INFINITI’s QX concept design marks the beginning of the brand's electrified future, and fans can’t wait to see it come to life.
Electric vehicles are the future, and many automakers have embraced that fact by replacing the gas engines in their existing lineup with electrified powertrains. While this approach has moved them into the electric vehicle space faster, INFINITI has taken a slower, more thoughtful approach. For the brand that meticulously crafts every detail of its vehicles, electrifying its lineup can’t be as simple as popping the hood and trading an engine for an electric motor. Instead, INFINITI chose to “rethink the car from the ground up.” The QX concept design was the result.
INFINITI’s design team’s main source of inspiration was modern Japanese design and architecture. The exterior incorporates the Japanese concept “Ma’,” which uses the negative space between lines to create tensions. This is expressed in elegant creases that mimic the beautiful folds of origami, and the car's signature color treatments were inspired by the lacquerware and ceramics found in Japanese homes.
The electric powertrain of the concept vehicle required the design team to consider how the shape of the vehicle can influence both the driving dynamics of the vehicle and aid in cooling and maintaining the electric motor. The grille that dominates the front fascia of gas-powered vehicles was replaced by smooth surfaces and aerodynamic channels that divert air over and around the body of the vehicle. The bumper-to-bumper design of the QX considers aerodynamics throughout, starting with the long roofline and ending with the Kammtail rear of the vehicle.
As always, the finer details are a major point in INFINITI design, and that can be seen in the etched pattern found in the concept SUV’s headlamps and scattered throughout its exterior and interior.
The QX concept seats four adults in a relaxing interior that incorporates a range of unorthodox materials and a configuration that differentiates the QX from the moment you open the clamshell doors. When it comes to the interior, the goal was to create a welcoming environment for occupants to relax. The team accomplished that goal with flying colors, seamlessly blending comfort and technology into a futuristic design. For example, a softly rectangular steering wheel that is softly rounded at the corners rests against a polarized gold-tinted monitor. In the center of the steering is a second monitor for the driver. The etched patterns from the exterior of the vehicle are continued with the timber louvers over the sunroof, creating a beautiful pattern inside the cabin as sunlight floods in. The natural light blends harmoniously with experiential ambient lighting that has several color options inspired by the hues of Japanese spring.
Although the QX EV is still a concept that has yet to be produced, the design motifs found throughout the concept can also be seen in other models of the INFINITI lineup. Explore the 2024 INFNITI models and trim levels to see how the concepts of “Ma” can be applied.
