---
title: "Infiniti QX Inspiration Electric SUV Concept Breaks Down Minutes Before World Premiere"
description: "The world premiere of Infiniti's all-electric QX Inspiration concept at the Detroit Auto Show was canceled at the last minute when the car broke down on the way to the stage."
date: "2019-01-14"
modified: "2019-01-14"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/25951/infiniti-qx-inspiration-electric-suv-concept-breaks-down-minutes-before-world-premiere"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "concept car"
  - "crossover"
  - "detroit auto show"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Infiniti"
  - "SUV"
---

# Infiniti QX Inspiration Electric SUV Concept Breaks Down Minutes Before World Premiere

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/01/dw4x4prw0aein9v.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The future of Infiniti will be delayed at least a few hours after the world premiere of its [all-electric QX Inspiration concept](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25932/detroit-auto-show-infiniti-qx-inspiration-concept-scouts-for-an-electric-offensive>) at the Detroit Auto Show was canceled at the last minute when the car broke down on its way to the stage.

A sizable crowd of journalists had gathered ahead of the planned 11:40am event, which had been scheduled to also coincide with the marque's 30th anniversary. In a bit of theater, Infiniti arranged to have a technician drive the QX Inspiration on stage for its grand reveal.

From its highly-styled exterior to the promised "lounge-like" interior, the QX Inspiration is said to preview the design of the company's upcoming slate of electric vehicles. But when the big moment came, the car was stuck in the entry hall, immobilized by an unspecified problem.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1084859292824555521

Parts of the press conference awkwardly went on, resulting [in this painful video](<https://twitter.com/FOX2News/status/1084859292824555521>) of an Infiniti executive standing on an empty stage saying "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Infiniti QX Inspiration. You can't see it, but it's here. We're incredibly proud of this of this car."

After a long delay, Infiniti decided to reschedule the press conference for later in the day. As journalists filtered out of the room, several caught a glimpse of the busted car at the center of a scrum of concerned-looking Infiniti employees.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1084863806667456512

"The Infiniti QX Inspiration, like many stunning beauties, is a bit of a diva and decided to to delay her debut. Another memorable NAIAS moment," Infiniti global communications head Trevor Hale [told *CBNC.*](<https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/14/nissan-pulls-plug-on-infiniti-qx-debut-as-electric-car-fails-to-launch.html>) "That's show business."

That's show business—and hopefully not a sign of things to come for Infiniti's electric future.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1084858853672538115

https://twitter.com/_/status/1084855788458385408

https://twitter.com/_/status/1084858322497478656

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)