- The Infiniti QX65 Monograph Concept previews a sleek new 2-row midsize SUV
- It’s gorgeous, but competition in that space is fierce
Nissan’s Infiniti luxury brand is remaking its image and its lineup. Today, the brand revealed a sporty new midsize SUV that could be key to its future.
The QX65 Monograph is a sporty-looking 2-row midsize “SUV coupe” — that is, an SUV that trades away some space for style with a fastback roofline.
It’s officially a concept car – a design study not necessarily meant for production. But we have every reason to believe this will be at dealerships within a year or two. After all, the company revealed a QX80 Monograph Concept in 2023 that became the current QX80, almost unchanged, shortly after.
It would also fill a hole in the lineup. Infiniti’s current SUV Coupe, the QX55, ceases production this year.
So we’re confident this will appear for sale, likely as a 2026 model.
‘Artistry in Motion’ Design Language
- Infiniti’s most style-forward product, the QX65 calls back to the FX of the early 2000s
Designers have done a fantastic job blending the imposing upright proportions of the QX80’s face into something smaller, softer, and silkier. Infiniti calls this design language “artistry in motion,” and this might be the best iteration of it.
Diagonal grille strakes echo the perspective lines of the Infiniti badge (meant to evoke a never-ending road). A gently curving line of LEDs all the way across the fascia links the daytime running lights.
The taillights similarly arc all the way across the curvy rear.
Interestingly, Infiniti doesn’t compare it to the QX55 it’s likely to replace. Instead, the company says it “channels design inspiration from the pioneering Infiniti FX,” a well-received, sleek SUV built from the 2003 to 2013 model years.
No Mechanical, Pricing Details
- Infiniti provided just a glimpse of the outside, for now
- It’s part of a makeover plan that could help troubled parent company Nissan recover its footing
The company hasn’t provided a glimpse of the cabin or any mechanical details. We expect to learn more in the coming months, as the company continues to drip out details of the production version.
We can speculate that it’s likely gas-powered. A shadowy image of the car appeared in a 2023 announcement teasing the brand’s future, which included two new gas-powered and two new electric-powered models.
Parent company Nissan has had a troubling year, struggling financially and unsuccessfully pursuing a merger to keep it afloat. Its plan to recapture stability includes an Infiniti makeover. If the QX65 is any sign, that recovery plan will focus on beautiful design. The question is whether the company still has the engineering prowess to compete in the luxury category while working within a budget.
