alfy28

L'eau d'Infiniti. A brand personification; Infiniti's 'Essence' in concept form. Presented this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the Essence showcases Infiniti's core values for the future and a compact celebration of the brand's past. Heralding a future of Infiniti's 'Inspired Performance' into the luxury super-coupe market for the first time, the Essence aims at re-establishing Infiniti at the heart of the world's most vibrant brands and positioning it towards the most exclusive.

With a first for Infiniti, the Essence provides the company's first motor show preview of their petrol/electric hybrid powertrain. Dubbed appropriately as 'responsibly powerful', the combination of 3.7-litre twin-turbo V6 engine and the firm's new 3D electric motor feed a mighty 600 PS to a rear-wheel-drive setup. An equally mighty 160 PS being chanelled from the electric motor, the technology works on optimisations to the layout of the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets - decreasing the lithium-ion battery's size and increasing output.

But the concept's essence requires further investigation. Turning to the design, the Essence is not about showing signs of wealth or success, says Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design. It's a 'driver's car', but not an 'aggressive sports car'. Infiniti's "Dynamic Adeyaka" is said to inspire design from both the human and natural worlds, bringing a new classical and dynamic shape to the brand not experimented with in Infiniti's 20-year history.

The Essence is as much a driver's car in the cabin - while the cabin is as much a passenger's car. Two seperate 'cocoons' - the driver's side themed black and the passenger's side themed 'earthy red' - dominate the interior's design. But designers claim the real magic is the 'hidden tech' - allowing minimalism in place of controls and information overload. An exclusive range of luggage specifically designed for the concept car by Louis Vuitton harks back to the partnerships first made with coachbuilders in 1908.

Coinciding not only with the brand's 20-year anniversary as a platform for the three pillars of Infiniti (driving pleasure, hospitality and peace of mind), the Essence takes Infiniti forward with their current challenge: introduction into the European market.

JRichter

Good looking car.

JRichter

Slick instrumentation...

DailyDriver2k5

Sweet car, from the front to the cockpit reminds me of the Ferrari 599 a bit.

Instruments are a nice throwback to first generation of cars that were ever produced.

dynamho

That's really nice! Svelte and muscular at the same time.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

HOLY WINDSHIELD BATMAN!

honestly the design kind of reminds me of one of my favorite cars, the TVR Tuscany and Sargais (sp):


^similar in the bumps in the fenders and the smooth line from the front grill all the way back to the trunk.

but with the sargais (sp) head lights



the rear also seems to look similar as well...iono - i like the concept, but i don't think i'm sold on the interior yet...

SideOfBacon

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

dynamho

The exterior is gorgeous, but yeah, that mish mash of leather wrap and alcantara in the interior is quite tacky in that photo.

dillsrotary

hate to say it, but i absolutely love it. DID YOU SEE THE BOOST GAUGE INSIDE THE TACH?!?!

But knowing infiniti the real thing will look nothing like the concept.

Atilla

iTrader: (1)

^lol

watch, its gonna come out looking like this:

HeavyMetal699

I like it.

It has a steampunk interior in my opinion.

CyberPitz

That is the FIRST thing I thought also. Good ol' Flight of the Navigator.

dynamho

Is it just me? The fascia is quite "Mazda-ish" to me.

restiller

...and the rims...

The Reverend

iTrader: (1)

Can it really get up to 1.8g's?!?!

Looks pretty cool though.

alfy28

lol one of my favorite movies growing up.

delhi

Something pretty from Infiniti.... yay!

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

I think it's ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and wish Mazda would show us concepts that look like this instead of stuff that is so far out and outrageous.

Paul.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

yes, the first thing i thought of. and the front wheel arches. and didn't the kabura come out w/ that windshield/roof/1-glass-panel thing a few years ago?? it really looks like a stretched out kabura...is that the right name of the mazda concept from a few years ago?

alfy28

i agree with you. even though i thikn furai looks awesome. it looks like something zonda would make. i wish mazda would make a concept taht is more believable and also on their lvl.

Transam kid 01

iTrader: (1)

I nearly creamed myself when I saw that first picture, but then when I saw the rest, I think I was the least turned on I've ever been in my life. It's like when you see an extremely hot girl, but when she takes off her pants, out pops out a giant ******* (ok, that was a little much, but I think you all know where I'm going with this.....).

m477

The front fascia and rear side window both seem a little akward. Other than that this is probably the best looking Infiniti since, well, ever.

risky business

exterior is gorgeous. interior isnt, but they would never make a car with an interior like that anyways.
i hope if they do make it, the exterior doesnt change TO much

robrecht

That is the nicest looking concept that I can remember. Too bad it's a parallel hybrid, and a rather heavy looking one at that.