Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept Points To Future Of Infiniti's Design Language
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Sign me up if this is Infiniti's future
by Kirby Garlitos, on January 16, 2018, 10:00
Infiniti just made a big statement at the Detroit Auto Show regarding its future. The "statement" is called the Q Inspiration, a sparkling concept vehicle that the Japanese automaker is using as a showcase for its design future. The Q Inspiration's bold appearance isn't an accident. It's Infiniti's way of showing that it's preparing for the big leagues with a new design strategy that can help reinvent the brand into a bonafide luxury marquee. Look over your shoulders, Mercedes and BMW. Infiniti is coming.
The Q Inspiration is provocative to look at, a word that we rarely get to use when it comes to Infiniti
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That expression holds true for the Infiniti Q Inspiration. I've talked to people who love the bold design, and I've talked to people who prefer the look of the QX 50 Concept from last year's Detroit Auto Show. Both sides make valid points, but I'm agreeing with the pro-side on this one.
At the very least, the Q Inspiration is provocative to look at, a word that we rarely get to use when it comes to Infiniti. The company's double-arched grille takes a different form with the incorporation of the packed louvres into the center. In plain sight, the grille doesn't inspire, but there is a lighting fixture around the grille that, when turned on, gives the section a different level of expressiveness. The short, swooping hood has a Maserati-like feel to it and the coupe-like roofline creates a versatile image of performance and luxury. Speaking of the roof, Infiniti swung for the fences with a windshield-sunroof hybrid that extends the length of the roof. Not only does this give off the look of a canopy-style roof, it's actually become a popular design feature among automakers these days. Look at the Tesla Model S as an example.
As interesting as the front is, the rear section of the Q Inspiration is its money-maker. Somehow, the automaker covered three design elements — clean, edgy, and sophisticated — that make for a sexy-looking car. The thin taillights extend long enough for both to meet each other in the center, while the absence of a traditional rear bumper is magnified by how the rear fenders and the trunk blend into one another, disrupted only by the sharp body lines that extend diagonally on opposite sides of the car. Well done on this part, Infiniti.
The automaker covered three design elements — clean, edgy, and sophisticated — that make for a sexy-looking car
Overall, I'm a fan of the Infiniti Q Inspiration. It's suggestive without being overbearing. You can look at the concept and imagine what the future of Infiniti's design language is going to look like without having to worry about the company going to extreme lengths at adopting elements from the Q Inspiration. There's enough breathing room for our imaginations to get creative. That, in many ways, is what concepts should be about.
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Kirby Garlitos
Automotive Aftermarket Expert - kirby@topspeed.com
Kirby's first exposure into the world of automobiles happened when he caught Knight Rider on television as a five-year old boy. David Hasselhoff didn't leave much of an impression on him (that happened later on in Baywatch), but KITT certainly did. To this day, Kirby remains convinced that he will one day own a car with the same 'spirit' as the original KITT (not the 2008 monstrosity). He doesn't know when that will be, but until then, he's committed to expressing his love for KITT, and all cars for that matter, here at TopSpeed. Read full bio
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