By: IOL Motoring Staff
Geneva Motor Show - This, says Infiniti, is more than just a concept - it's "a design vision that will inspire a new premium compact crossover".
In what looks like a direct challenge to BMW's X1, Nissan's upmarket brand has revealed the QX30 concept at the Palexpo Centre, in a public show of its ambitions in this segment.
It's the latest in a series of Infiniti concept vehicles to be green-lighted for production. The Q30 will be built in the UK, starting this year, while a sports coupé based on the Q60 concept shown at Detroit in January will go into production in 2016 and the QX30 Concept-inspired crossover will also be launched next year.
The QX30 has all the right visual cues - high stance, satin-chromed front bumper with large side openings, tough kick-plates under the doors, a robust rear skid-plate, large blacked-out areas around the wheel arches and 21-inch milled-aluminium rims shod with chunky matt-finished tyres.
HUMAN-CENTRIC ERGONOMICS
Inside, the four individual seats have been streamlined for a suspended look and partly wrapped in saddle leather with blue contrast stitching. The slimmed-down seats are intended to facilitate interaction between driver and passengers, rather than act as a barrier between front and rear-seat occupants.
And of course the concept also gives a glimpse into the level of technology that's going to be available to keep Generation X and Y customers hooked up to the digital world while on the move.
The Geneva show car is apparently a runner, with a two-litre turbopetrol four and seven-speed auto transmission; Infiniti boss Roland Krueger hinted in his presentation at a family of variants, both petrol and diesel, with all-wheel drive as an option.