--- title: "Infiniti Reveals Electric QX Inspiration Concept Ahead of 2019 NAIAS Debut" description: "The QX Inspiration's electric powertrain will make for more spacious and comfy interiors than comparable ICE vehicles." date: "2019-01-04" modified: "2019-01-04" authors: - name: "James Gilboy" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/25795/infiniti-reveals-electric-qx-inspiration-concept-ahead-of-2019-naias-debut" categories: - "News" tags: - "concept car" - "Concept Cars" - "Electric Vehicle" - "Infiniti" - "Luxury crossover" - "naias 2019" --- # Infiniti Reveals Electric QX Inspiration Concept Ahead of 2019 NAIAS Debut ![]() *\www.thedrive.com\* Infiniti had a gift to the public that it wanted to save for the 2019 North American International Auto Show, but it simply couldn't resist tearing the wrapping off its QX Inspiration concept a few days early. First teased in December, the Infiniti QX Inspiration concept is a design study vehicle meant to represent the future of the Japanese automaker's design, specifically with regard to high-performance electric vehicles (EVs). According to Infiniti, electric powertrains' different packaging requirements allow space to be freed up in an EV's interior, making interiors more cavernous and "lounge-like." Infiniti went out of its way to outfit the QX Inspiration's interior using traditional, handcrafted techniques, with design informed by the Japanese principle of "omotenashi," or hospitality, which is a buzzword also favored by Lexus. Despite being a focal point of the concept vehicle, the interior is the one thing Infiniti has yet to show of the QX Inspiration, releasing only two exterior shots on Friday. ![message-editor%2F1546627733422-infiniti\_qx\_inspiration\_concept\_side\_embargoed\_jan\_4\_8\_01\_am\_est.jpg]() **Infiniti** As a concept vehicle, Infiniti has not declared any performance or range specifications, but because Infiniti is a subsidiary of Nissan, it should be possible to come up with baseline estimates for range or performance using Nissan's other electric vehicles, notably the [Nissan Leaf](). The current Leaf uses a 40 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery to power permanent magnet motors on the front axle, where they generate 147 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Many electric crossovers are rear- or all-wheel-drive, making two powered axles likely for any production vehicles based on the QX Inspiration. Extrapolated from the Leaf's capabilities, 294 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque isn't an unfair estimate, though the same motors are good for 322 horsepower and the same torque as above in the [Leaf Nismo RC](). At 40 kWh, the battery would be on the diminutive side for a vehicle as large as the QX Inspiration, though Nissan does make decent use of said battery's power, chugging along for about 3.75 miles per kWh. Nissan has stated that a larger battery—[rumored to be 60 kwh]()—is on the way for the Leaf sometime this year, and such a battery would likely be capable of powering a QX Inspiration-sized vehicle more than 200 miles. That's still unexceptional range compared to crossover rivals like the Jaguar I-Pace or Tesla Model X, but with a considerably smaller battery, any production-destined version of the QX Inspiration would likely be thousands of dollars cheaper than its competitors, provided its battery doesn't puff up to look good on a specs sheet against the Jaguar, Tesla, or myriad other electric crossovers coming out in the next two to three years. ## Author James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids." ### Author social links [Instagram]()