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Infiniti Essence: 592-horse hybrid concept debuts

03/03/2009, 8:34 AM

By Andrew Ganz

Earlier today at the Geneva Motor Show, Infiniti officially unveiled its new hybrid-powertrain concept car, the Essence. Embodying what Infiniti says is the essence of its brand, the rear-wheel-drive sports coupe is designed to celebrate Infiniti’s past, while show off some new technologies.

Under its svelte bodywork, the Essence is home to Infiniti’s first-ever hybrid powertrain, a 434-horsepower twin-turbo 3.7-liter V6 that teams up with a slim, disc-shaped “3D” 158-horsepower electric engine for a combined 592-horsepower.

The electric assist motor has about twice the torque of a conventional motor thanks to a layout that Infiniti says optimizes the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets.

Inside, the Essence features custom luggage by Louis Vuitton, and a driver-focused asymmetrical cabin layout. The driver’s side of the cabin features a black “theme,” while the passenger’s side features an “earthy red theme.”

The Essence’s exterior features some familiar design cues, but it also debuts the automaker’s new “Dynamic Adekaka” design language based on Japanese traditions. A long hood and short rear deck make the Essence look more like a sports car of the past, at least proportionally, while sharp lines and complex surfacing feature details based on Japanese cultural pieces, like the “kanzashi” hairpin worn by women wearing kimonos.

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03/03, 5:13 AM

posted by:

nestle_s

nice shape! reminds me of jaguar’s and aston martin’s. is this a future look for the G-coupe?

03/03, 6:08 AM

posted by:

Veda

As nice looking as the Aston One-77… very nice…

03/03, 6:17 AM

posted by:

Rover3500

Looks like it was done by a fresher student. Appalingly sloppy with a horrid Grille and window line…and those creases…..ugh take it away…Aston has nothing to woory about here…

Its obscene

03/03, 7:13 AM

posted by:

JoseIICordero

Now that’s a beautiful car. This should be Infiniti’s halo.

03/03, 7:31 AM

posted by:

oldraven

That profile is pure Corvette.

03/03, 8:14 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

I want that dash.

The rest of the car is smoking hot, too.

03/03, 8:15 AM

posted by:

ricky_b

Whoa! Missed the trick trunk. When’s the next flight to Geneva?

03/03, 8:45 AM

posted by:

05Z88Path

It looks like the cross between a Fisker and the Aston One-77…I say build it!

03/03, 8:52 AM

posted by:

zeegone

I was thinking Fisker as well along with some solstice and FX rear end. The headlamps are pure Infiniti/Nissan though. Sweet looking car, hope it makes it!

03/03, 9:00 AM

posted by:

ochy38

beautiful car…. until you see that horrible grill

03/03, 9:49 AM

posted by:

mikemacnn

dugg the story. Looks awesome. Digg it guys.

03/03, 11:38 AM

posted by:

Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3

I would purchase this automobile today if it were on the showroom floors!

03/03, 11:43 AM

posted by:

RaineMan

Now if they put one of those motors on each wheel they could ditch the drivetrane completely. I do like the looks of the car, very Aston Martin-ish… but I think it is too bold for Infiniti to put into production.

03/03, 11:48 AM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Great!
This is Exhibit a in “The car as art.”

03/03, 12:40 PM

posted by:

bolex

…holy sh!t very nice. the days of Japanese appliances are soon coming to an end….

03/03, 1:09 PM

posted by:

JSurfer1451

When I first looked at this I wasn’t all that taken back but now that I’ve looked at it for a few minutes it really is a gorgeous car. The only thing I’m not a big fan of is the interior. I don’t like the two tone seats nor the center console. I guess you could consider the interior symmetrical but in a weird way. I think the interior needs to be reworked a little.

03/03, 1:17 PM

posted by:

jmayhew

I’m in love.

