Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept

[Durrand Robinson]

The Infiniti Q80 Inspiration Concept’s powertrain combines a 450-hp, 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 with a hybrid system for a total of 550 hp. Infiniti says this powertrain, which routes through a nine-speed automatic transmission, previews a new family of engines for the Infiniti lineup, so we would expect to see this new aluminum, direct-injection V-6 propagate to other Infiniti models within the next few years. The hybrid powertrain also pairs with an all-wheel-drive system, and the Q80 achieves approximately 42 mpg despite its high power output.

As it did with the Infiniti Q50, the brand is emphasizing its aggressive approach to semi-autonomous driving technology with the Q80 Inspiration Concept. This concept’s set of active safety technologies is meant to involve the driver in the decision process. At lower speeds, the system uses cameras and other sensors to provide “assistance” to the driver; for instance, in a traffic jam, the car would present the driver with either the option to accelerate and overtake or to brake and fall behind the car in front.