Infiniti prepares EV concept for Detroit motor show

Infiniti has announced it will bring an electric sports sedan concept to the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and has teased its styling.

The concept’s name has not been revealed, officially. However, Infiniti's design boss Alfonso Albaisa previously spoke to our sister publication, Autocar UK, confirmed the car will be a pure electric model in its own right, rather than an electric variant of an existing car.

"Our Detroit concept car heralds a new generation of Infiniti," said Albaisa, "a seamless and stunning new design philosophy demonstrating Infiniti artistry in the new age of autonomy and breakthrough drivetrains.” Albaisa also explained that the unnamed electric sedan will use elements of Infiniti’s Prototype 9 concept from 2017’s Monterey car week. However, it’s likely to take a far more conventional form than the retro racer-inspired Prototype 9.

The Executive Design Director, Karim Habib, explained that the sedan will have “smarter, more compact and less intrusive powertrains.” This implies that the car will take the form of a traditional sedan, albeit with tweaks to its formula.

As for the sedan itself, the car’s grille is solid; which further confirms its electric powertrain. The deep slashes seen in the car’s bonnet suggest that Infiniti's current generation's aggressive look is not expected to soften, any time soon.

The production version of this EV is expected to go on sale in 2019, alongside a raft of EVs from across the industry. The car sits on a new platform – not shared with the Nissan Leaf.