Please please please make a derivation of this (I will make do with GT-R running gear)

03/03, 1:29 PM

posted by:

PerformanceGuy

Wow, good job Infiniti. This car looks amazing. Build this car and make it your Halo!!

03/03, 4:41 PM

posted by:

JakeK66

Anyone else notice the navigation gauges said “Detroit” and used fahrenheit with an American style license plate?

I guess this was supposed to be shown at the Detroit auto show, not Geneva.

Wopededoo, another hybrid concept never going to be built. This is really getting old.

03/03, 5:28 PM

posted by:

coolguy8157

Excellent..nicely done…..I hope we see this in the showrooms…. This deserves to be a halo car.

03/03, 5:36 PM

posted by:

tyler_is_aero_tt

Ooh has a European flare to it.

03/03, 6:50 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomer

Nice, except for the oddly straight, sharp window ledge crossing over the sensuous bodyside dip.. making the greenhouse resemble the outgoing Z! No wonder Lexus has apparently shelved its blandly-styled mid-engine LF-A.. this is 10 times sexier and, using the FM platform, could be thousands of dollars less expensive to produce!

03/03, 7:34 PM

posted by:

beatusmongous

I’m with JSurfer. I hate the interior. The exterior is nice, though.

03/03, 9:08 PM

posted by:

A4

the logo in the schnozz is a bit awkward but this is a beautiful ride.. the profile looks very Alfa 8C

03/03, 11:23 PM

posted by:

maxcar

yes, the 8C lines with a dash of one 77 sauce. nicey!

03/04, 12:28 AM

posted by:

Dangerous1

This is nice! Give it a more sensible window treatment and put it in the showrooms.

Kind of like a Corvette, Jaguar, Aston Martin & Maserati all rolled into one.

03/04, 12:42 AM

posted by:

Das Stig

I love how Infiniti comes up with this and stuns the public, out of the blue. Beautiful looking concept.

03/04, 3:25 AM

posted by:

MiniMan

better than the one 77. it’s so fluid i wanna drink it. the shape is one that looks like you wouldn’t hear a peep if it blew past you at 100 mph. SAAAAAA-WWWWEEEEEETTTTTTT.

03/04, 6:34 AM

posted by:

KuroSyn

Wow, that’s impressive. Infiniti sure is pushing it to become a premium. That’s their goal, with this they’ll be moving it forward.

But no… it’s not better than One-77! MiniMan! :D

03/04, 12:48 PM

posted by:

CiNO

I have n.th to say abt this car. I want to see it comes to production as a luxury supercar to beat all those super car. really good job Infiniti, I though Infiniti brand is juz a crap of Nissan, this concept has changed my idea. Make it to production to beat Lexus LF-A.

03/04, 12:58 PM

posted by:

Stevo

It’s crazy gorgeous.

03/04, 6:04 PM

posted by:

Dante_JoseCuervo

O_O such a beautiful car. I say they should build it, this thing should be awesome.

03/05, 9:35 AM

posted by:

Need more oil for GM

Nice Corvette ripoff. TOo bad it won’t last 1/10 as long as a Corvette will. Nissan is just another low qaulity Jap product that nobody wants. It’s not cool to drive a terrorists vehicle anymore. Everyone would much rather drive a quality, dependable vehicle that will last hundreds of thousands of miles like a Chevrolet Corvette.

It’ll be just a big a piece of sh1t as any other Nissan product. Just this one is an even more expensive Nissan.
Buy American. Buy GM. It is your duty

03/05, 11:13 AM

posted by:

IGT

^ LMAO….

03/05, 2:11 PM

posted by:

idrinorbarsaku

Need more oil for GM,
i guess you are to stupid to notice that Infiniti was ranked the worlds most reliable car company in THE WORLD on the last issue of Consumer Reports. They even beat lexus, which came in second place, respectively. GM is nowhere near the level of Infiniti! Even Hyundai is more reliable….which is just embarrassing!!! So, unless you really have some true, unbiased bull$**** facts, STFU!!!!!!!

and speaking of terrorists a$$hole, did you know that the majority of cars in Iraq are some sort of gm related vehicle, like daewoo, suzuki, and others?? Guess not….IDIOT!!!

