Last year, at the Beijing Auto Show, Infiniti dropped cover on the QX Sport Inspiration, a mid-size crossover concept that presented a glimpse at the brand’s forthcoming SUV offerings. Now, the premium Japanese automaker has given us a successor, and it’s equal parts closer-to-dealerships and wilder-to-behold than what came before. It’s called the QX50 Concept, and it not only offers us a look at Infiniti’s new styling direction, but also its new cabin design, autonomous vehicle ambitions, and most interestingly, a production-ready variable compression internal-combustion engine.

That’s quite an ambitious lineup of features, especially for a model slated to reach customers sometime in the next few years. Nevertheless, Infiniti seems confident it’ll bring something close to the QX50 Concept to production very soon, dropping innumerable hints about its intentions in the attached press release. But really, that makes sense when you consider the segment. Infiniti quickly points out that the mid-size premium crossover segment is the fastest-growing automotive segment in the world right now, so a forward-looking exterior design, upscale cabin, autonomous features, and groundbreaking engine are all necessary elements to make any serious impact.

Let’s start with the exterior, where we find the latest evolution of Infiniti’s “Powerful Elegance” design language. This features characteristics like cabin-forward proportions, with a clamshell hood and lots of straight character lines. These traits give the car a sleek, elegant look, with the prominent shoulder line starting behind the swept-back, ultra-thin headlights, and reaching back into the rear hatch. Between the headlights is a “double-arch” grille, now an Infiniti staple, with a diamond-pattern insert and prominent chrome surround.

Moving inside, we find lots of space, both for passengers and for practicality’s sake. Infiniti is adamant that it wants to upend the status quo for luxury interiors, and as such, it will apply a variety of Japanese craftsmanship philosophies to its creation. Materials used will be wood and leather, which isn’t out of the ordinary, but it’s the way these materials are applied that will be unique. For example, Infiniti used three different kinds of leather in the three-tone color scheme, and the wood trim is an open-pore ash that maintains its original grain for “enhanced tactility” as compared to standard glossy wood trim.

But it’s the new Variable Compression Turbo engine, or VC-Turbo, that really got our attention. Infiniti has been hinting at this thing for a while now, and it’s exciting to see where the brand is considering its application.

Sound enticing? Read on for the details, plus more info on the exterior design, interior outfit, and Infiniti’s autonomous plans.

Continue reading to learn more about the Infiniti QX50 Concept.

QX50 Concept

Exterior Styling

Note: Infiniti QX50 Concept pictured on the left, Infiniti QX Sport Inspiration pictured on the right.

When placed side by side, it’s obvious where the QX50 Concept (pictured on the left) came from. The resemblance it holds to the QX Sport Inspiration (pictured on the right) is quite apparent, with the same general shape and lines used from front to back. However, the QX50 is a much more “production-friendly” iteration, replacing a few details here and there (such as the deeply cut side skirts) with simpler design elements. That said, the majority of the original design remains, such as the muscular, V-shaped hood, the crescent-cut D-pillar, and the coupe-like roofline.

Dimensionally, Infiniti says the QX50 is both taller and wider than the QX Sport Inspiration, making it roomier in the cabin. The rear hatch is also more vertical, providing more space in the cargo area.

The paint hue is called Forged Bronze, which is a new finish that utilizes three times the metal flake as a “standard” paint job. I think it looks great, and I hope it’s offered to customers when the revamped production QX50 goes on sale.

Interior Approach

In this segment, striking a balance between comfort and utility can be a tricky thing to pull off, but the QX50 Concept looks like it has what it takes with lots of space and high-end materials. The design and layout include driver-focused controls on the dashboard, with copious horizontal lines throughout, while the upholstery is finished with hexagon shapes – a nice touch that really pops against the offset colors. That cab-forward design, with the A-pillar moved ahead thanks to the compact powertrain, really helps with space as well.

With regard to the wood and leather, Infiniti contends “each material is treated and applied in a way to establish new trends in the design of premium crossover interior.” Part of the equation here is the three different kinds of leather, including genuine cowhide, semi-aniline, and synthetic nubuck. These are all present in three different colors, with brown used for the upper pillar portions and headliner, white used for the dash, door inserts, and seats, and blue used for the center console and mid-lines.

Clearly, Infiniti takes its upholstery seriously. The brand even went so far as to patent its own “dot quilting” method.

Further future production vehicle cues include the new graphic user interface for the infotainment touch screen, which will include info readouts for navigation, the sound system, various driver assist tech, and the status of the VC-Turbo engine.

What’s The Big Deal Over Variable Compression Anyway?

Speaking of the engine – the QX50 Concept’s Variable Compression Turbo powerplant is probably the most exciting feature on the car. Because while we’ve seen plenty of concepts with interesting exterior designs and interior layouts over the years, novel engine technology that’s sure to appear in a production model is much less common.

In the simplest of terms, variable compression allows an engine to offer both high output when you need it, and greener sensibilities when you don’t. Properly applied, you can basically have your cake and eat it too. Infiniti claims that a 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine could combine the high horsepower of a standard V-6 with the efficiency levels of a modern hybrid. The automaker goes on to claim that when paired with a front-biased intelligent AWD system, such an engine would return roughly 27-percent better fuel economy compared to an equivalent V-6 powertrain.

Not only that, but without a bulky hybrid system or extra cylinders filling the engine bay, a VC-T would also be more efficient with its packaging, offering more space for people and things.

“Infiniti has yet to confirm which of its future vehicles could benefit from its variable compression ratio engine,” the brand states in a press release, “though a mid-sized crossover could be one of the ideal applications for the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo power unit revealed by the company in 2016.”

Hey Infiniti – you need to work on your poker face. Expect to see a VC-Turbo in production form sometime next year.

And Of Course, The Autonomous Tech

It seems like autonomous technology is a requisite for any concept vehicle that’s debuted in the last few years, and the QX50 is no exception. While details are a bit lacking, Infiniti does say this concept will offer tech that will “ensure the driver retains ultimate control over their vehicle.” However, the tech will make it easier on you at those times when you don’t wanna be engaged, such as in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Features include automatic emergency braking, adaptive steering, and lane assist, with laser, radar, and visual cameras providing all the vital data.