2015 Geneva Motor Show: Infiniti debuts Q60 coupe and QX30 crossover concepts
Infiniti has a busier Geneva Motor Show than most this week, using the 2015 event to debut two concept vehicles that are expected to reach production in the near future.
The QX30 compact crossover and the Q60 sports coupe offer a sneak peek of what’s to come from Infiniti, the luxury arm of Nissan.
The coupe will arrive on the road first.
“The Q60 concept is more than a design exercise; it is earmarked for production,” Roland Krueger, Infiniti’s CEO, said ahead of its debut. “What you see in this concept vehicle inspires the sports coupe that Infiniti will produce next year.”
That 2016 coupe is based on Infiniti’s existing Q50 sedan, and will compete with other two-door sports coupes such as the BMW 4 Series, Cadillac ATS coupe, Lexus RC, and Audi A5. Power will come from a new 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-6 that Infiniti plans to roll out in other models in the next two years.
Power figures haven’t been announced but the engine will need at least 300 horsepower to keep up with its rivals. Based on what its rivals charge, the Q60 should sell for $40,000 to $50,000.
On the smaller side of Infiniti, the automaker also showed off the QX30 concept. This tidy little crossover vehicle looks to jump into the ultra-hot compact arena that every other luxury brand is salivating over.
Lincoln, Audi, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche have released new models looking to capitalize on the growth in this segment, which is fueled primarily by young couples buying their first luxury vehicle, as well as by empty nesters downsizing.
“The QX30 concept foreshadows an entry in the premium compact segment that provides a stylish alternative to the existing offer in this segment,” said Krueger.
The vehicle is specifically styled to lure Gen X and Gen Y shoppers, whom Infiniti expects to make up 80% of the segment by the end of the decade.
The QX30 is based on the recent Q30 four-door hatchback that goes into production later this year. Infiniti will begin building this QX version in 2016. Infiniti hasn’t released details on what will power the QX30 and the Q30, but it’s expected to use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine sourced from Mercedes.
Pricing is another unknown, but the general price of admission in the luxury compact crossover world is at least $30,000.
Infiniti’s QX30 and Q60 were among the more approachable debuts at the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. Other headline-grabbing reveals included new models from Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche, McLaren, Lamborghini and Bentley.
