What are we looking at?
The beautiful Infiniti Q80 Inspiration concept car, currently dropping jaws at the Paris Motor Show.
What’s the best thing about it?
Apart from its out-of-this-world looks? Well, this four-door fastback is a hybrid with some serious power stats. A twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine is part of a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain that develops a more-than-healthy 550hp. Infiniti says the Q80 can, however, return consumption of 5.5 litres/100km (42.8mpg) and CO2 emissions in the region of 129g/km; this particular drivetrain might not be widely available in all size Infinitis soon, but the company says it is a 'precursor to a family of engines that will be introduced to the portfolio within the next two years'. So mainstream Infiniti hybrids are just around the corner.
We could also talk about its sci-fi interior, a key point of which is the car's ability to drive practically autonomously. Infiniti says the Q80 can use cameras, lasers and sensors to drive itself, with the human 'driver' utilising what level of assistance they want through a head-up display and touchpad. All very Minority Report.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Show stopper, without a doubt. Infiniti needs a proper halo product to elevate it into the mainstream luxury market and the Q80 looks like it's made of the right stuff. Indeed, Infiniti hints that while it is a concept in principle, it has the right badge nomenclature to one day take its place in the road car range...