Yesterday in California, Monterey Auto Week kicked off its annual celebration of automobiles with a variety of festive events. After a full day of classic car-spotting, we gained some insight into Infiniti’s newest models at a dinner at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, hosted by the carmaker’s Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura and the brand’s Director of Design Alfonso Albaisa.
Upon entering the venue on the beachside in Monterey, we were greeted by champagne and appetizers, which we sipped and nibbled on while learning about the brand’s most recent model, the 2017 Infiniti QX30. The all-new premium compact car comes in two models: the sport and the all-wheel drive (AWD). Sitting atop 18-inch wheels, the all-wheel drive version shows extended overfenders and side sills, and the sport model sits atop 19-inch wheels with unique front LED front fog lights. The two automobiles, both powered by 208 horsepower, are equipped with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters. The models also come in six trim levels: QX30, QX30 Luxury, QX30 Premium, QX30 Sport, QX30 Luxury AWD, and QX30 Premium AWD.
“We also have the Q60—it’s the first time showing it to the public,” said Nakamura of the concept car, which is set to debut in January in Detroit. The coupe concept car shows elegant quilted leather interiors, and is set to roar with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine.
Albaisa spoke of the Q60 as a new beginning for Infiniti. “Four years ago, just at the right time, engineering was looking at what kinds of things they could do to focus on a design that is really different,” he said. And this model, with its strong shoulders, quilted interior, and fender vents is indeed different.
