The QX65 Monograph honors the past, while also looking ahead to the future
Infiniti helped to jump-start the crossover coupe craze when it introduced the FX in 2003. The model was a smashing success, but its popularity slowly started to fade, and the QX70 was eventually discontinued in 2017.
The company attempted to rekindle the magic with the QX55, but consumers took a hard pass. Sales were dreadful, and the automaker only moved 3,721 units last year.
More: Infiniti’s Flagship SUV Goes Darker As It Crosses Into Six-Figure Territory
Despite that setback, Infiniti isn’t throwing in the towel as they’ve unveiled the new QX65 Monograph. It’s a thinly veiled concept that previews an upcoming production model.
Clearly inspired by the FX, the concept has a sense of style and drama that has been sadly missing from Infiniti’s lineup. The front end is dominated by a wide grille, which features angular accents inspired by bamboo forests. The strong lines are joined by an illuminated emblem as well as slender digital piano key lights.
The headlights reside further below, stacked above vertical air curtains. The model also has a sporty front bumper with pronounced air intakes.
Moving down the sides, we can see a stylish Artistry in Motion design that features soft curves and flowing surfaces. They’re joined by a rakish windscreen, a gently sloping roof, and a greenhouse that recalls the FX.
A closer inspection reveals a contrasting black roof, which is echoed by gloss black cladding. The black theme extends to the sporty 22-inch wheels, which have a two-tone finish.
There’s also a subtle bronze ‘spear’ that highlights the dynamic roofline and helps to visually separate the roof from the body. Speaking of the latter, the concept wears an eye-catching Twilight paint job that “mimics the red and gold hues of the moment when twilight fades into night.”
The dramatic lines extend to the rear, where an angular window is surrounded by a spoiler. The concept also has an adventurous liftgate and a three-dimensional light bar with vertical extensions inspired by the tailfins of jet aircraft. Designers also gave the crossover a sporty bumper with diffuser-like accents.
The concept looks like a home run, and Infiniti styling guru Alfonso Albaisa said, “It’s sculpted with an underlying sense of speed and elegance, blended with very muscular and strong proportions – all headlined by the expectation-defying fastback roof silhouette.”
The Production Model Will Arrive Soon
The big question is how much of this will translate to the upcoming production model. We’ll find out in the “coming months,” but previous spy photos have suggested we shouldn’t expect radical changes.
That bodes well for the QX65, which is essentially a two-row version of the QX60. The two models will likely have a lot in common, including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 268 hp (200 kW / 272 PS) and 286 lb-ft (387 Nm) of torque. It should be connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission and an available all-wheel drive system.
Google News
MSN Start
Hailing from Metro Detroit, it was practically destiny for Michael Gauthier to dive headfirst into… Read full bio

source