Cars We Wish Infiniti Had Built

The Legacy of Infiniti: A Look at Unrealized Sports Car Concepts

Infiniti, a brand that once held great promise nearly 40 years ago, was conceived by Nissan as a luxury sub-brand designed to compete with the likes of Lexus and Acura, as well as the established German marques. However, over time, it has become a shadow of its former self, with pitiful sales and an uncertain future. This decline can be attributed in part to the struggles of its parent company, Nissan. With only a handful of SUVs like the QX50 currently available, one can't help but wonder if some of the many sports car concepts revealed over the years might have changed the fate of this brand.

Let's take a closer look at a few of these intriguing concept models and consider what could have been for Infiniti.

2009 Essence Concept

This curvaceous concept GT car arrived in 2009 to mark the company’s 20th anniversary and was also intended to support its initial forays into the European market. At the time, Toyota’s Lexus had already established itself as the Japanese alternative to the predominant German luxury brands.

The Essence concept had a Maserati Gran Turismo vibe, with a front-engined profile and a "coke bottle" shape. It featured various design elements that would later inspire the design language of Infiniti’s future SUVs and sedans. The powertrain was quite advanced for its time, featuring a 3.7-liter twin-turbo V6 engine combined with a compact electric motor that produced a total of 592 hp.

Despite its impressive features, the Essence was never intended for production. Even if it had been, Infiniti likely wouldn’t have had the resources to produce it, and there may not have been enough customer demand for it to be successful. This is a shame, as if this car had a more desirable badge, it could have potentially succeeded in Europe.

2012 Emerg-e Concept

Another potential Infiniti sports car that never saw the light of day, the Emerg-e concept was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show. It was designed and developed in partnership with Lotus, sharing a platform with the Evora.

The Emerg-e differed from the Essence in several ways, including being mid-engined and even more electrified. It had two electric motors powering the rear wheels with about 402 hp on tap. A three-cylinder gasoline generator was also onboard to top up the batteries if needed. This made it an early example of an EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle).

However, Infiniti ultimately concluded that there wasn’t enough interest in the Emerg-e concept to justify putting it into production. Even if it had, it wouldn’t have lasted long, as Infiniti pulled out of Europe seven years after this concept was first shown.

2014 Q50 Eau Rouge

This one really hurts. Unlike the previous speculative concepts, the Q50 Eau Rouge was a special version of the existing Q50 sedan, borrowing the twin-turbo V6 from Nissan’s GT-R. It produced 500 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque and was named after the iconic section of corners at the Grand Prix track, Spa-Francorchamps.

With a rear brake light borrowed from a Red Bull Formula One car, it was clearly influenced by the tie-up with that team. On the road, it aimed squarely at big sports sedan players like the BMW M5. Equipped with a four-wheel-drive system, GT-R-spec brakes, and switchable suspension, it could have been a serious contender.

Unfortunately, the Q50 Eau Rouge was killed off when Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen decided to move the concept to Cadillac. This marked a shift in focus towards high-volume SUVs and away from Infiniti sports models.

2015 Vision Gran Turismo

One of many concepts dreamed up for the Gran Turismo virtual racing series, the Vision Gran Turismo concept was created to showcase what a real-life version might look like. However, unlike other concepts, it was not a working prototype and could not be driven.

Despite its design, which allowed for a front-mid-engined powertrain placement and aggressive aero features, there were no details shared about the powertrain. This left many wondering what a flagship Infiniti supercar would look like.

2017 Prototype 9

Most concept cars display forward-looking designs, but the Prototype 9 was a unique case. Designed to answer the question: what if an old-fashioned open wheel racer was built with Japanese styling and an electric powertrain?

The Prototype 9 was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and featured a real and working electric powertrain from the Nissan Leaf. It was capable of reaching 140 mph, though this was limited by the period tires. Despite its appeal, none have ever been produced.

2017 Project Black S

This was the last Infiniti high-performance car to have a real chance of making it to production. Based on the Q60, it featured carbon fiber body panels, gaping air intakes, and a double spoiler. The F1-inspired engineering included a three-liter twin-turbo V6 aided by three electric motors, giving it a power output of 563 hp.

Unfortunately, the hopes of this concept ever reaching production were dashed when Johan de Nysschen, its main cheerleader, departed.

2018 Prototype 10

The most recent Infiniti concept resembling a sports car, the Prototype 10 was an open cockpit speedster inspired by retro designs. It showcased the flexibility and performance benefits of an electric powertrain.

Although it didn’t have a chance of making production, it was meant to highlight the potential of future Infiniti sports car models. With the simplicity of its design and clever engineering, it raised questions about what could have been if Infiniti had joined the exclusive club of European speedsters.