on the Q50 Red Sport 400 and new Q60. With 300- and 400-horsepower versions of this engine available, it could signal an introduction of a two-tier QX50 lineup. We're getting ahead of ourselves, of course. The QX Sport is still only a concept, but Infiniti's latest information dump at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show serves as even stronger evidence that its CUV lineup will grow back to four vehicles sooner rather than later. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2017 Infiniti QX30 brings style in a small package to LA

There are already no shortage of luxurious compact crossovers on the market, like the Lexus NX and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class. Infiniti clearly sees room for growth with the debut of the production QX30 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The highly sculpted CUV arrives next year to offer another stylish entry in the segment. The production QX30 clearly adapts the swoopy concept's design from the Geneva Motor Show, but the designers soften things slightly. The kinked C-pillar comes straight from the earlier shape, and the arching character line now runs through both door handles along the side. Narrow lights at the front and rear also give the CUV a sporty look. Inside, leather and metallic trim abound, and the infotainment system sits high on the center stack. The QX30 will be available with diesel and gasoline engines, depending on the market, but the 2.0t on the fender here suggests this one uses the turbocharged unit from its Q30 hatchback sibling with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed dual clutch gearbox is standard on the CUV, and an all-wheel-drive system can send up to 50-percent of the power to the rear wheels as necessary. Infiniti hopes young buyers gravitate toward the model's bold shape when the QX30 goes on sale. LA seems like the perfect place to catch the eye of these potential customers. Infiniti QX30: A premium active crossover for all purposes • QX30 debuts as a new premium offering for global markets • Combines crossover appearance with signature Infiniti design cues • Delivers a confident drive and versatile attitude, aided by intelligent all-wheel drive • Intuitive technologies enhance safety, comfort and convenience • Part of first Infiniti production in Europe, at new facilities in Sunderland, UK • Simultaneous world premieres at Los Angeles and Guangzhou motor shows HONG KONG – The Infiniti QX30 premium active crossover is making its simultaneous global debut at the 2015 Los Angeles and Guangzhou international motor shows – signalling the next phase of the company's global growth strategy. Created for a new generation of premium buyers who appreciate category-defying design inside and out, the QX30 boasts a purposeful appearance that makes a bold visual statement as part of Infiniti's premium model line-up.

Nissan, Infiniti will each show a next-gen concept EV in Detroit

The chief designer for Nissan and Infiniti said Wednesday that both brands will debut concept electric vehicles at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January that will likely show off Nissan's next-generation electric drive systems and the evolution of the brands' EV design direction first hinted at with Infiniti's stunning Q Inspiration. Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president of global design for Nissan, said the concepts will reflect a similar departure from standard vehicle proportions as the Q Inspiration. He would not say exactly what segment or segments the concepts would represent, but he dropped some hints at a couple possible powertrains for the concepts. Similar additional concepts will follow later in the year at the Tokyo Motor Show, he said. "The Q Inspiration kind of hinted at it and we avoided discussing too much about what's driving that car. Of course, we talked about VC-Turbo, which is also possible," he said in an interview with Autoblog. "But if you really look at the car, Q Insipiration shifted the cabin forward. It was the first one to break the [mold] of Infiniti. So how to still have this artistry and this sense of carrozzerie" (Italian for coachbuilding) "of Infiniti without kind of the stereotypical long hood and the cabin shifted back and the windshield has to go through the center of the front wheel, these golden rules." Infiniti debuted the Q Inspiration concept sedan in Detroit in January, with a swoopy, ghost-like design influenced by an archer shooting an arrow through the air, and innovative design features like an elongated cabin that expands interior space, a relative lack of chrome, and other features. It's powered by a compact variable compression turbocharged engine, which can change compression ratios on the fly to maximize efficiency and power, depending on the situation. But Albaisa said the two concepts for Detroit could feature Nissan's e-Power series hybrid technology, which has mostly featured in Japan, and which features small, isolated gasoline engines that exist only to charge the batteries, not drive the wheels. They will also feature a new generation of battery packs, which he calls a "magic carpet." "It's getting denser, it's getting thinner, the cars are able to get a little bit bigger, more space, we can really do much more," he said.