The Infiniti QX50 Concept Gives Us a Peek at Infiniti’s Next Midsize Crossover

INFINITI QX50 Concept (Credit: © Infiniti)

After a quick preview weeks ago, the Infiniti QX50 Concept finally made its world debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show.

This new concept takes what Infiniti started with the QX Sport Inspiration Concept and massages it a bit for production. In this design, it’s clear that much of the toned-down (read: less sporty) cues from the newly released QX60 make their way to this concept. It does still feature plenty of sharp lines, but the cab-forward setup and lack of swoopiness takes away the sports-car-like look the current QX50 boasts.

INFINITI QX50 Concept (Credit: © Infiniti)

The inside is a delicate balance of concept and production ready. This concept features a driver-centric setup, with its distinct zones for the driver, but it also keeps the passenger in mind with plenty of high-end materials and soft surfaces. The perfect blend of positive and negative spaces give the entire cabin a unique and upscale feel. Some of the high-end materials used include open-pore ash wood trim, synthetic nubuck and more.

As expected, this concept makes use of Infiniti’s award-winning, new 2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged four-cylinder. While its output numbers aren’t official yet, Infiniti anticipates horsepower numbers that compete with its V6 engines with fuel economy that’s 27% better.

INFINITI QX50 Concept (Credit: © Infiniti)

The QX50 Concept is also a showcase of some of Infiniti’s new autonomous-driving technology. The details are not complete, yet, but these systems will focus on some of the less enjoyable tasks of driving like stop-and-go traffic and tracking other vehicles on the highway. This leaves much of the control (and fun) in the hands of the driver.

Of course, this is just a concept, but this clearly previews the next-generation QX50. There is no mention of when a production model may come from this, but I would suspect we’d see one within the year.