2022 Infiniti Q80
Car and Driver created a list of 25 Cars Worth Waiting for: 2019-2022 and that list included the long awaited 2022 Infiniti Q80.
What It Is: A soft reset for the Infiniti brand and a replacement for the forgotten Q70, which was thrown mercilessly into battle with the Audi A6, BMW 5-series, and Mercedes-Benz E-class. The model adds another 10 to its name to keep pace in the luxury-brand alphanumeric arms race.
Why It Matters: Since 2009, Infiniti has teased gorgeous halo-car concepts of every variety—coupes, sedans, and mid-engined sports cars with hybrid powertrains—but failed to put any of them into showrooms. We’re told the Q Inspiration concept from this year’s Detroit auto show will actually live up to its name and inspire a production car. And while it won’t be a full-fledged, S-class–sized flagship, its designers and engineers will use the Q80 to set the direction for the rest of the lineup.
Platform: The Q80 will ride on a new architecture designed around Infiniti’s plan to offer an electrified powertrain in every new model starting in 2021, either as a hybrid, pure electric, or range-extended electric vehicle.
Powertrain: We expect the Q80 to begin life as a hybrid, with a compound powertrain built around the company’s variable-compression-ratio turbocharged inline-four. Eventually it could also be offered as a plug-in hybrid or EV.
Competition: Acura RLX Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, BMW 530e iPerformance, Mercedes-Benz E-class hybrid.
What Might Go Wrong: Infiniti’s corporate minders are ruthlessly fixated on the bottom line. If the company designs and engineers the Q80 on a spreadsheet, there’s a chance that the mid-sizer will do nothing to advance the brand’s value.
Estimated Arrival and Price: The Q80 should arrive in 2021 with a price spanning roughly $55,000 to $75,000.
