Infiniti Etherea Concept
Infiniti is still a young brand in Europe, but the influence of the Continent is already manifesting in the brand’s endeavors. Case in point: The Etherea concept for the 2011 Geneva auto show, a front-wheel-drive compact hatchback that Infiniti describes with phrases such as “an exploration into what a future entry-level Infiniti may be like,” and “highly significant and a breakthrough in what Infiniti thinks about itself.”
For the record, we liked what Infiniti already thought of itself—or at least what we thought Infiniti thought of itself: a slightly poorer man’s BMW. Hallmarks of the marque in the recent past have included long-hood/cab-rearward proportions, rear-drive-based platforms, and potent, rev-happy powertrains. But those priorities may change if the Etherea says anything about Infiniti’s design and engineering direction.
Curvature Complex
From a design standpoint, the Etherea sort of picks up where Infiniti’s swoopy Essence concept left off two years ago. Infiniti says it contains coupe, sedan, hatchback, and crossover elements. Whatever; it’s a five-door with an obvious fear of straight lines. The Etherea is the exact opposite of clean and simple, with its, er, distinctive C-pillar treatment, bony shoulders, chopped headlamps, and many other design embellishments we’re not sure we like but which will certainly find their way onto future Infiniti models. As to that future entry-level Infiniti, this concept is certainly compact; at about 173 inches long, the Etherea is more than nine inches shorter than Infiniti’s shortest current vehicle, the EX35 crossover.
Hybrid, Front-Wheel Drive, and CVT
Power for the Etherea concept comes from a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine rated at 241 hp, augmented by an electric motor of undisclosed strength during acceleration. Infiniti says the motor can do all the work at low speeds, although the company declined to state at which speed or after which distance the gas engine takes over. The Etherea also features front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission, unlike any current Infiniti. The whole things sounds suspiciously like an Infiniti-ized Nissan Ellure concept, the electric motor in which was rated for 34 hp and 147 lb-ft.
Packing the bulky powertrain components up front allows for a spacious, flat-floored cabin that seats four passengers in their own chairs, with the rear seats separated by a console. Light pours in through the all-glass roof, while ingress/egress is made easier by way of a B-pillarless design (both of which, by the way, were features of the Ellure). There are two central screens, with the top one devoted solely to information display and the lower being a touch screen. Interior design touches include kimono-inspired piping on the seats and a new take on the brand’s familiar parchment-paper-look trim called “Kasane-Washi.”
Infiniti claims that in spite of its four-cylinder/hybrid powertrain, CVT, front-wheel-drive layout, and hatchback body style, the Etherea is “a redefinition, not a revolution.” Again, whatever. At the very least, a production Infiniti like this one would require some getting used to, and we wouldn’t expect it to find more friends among driving enthusiasts than the frisky G sedan and coupe or EX35. It might, however, find some favor among customers not turned on by the Lexus CT200h hybrid. “More than anything, it is not just another luxury compact car,” Infiniti says. Based on this concept’s ungainly looks, we certainly agree.
Infiniti is still a young brand in Europe, but the influence of the Continent is already manifesting in the brand’s endeavors. Case in point: The Etherea concept for the 2011 Geneva auto show, a front-wheel-drive compact hatchback that Infiniti describes with phrases such as “an exploration into what a future entry-level Infiniti may be like,” and “highly significant and a breakthrough in what Infiniti thinks about itself.”
For the record, we liked what Infiniti already thought of itself—or at least what we thought Infiniti thought of itself: a slightly poorer man’s BMW. Hallmarks of the marque in the recent past have included long-hood/cab-rearward proportions, rear-drive-based platforms, and potent, rev-happy powertrains. But those priorities may change if the Etherea says anything about Infiniti’s design and engineering direction.
Curvature Complex
From a design standpoint, the Etherea sort of picks up where Infiniti’s swoopy Essence concept left off two years ago. Infiniti says it contains coupe, sedan, hatchback, and crossover elements. Whatever; it’s a five-door with an obvious fear of straight lines. The Etherea is the exact opposite of clean and simple, with its, er, distinctive C-pillar treatment, bony shoulders, chopped headlamps, and many other design embellishments we’re not sure we like but which will certainly find their way onto future Infiniti models. As to that future entry-level Infiniti, this concept is certainly compact; at about 173 inches long, the Etherea is more than nine inches shorter than Infiniti’s shortest current vehicle, the EX35 crossover.
Hybrid, Front-Wheel Drive, and CVT
Power for the Etherea concept comes from a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine rated at 241 hp, augmented by an electric motor of undisclosed strength during acceleration. Infiniti says the motor can do all the work at low speeds, although the company declined to state at which speed or after which distance the gas engine takes over. The Etherea also features front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission, unlike any current Infiniti. The whole things sounds suspiciously like an Infiniti-ized Nissan Ellure concept, the electric motor in which was rated for 34 hp and 147 lb-ft.
Packing the bulky powertrain components up front allows for a spacious, flat-floored cabin that seats four passengers in their own chairs, with the rear seats separated by a console. Light pours in through the all-glass roof, while ingress/egress is made easier by way of a B-pillarless design (both of which, by the way, were features of the Ellure). There are two central screens, with the top one devoted solely to information display and the lower being a touch screen. Interior design touches include kimono-inspired piping on the seats and a new take on the brand’s familiar parchment-paper-look trim called “Kasane-Washi.”
Infiniti claims that in spite of its four-cylinder/hybrid powertrain, CVT, front-wheel-drive layout, and hatchback body style, the Etherea is “a redefinition, not a revolution.” Again, whatever. At the very least, a production Infiniti like this one would require some getting used to, and we wouldn’t expect it to find more friends among driving enthusiasts than the frisky G sedan and coupe or EX35. It might, however, find some favor among customers not turned on by the Lexus CT200h hybrid. “More than anything, it is not just another luxury compact car,” Infiniti says. Based on this concept’s ungainly looks, we certainly agree.
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