Infiniti Q Inspiration Concept – the FRONT end arrives

The Infiniti Q Inspiration – previewing a new design directions for Nissan’s posh brand – gets its front end revealed ahead of a Detroit Motor Show debut.

It’s ten days since the Infiniti Q Inspiration hoved in to view as Infiniti teased the back end of their new concept ahead of a debut at the Detroit Motor Show.

But beyond trumpeting the Q Inspiration as a new design direction for Infiniti, and new proportions for a ‘saloon’ car, Infiniti were tight lipped.

So we figured they’d be a bit more forthcoming when they delivered a photo of the front end – which they now have – ahead of a Detroit debut. But they haven’t been.

In fact, this new photo of the Q Inspiration (above) arrived without fanfare as part of a press release from Infiniti telling us how they’ve achieved an eighth consecutive sales record in 2017, including sales of 16,625 cars in Europe. An nothing else.

We were convinced when the back end of the Q was revealed that its proportions pointed to a new electric Infiniti, but now the front end has been revealed we’re perhaps not quite as certain.

The nose eschews a traditional grille and comprises an almost eclectic array of curves and angles and inlets, a shape which could be for air to cool an engine, but equally could just be a fancy face for an EV.

So, until Infiniti actually come clean, our money is still on an electric powertrain for the Q, although some sort of hybrid, perhaps with Infiniti’s new variable compression engine, could easily be on the cards too.