INFINITI Q Inspiration Concept: the full story
01/15/2018
Infiniti
Previewing a new generation of INFINITI vehicles, the Q Inspiration Concept proposes how an innovative VC-Turbo powertrain, next-level autonomous drive technologies, and a unique human-centric interior could enrich the experience for drivers of luxury sedans. The car was revealed today for the first time at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. The Q Inspiration Concept is meant to demonstrate future technologies and will not be available for sale.
Presenting the next stride in INFINITI design, the exterior of the Q Inspiration Concept features a concise design with dynamic and confident proportions. It is the first manifestation of INFINITI's new form language, for an era of advanced powertrains. The concept eschews classical sedan forms with coupe-like proportions and an elongated silhouette, demonstrating INFINITI's design vision for vehicles in this segment.
The cabin follows a minimalist approach, enveloping the driver and passengers in a serene and comfortable environment. The intelligently-packaged four-cylinder VC-Turbo has liberated INFINITI's designers from the constraints of powertrain architecture to realize a spacious interior.
"As a new wave of technologies begins to take shape, our Detroit concept car heralds a new generation of INFINITI. A seamless and stunning new design philosophy demonstrating INFINITI artistry in the new age of autonomy and breakthrough drivetrains. In Detroit, shown alongside Prototype 9, INFINITI aims to showcase a new elegance, one that strikes harmony and simplicity in a complex world."
Alfonso Albaisa, SVP Global Design
Powered by INFINITI's breakthrough VC-Turbo technology - the world's first production-ready variable compression ratio engine - the Q Inspiration boasts a revolutionary powertrain combining turbocharged gasoline power with the torque and efficiency of a hybrid or diesel engine. VC-Turbo continually transforms, adjusting its compression ratio to optimize power and fuel efficiency, resulting in the smart application of power for greater driver control. As a mid-size sedan concept, the Q Inspiration previews other near-future applications for INFINITI's variable compression ratio VC-Turbo engine technology.
New ProPILOT functionality liberates the driver from mundane and stressful driving situations. Realizing the next stage in vehicle autonomy for INFINITI, ProPILOT enables drivers to delegate more stressful driving tasks to the car and enjoy an enhanced ability to respond to hazards. With the system acting as a co-pilot, the driver always retains ultimate control.
"The premium sedan segment has become rather conservative. The INFINITI Q Inspiration previews something that could appeal to a younger audience, who seek modern design and new technologies to inspire and empower them."
Christian Meunier, INFINITI Global Division Vice President
Exterior design
The manifestation of a new form language for an era of advanced powertrains
"The new INFINITI concept car will take the traditional sedan architecture to its next stage of evolution. A shift towards smarter, more compact and less intrusive powertrains; we were able to create an alternative form with flowing gestures, more engaging in character and more enriching in experience. With its long cabin, balanced proportions and muscular stance, the concept heralds in a new era for INFINITI models."
Karim Habib, INFINITI Executive Design Director
Dynamic proportions for an era of advanced powertrains
The Q Inspiration Concept represents the first manifestation of INFINITI's new form language, characterized by advanced powertrains and a shift toward lower emissions. More technical in execution than existing INFINITI production cars and concept vehicles, the brand's new design language adopts straight lines, concise graphics and clean surfaces. The result is a pure and simple - yet muscular - design execution inspired by modern powertrain technologies.
The impending adoption of more advanced forms of propulsion has allowed INFINITI's designers to propose a new architecture for the mid-size sedan. The Q Inspiration eschews classical sedan forms in favor of more coupe-like proportions and an elongated silhouette. Its short hood segues into a long cabin, made possible by the powerful yet compact VC-Turbo engine under its hood.
The front of the car is dominated by a large double-arch grille, echoing the signature design of existing INFINITI vehicles, yet exhibiting a more obsessive and technical level of execution. The appearance of the grille is matched with sharp louvers running up the sides of the hood, and blade-like vents fore and aft of the wheels. INFINITI's hallmark human-eye headlamps have evolved to accommodate precise LED strip headlamps.
Extending rearward from the slashes on the bonnet, precise shoulder lines blend into the smoother bodywork of the mid-section of the concept, across the car's pillarless rear-hinged doors. The shoulder reappears toward the rear of the car, exhibiting a sensual, curved quarter and wheel arches, accompanied by a graceful, arcing roofline flowing into the rear deck. These lines culminate in a single rear light strip beneath a clearly-defined trailing edge.