Back to this car. I love the way it looks, especially the interior. there really isnt anything on this car that can’t be started right away

03/06, 8:49 AM

posted by:

Kaizen

Looks like the 2nd LF-A concept except with wierd Infiniti accents.

03/06, 9:53 AM

posted by:

athens

I see a lot of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione in this Essence. Which is a good thing.

Hey and it still has the ubiquitous analog clock on the dash top center. But then again so does a Bentley.

03/10, 8:47 PM

posted by:

vashthe3rd

HAHAHA, Infiniti tries to create a “luxury” sports coupe.
A TTVQ engine + an electric motor for “592″ from literally adding horsepower, it doesn’t work that way.
This isn’t going to be affordable AT ALL either.
This looks decent, but it’s a complete copy of a vettes body style.
The GTR already has plenty of problems with reliability to properly use its power, and they’re trying to come out with this?
This car won’t have over 500 BHP in its factory iteration, if it ever sees the light of day. And being rwd, it’ll be a RWD R35 GTR. Nissan and Infiniti keep sticking to the same VQ crap house expecting good numbers out of it. You can TT a Ford 4.0 V6 and see more rwhp than the VQ component in this.
Sometimes I doubt they even lower the compression for their turbo engines.
The interior won’t be this nice, anything like this will cost WAY too much, and will still be over-powered by sub 100$K cars.
Nissan needs to step up their game and realize that bigger displacement improves performance, it’s the reason the LS7 Z06 comes so close to a GTR in stock form, with F/I or minor suspension work it eats the GTR, given equal drivers. The Z06 also lasts longer from using its power, I’ve already seen GTRs break and get rebuilt trannies.

More stuff for import fanboys to reference over and over and oogle until it’s cancelled, same way the NSX was. It’s good to see imports stepping up and trying to produce high power cars to compete with the american and european cars, but they need to go out of their small displacement comfort zone.
I would’ve loved to have seen a new NSX, I’d love to see Infiniti, come up with a quick car, and I’d love to see a coupe from Mitsubishi with the same power as an Evo.
Fact is, it’s unexplored territory, and they’re struggling through it.

03/11, 9:38 PM

posted by:

idrinorbarsaku

vashthe3rd,
sounds like you just plain hate nissan and infiniti! its funny how you talk about tt-ing a 4.0 v6 to beat an infiniti v6 when the stock infiniti v6 beats the v8 in the GT……LOL!!!!!!!!!! you can tt just about any engine in the world and it will have more power than whatever you can compare it against. since you will tt the 4.0, I’ll step up and tt the infiniti v6 and still trump that POS 4.0 v6….you make me laugh!!!!!!!!

03/13, 8:25 AM

posted by:

Payton Byrd

The ’70s wants it’s Vette back.

03/14, 5:28 AM

posted by:

dajudge1

For all you jokers in love with your Vettes, stay with them. Maybe some day, you just might get lucky and find out that what the definition of blue collar is. Because of you the japanese continue to erode the US automakers market share. For those who have finally recognized that Infiniti has given BMW a run for it’s money with the G series, congrats, now you can appreciate who Infiniti is going after next. As to this “concept” car, reality will be just around the corner. Face it, bold design (all Nissan products are jointly designed in San Diego and their French Rivera facility that has virtually no Japanese speaking employees) is not an accident. The interior concept of driver and passenger living in their own worlds is long overdue. I give profs to them, and it’s only a matter of time before the competition gets the message. Well done.

03/17, 1:44 PM

posted by:

PerformanceGuy

Nicely said dajudge1!!

03/24, 7:46 PM

posted by:

Lambo15

OH-WEE! Thats SH** For ya. look old school.

 
 
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