Traditional sports car cues and relative restraint for a show car still attracts attention.
Tucked away in the corner of the show hall in Geneva was an Infiniti concept car that was virtually unnoticed amidst the chaos of the first media day. By day two, as the crowds thinned and journalists headed home, the Essence created a buzz over its simple, elegant look. Since Infiniti is just getting started in Europe, intense interest in this show car might help establish the brand — hence the name and the clear intent of the car.
Essence in its, er, essence is a simple performance statement in the guise of a 592-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive gasoline/electric hybrid coupe. It builds on parent company Nissan’s decades-old tradition of performance cars, stretching all the way back to the 240Z – with its long hood, short rear hatchback and two seats. Infiniti says Essence uses many of the technologies, including hybrid, that it hopes will set apart its production cars of the coming years. The marketing tagline of “Inspired Performance” is hardly unique in the idea it conveys, as variations appear consistently in the promotion of other, much more established brands, so it is going to take serious hardware to play successfuly in this game.
This is a classic sports car in proportion and cues, no matter that it’s called “Dynamic Adeyaka,” whatever that means. One interesting detail is the trim around the side air vents. Made from aluminum, they are based on “kanzash,” the hairpin used by women when wearing a kimono. Other lines and details are said to be inspired by the wide brush strokes of Japanese calligraphy.
Of course there’s Infiniti’s signature double-arch grille, a lit badge at its center. Rounded corners diminish the front overhang and make this 185-inch-long car appear smaller. Trim is minimal. The grille is framed by stainless steel, but there are no other grilles or intakes, not even fog lights. The door handles are slivers of push buttons flush with the body; even the rearview mirrors are eliminated, replaced by cameras in the A-pillars.
It might be a bit lonely for the isolated passenger.
The interior is similarly restrained. An asymmetrical cabin is split into two, separated by a large curving console between the seats that intersects with the center of the dashboard. The driver’s side is black; the passenger’s “cocoon” an earthy red. Yes, there is Infiniti’s analog clock. And the hand painted wood is said to be like traditional Japanese lacquerware.
A parallel hybrid system combines Infiniti’s 3.7-liter DOHC V6 gasoline engine with twin turbochargers and a new, direct-injection fuel system. It’s rated at 434 horsepower. An electric motor, dubbed 3D, fits between the engine and transmission. 3D provides another 158 horsepower. Its power is from a lithium-ion battery pack in the trunk. Because the motor operates in propulsion and power regeneration modes, the battery pack is kept charged. The engine or motor can work independently or together as a “parallel” hybrid system.
We predict the front look of an eventual production car will be more subtle than this.
Essence also previews some upcoming safety features, adding two newer technologies to the Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems that are available in today’s production cars. Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP) are said to extend an anti-collision shield all the way around.
When the driver decides to change lanes, side-mounted sensors activate a warning if an approaching vehicle is detected in the intended lane. A yawing moment is then produced by brake control of individual wheels to help prevent a potential collision. Back-up Collision Prevention works in a similar way, sensing a vehicle behind, giving the driver a warning, then applying the brakes automatically. How intrusive these are in operation await a test drive, and more importantly, acceptance by customers.