Currently reading: Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration concept previews next-gen SUV range

Mid-sized SUV could inspire the design of Infiniti’s QX models, including the QX70’s replacement

Infiniti revealed its QX Sport Inspiration concept at the Beijing motor show, offering a glimpse of what its next-generation QX models could look like.

The QX Sport Inspiration expands the design language first seen on the Q80 concept of 2014 onto a mid-sized SUV body, mixing angular lines with rounded edges and a coupé-like roof.

The roof features full-length panoramic glass with a tint that gets gradually darker towards the rear of the car. Infiniti claims that this effect helps to block out the sun’s heat to manage temperature in the cabin.

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Inside there’s a slim, button-free dash, well bolstered seats, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The cabin, which is covered in white and black leather, is more akin to that of a sports car, in a bid to give the QX a driver-centric feel. Although no drivetrain specifications have been released, we know the car has several driving modes, adjustable via a dial on the centre console, and gears are changed with metal paddle shifters mounted behind the wheel.

Ahead of the driver is a wide-screen display, while the centre console gets its own touchscreen. There’s also a smaller touchscreen between the front seats to allow rear passengers to control rear climate settings.

To give an idea of its size, the QX concept is about the same height and width as the Porsche Macan, but is 8.1cm shorter thanks to its taught overhangs. It has a ground clearance of 230mm, which matches the Macan’s maximum height. Infiniti says this gives the car genuine off-road ability, suggesting future QXs will retain all-terrain drive modes.

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Designed by Infiniti’s London, Beijing, and San Diego centres under guidance of the firm’s Japanese HQ, the QX Sport Inspiration is said to mix the trends of three continents and present “progressive yet production-realistic designs”.

This emphasises just how little could change between now and when the QX influences a production-ready model. Indeed, when the Q60 concept of 2015 turned into the Q60 coupé model, very little changed.Rather than inspiring one model, however, Autocar understands that the QX concept will provide a design base for all forthcoming Infiniti SUVs. The QX60 is the most similarly sized model in Infinti’s current range, but that car is not sold in the British market.

The larger QX70 is the next UK-bound SUV model due to be replaced, so that car’s predecessor will likely be the first to bring the QX Sport’s design language to our roads.

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Scoobman 25 April 2016

A Pretty Car

I like that. It looks a bit different to other cars with good proportions.
mpls 23 April 2016

Not bad, mor3 daring thatn

Not bad, mor3 daring thatn any Audi, Volvo or Merc offerings..
prodata 23 April 2016

Could someone please teach

Could someone please teach Sam Sheehan the difference between taught and taut (but maybe he simply meant short or tight); and between predecessor and successor.
Bolida 24 April 2016

prodata wrote: Could someone

prodata wrote:

Could someone please teach Sam Sheehan the difference between taught and taut (but maybe he simply meant short or tight); and between predecessor and successor.

Yeah not great for someone who writes for a living ...... Maybe it was written after a heavy Friday night out