Range Rover

2011 Infiniti Etherea Concept scheduled to appear in the 2011 Geneva Motor Show in March,

The official images above hint at a likely relationship to corporate partner Renault small car lines with a touch of Essence Concept thrown in for good measure. If that's the case, it's not clear that it'll be destined for the U.S.; such a concept might be intended only to do battle with the smaller BMW and Mercedes vehicles on their home turf.

The design is supposed to provide maximum space for passengers and mechanical components. At about 173 inches long, the Etherea is more than a foot shorter than an Infiniti G25. The company hasn’t given up on its performance bent, and previous info has hinted at either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive for the new model. We’ll have to wait until Geneva for more info on the concept and its production counterpart.




Press Release

COMPACT INFINITI CONCEPT FIRST PICTURES

ROLLE, Switzerland (14th, February 2011) - Infiniti today releases the first images of its concept car for the Geneva Motor Show in March. Called ETHEREA, it is a compact luxury model that previews how a future entry-level Infiniti could look.

The pictures show an evolving Infiniti identity along with a profile distinctly different from anything currently available in the premium compact class.

"ETHEREA is about a new type of luxury for younger buyers," said Toru Saito, Corporate Vice President and Leader of the Global Infiniti Business Unit. "It is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative and traditional luxury car."

Designed under the direction of Senior Vice President of Design Shiro Nakamura, ETHEREA blends elements of coupé, sedan, hatchback and even crossover in one highly sculptural, near-mono volume form.

At 4.4m it is highly compact but at the same time it is space efficient and practical thanks to a new mechanical layout and innovative access arrangements.

Among its surprises are high-tech new interpretations of traditional Japanese materials and finishes, and several design cues set to make their mark on future production models - including the highly distinctive crescent-shaped C-pillar first seen on the Essence concept.

The ETHEREA makes its world debut on the Infiniti stand (Hall 1, Booth 1030) at 12:15 CET on Tuesday 1 March 2011.