Minimalist interior design
Efficient vehicle packaging, merging technology with craftsmanship
"The Q Inspiration interior is reduced to a minimalist expression of wellbeing and comfort, and strives to create a warm and uncompromisingly modern atmosphere, like one so often finds in Tokyo residential architecture. The purpose being to enable users in a new era of connectivity, while simultaneously enriching the driving experience with materials of the best quality, crafted by the hands of the artist."
Karim Habib, INFINITI Executive Design Director
Concise and minimalist interior
The Q Inspiration's cabin follows a minimalist approach, wrapping occupants in a serene, spacious and comfortable environment. Concise and clean in its execution, the concept explores a modern aesthetic, delivering a calming, enjoyable space for passengers.
While minimalist, the human-centric cabin remains innately comfortable. This approach reduces the noise of the interior, helping the driver to rediscover their enjoyment of driving, focusing entirely on the road ahead without unnecessary distractions.
The car integrates passengers into the cabin with a human-machine interface. With wellbeing and relaxation at its core, the Q Inspiration's human-machine interface - a touchscreen for each passenger - offers a meditation-regeneration mode. This minimizes the level of information displayed, and offers guided meditation to help occupants leave any stress behind when they start a journey. The car can also monitor passenger biometrics.
Drivers and passengers can call up digital content on their independent touchscreens. Passengers in different seats can enjoy a favorite film or show, catch up on the day's news, or sit back and stream music as the world goes by - without distracting others in the cabin. As in all INFINITI cars, the cabin remains sufficiently isolated from the outside world to enable easy conversation when the screens are off.
Intelligent packaging thanks to VC-Turbo powertrain
The intelligently packaged four-cylinder VC-Turbo has liberated INFINITI's designers from the constraints of traditional high-powered engine architecture. With a more compact engine under the hood, designers have realized a spacious cabin within the same footprint of a mid-size sedan, with a shorter hood and A-pillars pushed further forward than is typical of the segment. The arcing roofline liberates valuable headroom for front and rear occupants.
Inside, efficient interior packaging creates space for four passengers to relax in total comfort. While the Q Inspiration is similar in size to existing mid-size sedans, interior space for each passenger is on par with larger luxury sedans. Each seat features a floating touchscreen, positioned to allow occupants to freely cross their legs in comfort. The floating center console maximizes leg room, paired with thin-frame zero-gravity seats, designed to minimize fatigue on long journeys. Pillarless rear-hinged doors and low sills make it easy for passengers to get in and out. The driveshaft providing power to the rear wheels is positioned to create a flat cabin floor, offering additional space.
Merging technology and craftsmanship
The Q Inspiration Concept marries cutting-edge technology with modern twists on traditional craftsmanship, creating a cabin with a bespoke, minimalist appearance.
The dashboard is trimmed in carefully treated kabazakura wood, with an authentic, highly tactile matte finish whose grain is still detectable to the touch, thanks to a delicate application of clear-coat protection. Kabazakura is a member of the birch family. As the wood extends rearward from the front of the cabin, along the top of the doors, it merges with slashed white leather. The seats, center console and doors are trimmed in soft white leather, finished with INFINITI's own patented dot-quilting, for an informal, unbuttoned twist on the traditional buttoned-down diamond patterns of a Chesterfield sofa. The white leather of the seats is lined with a flash of coral orange leather, matching the coral highlights of the aluminum alloy wheels. Black leather extends to the floor and over the far reaches of the digital dashboard.
The hand-crafted interior of the Q Inspiration is matched with unobtrusive technologies for a contemporary overall appearance. The dark gray of the cabin's birch wood trim disguises the digital black of the flowing human-machine interface running the width of the dashboard. Metallic trim lines the trailing edges of the dashboard, while soft, subtle lighting illuminates certain elements of the cabin, such as the armrests, steering wheel and ProPILOT controls.
The interior invites the passenger to explore and discover infinite layers of intricate details. For example, the inside door pockets are lined with a Nishijin-ori material, which includes golden washi paper shreds woven with silk threads. Not only is this material an expression of true sophistication and luxury, it also acts as a high-tech sensor enabling the passenger to switch on and adjust the pocket lighting.
The interior of the Q Inspiration offers hints to the future of INFINITI interior cabins, integrated with new entertainment, convenience and safety technologies.
