At a New Dawn event in Tokyo on Tuesday, leading up to the Japan Mobility Show press days, Infiniti introduced its Vision Qe EV concept. As a fastback sedan, the Qe showcases a new Artistry in Motion design direction, featuring a double-arch grille. This concept serves as a preview of Infiniti’s first production electric vehicle, an “elegant sedan” set to be manufactured in the U.S. at Nissan’s plant in Canton, Mississippi. It sets the tone for the luxury arm of Nissan’s forthcoming electric models.
This includes a conceptual electric crossover, the QXe, which is also in the works and is glimpsed in the background of a teaser photo depicting a lineup of future models. From that image, it is evident that the accompanying higher-riding crossover model will follow some of the same design cues and utilize a version of the same new face. It will also incorporate “an array of advanced technologies,” according to Infiniti.
While these concepts may appear similar yet distinctly different, they are part of a brand reboot following a previous Infiniti EV refresh that failed to gain traction. This shift in direction had been driven, at least in part, by the decision not to center much of the model lineup around series hybrid technology.
As part of this new design approach, the brand’s designers sought shapes that “seemed abstractions of a bird in flight: powerful, almost motionless but generating so much speed,” said Global Design Senior Vice President Alfonso Albaisa in a statement.
For the Qe, the profile is sleek and low, with tapered yet muscular rear fenders. Additionally, up close, the rear styling of the Qe is reminiscent of the J30, a cult favorite in Infiniti’s design history.
The wheel design follows a geometric pattern inspired by the tightly wound coil inside an electric motor, with a warm golden color serving as a pleasant contrast against the dark Shadow Blue body color, which also contains golden highlights. Infiniti states that the brand’s renewed design identity is built around these two blue and gold tones.
Infiniti Vision Qe Concept
The Qe also features a new grille that Infiniti claims has been “reimagined for the era of electric vehicles,” with bright LED lighting and a lower front fascia. A luminous “digital piano key” signature in golden hues repeats at the front and rear, accompanied by a new 3D Infiniti emblem at the front and slim headlights that connect and emphasize the vehicle’s width.
Infiniti has yet to provide details about the interior or dimensions for the Qe. However, in person, it appears to be roughly the same size as the previous Q70, a sedan that measured around 195 inches long in its standard form or 201 inches long in its Q70L version.
Alongside the Qe, Infiniti presented a preview of a three-row flagship QX80 SUV set to debut next year. It closely follows the QX Monograph concept initially showcased at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California in August. Infiniti claims it will maintain that profile and minimalist exterior appearance, pairing them with “opulent materials” and “extraordinary comfort.”
