Infiniti Bringing High Performance EV to Detroit Auto Show
Infiniti will bring a high-performance EV to the Detroit auto show.
Infiniti’s chief of design, Alfonso Albaisa, confirmed the automaker’s plans to show a new EV in Detroit in a recent interview with Autocar. The mystery EV will be an all-new model and won’t be based on an existing vehicle, he said. Interestingly, he also said the concept will incorporate aspects of the vintage-look Prototype 9 EV concept, saying it will use parts of that car “in a different context.”
The Prototype 9 wasn’t the first indication that Infiniti is interested in performance EVs. Back in 2012 it unveiled the Emerg-e concept – a hybrid sportscar based on the Lotus Evora. The engineering study featured two electric motors, one mounted at each of the rear wheels, for a total output of 402 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. The motors were fed by a lithium-ion battery pack, which could be recharged on the fly thanks to a 1.2-liter three-cylinder range extender.
SEE ALSO: Infiniti Prototype 9 Blends Old and New With Stunning Results
Infiniti’s parent company Nissan recently rolled out the second-generation Leaf EV. The automaker is apparently mulling over a Nismo version of the electric hatch that would offer more power from the electric motor, along with sportier looks and revised suspension. Renault-Nissan had already made it clear it was highly interested in EVs, but now we know they are seriously eyeing performance EVs as well.
[Source: Autocar]
Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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