Infiniti Concept Car Coming to Detroit — Is It Electric?

CARS.COM — Infiniti has just released a teaser sketch today of the concept car it will be unveiling Jan. 15 at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

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The Nissan-owned luxury brand said the concept will be a “first manifestation” of a new design theme that “previews a new generation of Infiniti vehicles.” And, while Infiniti provided no details today, its global design vice president reportedly has already revealed that the concept will be an electric car on a new platform.

Alfonso Albaisa told U.K.’s Autocar in August, at an event coinciding with the Monterey Car Week and Concours D’Elegance in California, that Infiniti’s Detroit show concept would be an electric car expected to launch in production form in 2019. He also confirmed that it would be an all-new car and not a derivative of an existing vehicle, for example one based on Nissan’s redesigned 2018 Leaf EV. Infiniti, meanwhile, unveiled the Prototype 9 (see it below) retro-design electric race car at that event.

In a statement with today’s teaser sketch, Albaisa was more of a tease, but made clear that the concept is not a conventional car:

“As a new wave of technologies begins to take shape, our Detroit concept car heralds a new generation of Infiniti,” he said. “A seamless and stunning new design philosophy demonstrating Infiniti artistry in the new age of autonomy and breakthrough drivetrains. In Detroit, shown alongside the Prototype 9, Infiniti aims to showcase a new elegance, one that strikes harmony and simplicity in a complex world.”

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