Infiniti previews new design language with Monograph concept

Infiniti previewed a new Japanese-inspired design language in a concept vehicle unveiled Thursday at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance near Monterey in California.

The QX Monograph debuts signature design elements, including the luxury brand's updated three-dimensional logo, a prominent double-arched grille and reworked front and rear lighting.

A source said the QX Monograph is a near-production version of the redesigned QX80 shown at an Infiniti retailer meeting in June. A company spokesperson declined to confirm if the concept is based on the new QX80.

Infiniti's three-row flagship QX80 SUV, which will reportedly carry a $100,000-plus sticker price when it arrives in the spring, features the blocky proportions of a Range Rover.

"It has a big presence," an Infiniti retailer said. "The interior is spectacular."

The QX Monograph is inspired by Japanese design philosophies. They include "Ma," the mastery of empty space; "Utsuroi," representing seamless transitions; and "Kabuku," which translates to "provocative and extraordinary."

"We approach each Infiniti design from the perspective of an artwork, with the aim of evoking emotion and intrigue," Nissan Motor Co. design boss Alfonso Albaisa said in a statement. "The QX Monograph presented a sizable canvas for us to explore Infiniti's artistry at maximum scale and create something bold."

The long hood carries through from the vehicle's shoulder line and combines with a wide stance and large-profile wheels to deliver a muscular profile. The double-arched radiator grille carrying the brand's new illuminated logo dominates the front.

Infiniti said the upright lines in the inner mesh of the QX Monograph's grille "channel the shapes found within a bamboo forest as the stems gently bow and intersect in the breeze."

The main headlight assembly housed in the front bumper includes high and low beams. Daytime running lamps above follow the hood line and feature "digital piano key" lights in a "Kimono fold" pattern. They connect through the grille in a nearly horizontal line highlighting the vehicle's width.

"Smoked finish" taillights running the width of the body feature a pronounced upper section and six horizontal lightbars below.

Infiniti developed a new exterior paint color called Akane for the QX Monograph concept. It features a "complex, six-layer structure to channel the appearance of a warm glowing red sunset as it transitions into a dark night sky," the automaker said.

The vehicle's panoramic roof sports the Kimono fold pattern motif and is also finished in Akane.

The QX Monograph does not tease the cabin design of the new QX80. But its exterior proportions, including an upright rear pillar and window glass, hint at a spacious interior.

Retailers say the redesigned QX80's cabin blends minimalism with luxury. One dealer described it as "Mercedes-Maybach GLS-like."

An air suspension system automatically adjusts height for easy ingress and egress, while a 24-inch display stretches the length of the dashboard.

There are front and rear touchscreens for climate control, while in-cabin sensors can detect occupants' body temperature and adjust the air conditioning system automatically.

Much is riding on the third-generation QX80 as Infiniti looks to steer out of a multiyear sales slide that reached a new low in 2022. The brand reported 46,619 U.S. sales last year, its lowest since 1992, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center. The QX80, last redesigned for 2011, received a freshening for 2018.

Infiniti aspires to poach business from Cadillac and Lincoln with its latest flagship vehicle. The automaker told dealers it expects about 75 percent of QX80 buyers to be new to the brand.

"They are targeting people who make $250,000-plus a year and have at least $1 million net worth," said a dealer who asked not to be identified.

But for Infiniti — a premium brand in the loosest sense — chasing Cadillac buyers might be more aspirational than realistic.

"We have a tough road ahead," one retailer said. "Consumers with this budget have a lot of other options."