Pair of Infiniti Concepts Make Canadian Debut in Toronto

Infiniti returned to the Canadian International AutoShow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with two concepts that hint at future vehicles from the company. Following their global auto show debut at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show last fall, the Vision Qe and QX Monograph are now on display for the first time in Canada.

Alfonso Albaisa, head of design at Infiniti, was also on hand to talk about the styling decisions he and his team made for these concepts.

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Let’s start with the QX Monograph, which previews future Infiniti SUVs, particularly the full-size QX80. The massive and boxy exterior is said to be inspired by the grandeur of a bamboo forest, including one of the most famous that can be found in Kyoto, Japan.

The upright lines within the inner mesh of the front grille channel the organic shapes found within a bamboo forest, as the stems gently bow and intersect in the breeze. Meanwhile, the main headlight assembly (housing the low and high beams) is positioned within the front bumper, while the "digital piano key" daytime running lights are positioned above. This is complemented by a new and illuminated three-dimensional emblem, which could end up on future production models.

Infiniti can’t promise that the QX Monograph will just roll off the line at some point in time, but the company assured us that its styling will inspire the next SUVs to come.

Infiniti Vision Qe

Here we have an extremely bold, sporty-looking car that showcases the brand’s evolved design language “Artistry In Motion’ in the all-electric era. Slender headlights connect from fender to fender, accentuating the concept’s width.

“Our designers began creating forms that, to me, looked like abstractions of a bird in flight,” Albaisa explained. 

Aerodynamics are obviously a big part of the ground-hugging Vision Qe, and there’s definitely something about the wide lower body and narrower upper body that makes you do a double take. The grille has been reimagined for the EV era, too, with the graphic now represented by sculpted lines within the front fascia and illuminated with a bright LED outline.

Could this be a preview of a future electric Q50 sedan? Or an indicator that the Q60 coupe might come back? It’s too early to say, but Infiniti as a brand desperately needs a good dose of excitement and youthfulness that the Vision Qe brings to the plate.