[EauRouge]

Infiniti's Detroit concept to be 'very, very, very, very close' to new Q60

Add one more vehicle to the tally of reveals slated for the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. Alfonso Albaisa, executive design director at Infiniti, has confirmed that the marque will be showing a new concept on January 13, the second media day.

More importantly, though, this concept won't be another flight of fancy like many of Infiniti's past show cars. Instead, it will foreshadow the arrival of a replacement for one of its oldest vehicles, the Q60, a model better known as the G37 Coupe.

"On January 13, you're going to see a concept car that's very, very, very, very close to the next Q60," Albaisa told Motor Trend. There isn't much to go on beyond that, sadly, although we are free to speculate.

Infiniti's past would indicate that the Q60 would carry on its role as a two-door version of the Q50 sedan, with styling influenced by its four-door sibling. While that makes sense, there's also an argument to be made for departing from the Q50's styling in favor of a more expressive look that could allow the two-door model to stand out.

Whichever avenue Infiniti chooses, we'll have an even better idea in just a few short months.

Source: Infiniti's Detroit concept to be 'very, very, very, very close' to new Q60 - Autoblog



Six Things We Learned From Infiniti Design Director Alfonso Albaisa

The Los Angeles auto show kicked off this morning in downtown L.A. with a bang, with Audi unveiling its beautiful Prologue concept car and Cadillac the long-awaited ATS-V. Though most automakers have major plans for the L.A. auto show, others simply show up to show off what they've already got. With big plans for the upcoming Detroit auto show, Infiniti is one of those automakers that simply showed up -- but that doesn't mean nothing worthwhile is coming out of the Infiniti booth. We caught up with Infiniti executive design director Alfonso Albaisa. Here are six things we learned.

1) The production models are coming, starting with the next Q60: Sick of all the Infiniti concepts and the lack of production cars? Albaisa says production vehicles are coming. "On January 13, you're going to see a concept car that's very, very, very, very close to the next Q60."

2) The Infiniti Q60 design was not rejected by Johan de Nysschen: Despite rumors that the Q60 design was rejected by former-Infiniti-now-Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen multiple times, Albaisa says that's untrue. "When you have a transparent relationship with the big boss, nothing gets sent back because he's never too far from the process -- that was the benefit of working with him," he told us. Rather, the Q60 design would go back and forth between de Nysschen and the design team as the car was finalized.

3) The Infiniti Q30 Concept wasn't actually a Concept: "Q30, as was shown in Frankfurt, was actually the go-with beta model for the production car. All we did was change the front [and it’s the production car]."

4) Nothing has really changed since de Nysschen's departure: According to Albaisa, nothing much has changed since de Nysschen's sudden departure for Cadillac. "He left after everything was signed off," said Albaisa. New head Roland Krüger, who Albaisa proudly points out comes from the design side of the business, has already dived in head-first into his new role.

5) The Infiniti grille is inspired by a suspension bridge's reflection in water: Ever wonder what exactly was going on with Infiniti's new corporate grille? According to Albaisa, the top half of the grille mimics the graceful form of a suspension bridge, while the bottom half mimics its reflection in the water.

6) Much of Infiniti design is inspired by Michelangelo: Infiniti's design team is heavily influenced by the work of Italian renaissance artist Michelangelo. Infiniti designs will increasingly mimic the human form in the coming years, and its designs are done in such a way that it allows the cars to stand out in urban areas like Hong Kong and New York.

Source: Six Things We Learned From Infiniti Design Director Alfonso Albaisa


Infiniti’s Michael Bartsch, Alfonso Albaisa on design and how it is driving the future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9V9RpwaeP4

 

[poor boy]

I heard they actually hit the reset on this in the latter half of 2012. It was essentially a Q50 sans 2 doors, but that was scrapped for something with more character...

Wonder if we'll see a new platform under there...

 

[Q602B]

Man...this board is being overran by spammers...hate it! Ok, rant off.

I would be lying if I said I could wait for this car to debut...but then again, I would be lying...just like I mention before.

Before JdN left for Caddy, he stated that "the Q60 would be the 'pivot' car for the brand". Infiniti has not been sitting idly by watching this competitive market grow even more competitive, even though, that's how it appears. MY 2015, and 2016 should unveil an explosion of new cars for our beloved brand.

Good to hear that the new boss has "dived in headfirst". I was beginning to wonder about him; if he has even began work in his new role. This was the first I've heard his name mentioned post his appointment. Maybe he won't be the rah rah guy like JdN, but the quiet dude with big actions!

I hope it all will be well worth our wait, starting with the Q60.

 

[RH636]

Finally we have some word on what to expect.
If they stick to this and deliver the type of performance and tech it should have, they should do very well... now to see what it's like in full, inside and out.