Paris show: Infiniti to debut Q80 concept flagship

INFINITI has released a teaser image of a sleek, four-seater fastback flagship concept called the Q80 Inspiration at the Paris motor show in October.

The image shows a silhouetted car with a long bonnet, heavily raked windscreen, set back cabin and a narrow glasshouse which tapers away suggesting a lift-back boot opening, hinting at a possible Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class rival.

Infiniti’s trademark character line can clearly be seen carving its way down the side of the car, connecting the front guard to the large haunches of the rear wheel arch.

Infiniti is staying quite on details of the concept apart from its name, but it did confirm that it seats four, showcases new in-car technology and sits at the top of the line-up.

“Its very dimensions place the Q80 Inspiration clearly at the peak of the Infiniti range,” reads the press statement.

“A flashpoint for the company’s intuitive human-centric style and onboard technological ambition, the Q80 Inspiration long-legged fastback proves that Infiniti intends to drive in and disturb the status quo.”

It’s the second teaser in two weeks from Infiniti in the lead up to the Paris motor show with an image released in August showing the grille and badge of a dark car.

The tightly cropped photo shows a grille with closely spaced fins suggesting it belongs to an electric vehicle which doesn’t require the radiator cooling system used by combustion engines.

If the grille belongs to the silhouetted Q80 Inspiration, it could be another hint that Infiniti’s new halo car might be all-electric.

With a month to go before the Q80 Inspirations concept’s debut, it almost certain Infiniti will release further images and details.

The current Australian Infiniti range is made up of the Q50 sedan, the Q60 coupe and convertible, the top-of-the-range Q70 saloon and QX70 SUV. A Q30 hatch is due in 2015 and the QX30 compact SUV will follow in 2016.