Infiniti says its new concept heralds the luxury brand's future design direction, so it doesn't bode well that editor Mike Hanley used the word "whale" to describe the Q Inspiration. The concept debuted at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and takes the brand's styling from mainstream to eyebrow-raising, thanks to its radical grille.
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The sedan has a sleek, coupelike silhouette broken up by muscular haunches and crisp, angular bodyside creases. All that sounds pretty standard — until you get to the grille. The larger, poutier version of the brand's grille is ringed with lights and fea itures thin vertical slits ints white surface, reminiscent of a baleen whale.
Inside, the design is clean and uncluttered; cabin materials include birch wood trim, white quilted leather and metallic trim. The cabin has an open, airy feel with room for four people on individual bucket seats. Each passenger gets an individual touchscreen, and Infiniti says the interface also includes biometrics monitoring and a guided-meditation mode to help keep stress levels in check.
While it's unlikely the Q Inspiration will head to production any time soon, Infiniti has said to expect to see certain design and technology elements from the concept in future production Infinitis, though if anything wears that face, Infiniti is likely to have a whale of a time selling it.
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