VC-Turbo power
Smart power and maximum driver control from revolutionary variable compression ratio VC-Turbo powertrain
"As a brand with technological innovation at its core, the wider introduction of our advanced VC-Turbo powertrain is a natural next step for INFINITI. After the recently launched QX50, the Q Inspiration proposes an alternative application for VC-Turbo technology in a potential new product."
François Bancon, Vice President, Product and Programs
High power, torque and efficiency from revolutionary VC-Turbo engine
The Q Inspiration Concept is powered by INFINITI's unique VC-Turbo technology, suggesting future application of variable compression ratio engines across a range of INFINITI models.
VC-Turbo represents a breakthrough in combustion engine design. Following its production debut in the QX50, INFINITI's VC-Turbo engine is the world's first variable compression ratio engine. The Q Inspiration's engine continually transforms, adjusting its compression ratio to optimize power and fuel efficiency. It combines the power of a larger V6 gasoline engine with the torque and efficiency of an advanced four-cylinder diesel engine.
The VC-Turbo changes its compression ratio seamlessly with an advanced multi-link system, continuously raising or lowering the pistons' reach to transform compression ratio - offering both power and efficiency, as the driver demands. Deploying smart power for greater control, the empowering engine exemplifies INFINITI's driver-centric approach.
A high compression ratio gives greater efficiency while a low compression ratio allows for greater power and torque. The VC-Turbo engine offers any compression ratio between 8:1 (for high performance) and 14:1 (for high efficiency). Its single-scroll turbocharger, mounted directly to the cylinder head's integrated exhaust manifold, enables immediate throttle response at any speed or compression ratio. The VC-Turbo changes compression ratios seamlessly.
Q Inspiration previews near-future applications for INFINITI's VC-Turbo technology
The Q Inspiration represents INFINITI's investigation to introduce its VC-Turbo engine technology to other models in future. Its compact packaging and flexible power delivery make VC-Turbo an ideal powertrain technology for propulsion across segments.
Powered by VC-Turbo, the Q Inspiration volunteers a new approach to power delivery in the mid-size sedan segment, where many customers expect larger displacement engines to provide adequate power and acceleration - often to the detriment of fuel efficiency. Though only a four-cylinder engine, the VC-Turbo's blend of performance and efficiency challenges the notion that only hybrid and diesel powertrains can deliver high torque and efficiency. VC-Turbo technology also offers similar performance to some V6 gasoline engines, demonstrating the potential benefits to sedan buyers.
The Q Inspiration provides drivers with an intelligent all-wheel-drive system, a front-biased drivetrain able to apportion torque to individual rear wheels as driving conditions demand.
"The beauty of the VC-Turbo powertrain is that it is a global technology. While we have plans to electrify our product portfolio in future, drivers all around the world are still reliant on internal combustion engines for their transport needs. This revolutionary engine offers a compelling blend of turbocharged performance and high efficiency. These qualities need not be unique to hybrids and diesels."
François Bancon, Vice President, Product and Programs
Autonomous drive technologies
New ProPILOT autonomous technologies liberate drivers from mundane and stressful driving situations
"The INFINITI Q Inspiration reveals the next stage of development for the brand's ProPILOT autonomous drive technologies. The new, near-future technologies previewed here seek to both empower and liberate drivers."
François Bancon, Vice President, Product and Programs
Q Inspiration previews INFINITI's near-future autonomous drive technologies
ProPILOT is the umbrella term under which all future INFINITI autonomous drive support technologies will be based. Drawing on inputs from radar and camera to read the road ahead and monitor the position of other vehicles, the system allows the driver and car to react accordingly.
Central to INFINITI's strategy for developing ProPILOT is a commitment to allow drivers to retain ultimate control over their vehicle, in keeping with INFINITI's focus on driver engagement. The Q Inspiration's ProPILOT autonomous drive technologies support drivers in identifying and responding to other road users and potential hazards. Acting as a co-pilot, these autonomous drive technologies enhance drivers' capabilities and enable them to delegate more onerous driving tasks to the car.
When the driver does not require the individual performance and engagement afforded to them by their INFINITI, ProPILOT frees them from mundane or stressful driving situations. ProPILOT empowers drivers with end-to-end autonomous driving, providing autonomous multi-lane highway driving and intersection auto-navigation functionalities. These near-future technologies work alongside existing ProPILOT Assist technologies, such as the capability to navigate stop-start highway traffic and monitor the positions of surrounding vehicles. ProPILOT helps drivers complete their journeys more safely and more efficiently.