Infiniti Q80 Inspiration

Signalling a clear intent to break into the top tier of the premium sedan category with the eye-catching Q80 Inspiration concept, Infiniti made an audacious statement at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Read on to find out more about the brand’s future design language

Engine: 3.0 litre, V6

Power: 550 hp

Torque: 750 Nm

Top speed: 250 kph (electronically limited)

Gearbox: 9 speed automatic

Wheelbase: 3103 mm

Romance in automotive form is back. Designed to shake the status quo in the large four-door club, Q80 Inspiration is a no-compromise ambassador of driver-centric technologies and passenger comfort. Drawing attention with its extraordinary presence, the Q80 Inspiration is a full-size concept vision of a range-topping Infiniti. Organic forms and poetic artisan design converge with the latest composite materials, while portal-style doors invite a cocooning "4x1" seating experience with a full spectrum of leather finishes, Alcantara and metalwork.

Design

The immense presence, stunning design and bold execution of the Q80 Inspiration represents more than a flight of fancy by Infiniti’s design team. Full-size in width (2010mm) and length (5060 mm), yet with a stance of 1340mm at its highest point, the Q80 is luxurious sedan-like in dimension with fastback contouring. Framing the Infiniti emblem is a full- scale, chrome-edged front grille that innovatively blends dramatic style, cooling and aerodynamics. Organic and three-dimensional, like the pulsing gills of a cruising whale, at town speeds the gills part to flow air into the engine, sealing again as the road opens to direct air over the wide, curving hood. Once rolling across the hood, the cool air "drags" hot engine bay air out of slender, finely meshed, full length hood vents. Branching gracefully up and away from the expansive front grille are a pair of intelligent LED headlights. Inspired by Infiniti’s signature human eye, set with an accusing stare and widely dilated pupils, it is the exterior framing that emits the bright white LED light. Each powerful LED is independently controlled for brightness, and in some cases direction, to illuminate the way ahead in the most efficient and revealing manner.

Linked to the car’s satellite navigation system, these headlights already understand what road contours await and automatically concentrate and adjust brightness for best effect – showing consistent, white light to those onboard, greatly reducing travel fatigue.

Innovations continue inside, where driver and passengers are ushered into four individual seats via wide opening portal-style doors. A simplified driver interface and unique head-up display (HUD) keep the complex algorithms of the intuitive technology hidden from view, showing only the information drivers need, concurrent with Q80 Inspiration’s human-centric ethos.

The front passenger also has an HUD for display of external information via a smartphone connected to the vehicle’s telematics system. Each rear passenger has a touch screen positioned in the rear of the front seat rest to tap into their on-board entertainment package.

Concentration is focussed on exquisitely detailed interior, featuring romance in the shape of quilted leather seats and exquisite Alcantara, leather and metal finishes, all luxuriously bathed in light from the sculptural panoramic glass roof.From a design perspective, the Q80 Inspiration is the epitome of provocation, a car that breaks the mold of traditional premium sedan dimension and body form. It delivers feminine elegance and muscular menace in equal measure and strikes big in terms of styling, craftsmanship, choice of materials and attention to detail. Attention has also been paid to creating a welcoming, uncluttered environment for driver and passengers alike.

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