INFINITI is shifting its strategy to "improve the present and accelerate the future," anchored by a push for market leadership and design innovation. Momentum is already strong, with the flagship QX80 achieving record sales in its first six months and the U.S.-built QX60 showing solid year-over-year growth.
The cornerstone of that future is the QX65 Monograph concept, a critical "teaser" for the production QX65 Fastback SUV arriving next spring. Positioning the brand in the heart of one of the largest luxury segments, the QX65 pays homage to the legendary FX model while showcasing a bold new design language. Key design features borrow from the QX80's "piano key" light signature and organic bamboo motif grill, highlighting the brand's focus on blending heritage with modern luxury. Meanwhile, the interior is engineered to be a "sanctuary," featuring sculptural lines and a quilted red and black palette.
Beyond the QX65 Monograph concept, INFINITI debuted two iterations of the QX80 (the Track Spec and the Terrain Spec) designed to test "the elasticity of the brand." INFINITI has a clear mission to reach for the top position in the ultra-competitive luxury automotive market.
Read more on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottyreiss/2025/10/20/infiniti-readies-for-a-revival-with-new-models-creative-firepower/
For more from Scotty Reiss: https://agirlsguidetocars.com/
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00:00We're here at the Quail, a motorsports gathering,
00:02which is the poshest of all auto shows on the map.
00:07And we are with the new face of Infiniti.
00:10Welcome, Tiago Castro, the new head of Infiniti North America.
00:14It's so nice to see you here.
00:17It's great to see you, Scotty.
00:18Thank you for having me.
00:19Is this your first Monterey Car Week event?
00:22First ever for me.
00:24Not the first one for Infiniti, though.
00:25We've been here for 19 years.
00:27This is a very unique venue.
00:29It gives us opportunity to showcase the Infiniti products.
00:33And today we're testing three new concepts.
00:36We're very focused on simple tasks.
00:39We need to improve the present, accelerate the future.
00:41QX80, our flagship model that we just launched in 2024,
00:45had a record first six months.
00:47So momentum is building.
00:49QX60 built in the US.
00:51We also grew sales year over year.
00:53Now, because of the tariffs, we had to pause for the QX50, 55.
00:57But I'm really focused on, you know, intensifying and improving the sales of those models that we can generate more revenue.
01:04And we have more good news coming up with the Monograph Concept QX65 Monograph behind us.
01:10This is just a little teaser for what's coming next spring, which is the QX65.
01:16This model is a two-row fastback SUV, but it gives us opportunity to position Infiniti in the heart of one of the biggest luxury segments in the market.
01:241999 was a part that was his coupish, powerful car with the FX.
01:35Fast forward 25 years or so, and we got the chance to do a derivative of the QX60.
01:43So we thought it's a very natural to blend a little bit of the personal feeling of the FX, but make it a QX65.
01:53On the side view, it's a bit of an homage to an FX and things like that, but the decision that was a bit intriguing during the process is what kind of character should we give the front?
02:04And because we had just launched the QX80 and we really loved some of the features of that front face, we started experimenting on applying that for the X65.
02:14We split the lamps, we brought the piano keys from the QX80, and we also brought this crisscrossing element.
02:23And then, of course, the split of the piano keys becomes a bamboo, which now has spread out.
02:29It's a bit more organic, but you still feel the structure of the branches and, of course, the way the bamboo locks into the Infiniti logo.
02:40Cars usually end a bit flat and abrupt, but we wanted this feeling of almost the wings, the tail of the bird coming to an edge.
02:50And then we added so much shape, very sculptural, powerful rear end, and also the tail of an airplane or a bird.
03:00We are trying to make a feel more on the sports side, but when you come inside, it will have a beautiful red and black interior full of quilting.
03:10So you're in a sanctuary at the end of the day.
03:12The QX80, it's a luxury SUV, very focused on customers in an urban environment.
03:22On the other side is really how far off the road can the QX80 go.
03:28With both of the cars, we're trying to test the elasticity of the brand, outdoor spirit and on-road performance.
03:38Design is very important for the luxury market, and then we can't forget the client experience.
03:45You've got to deliver something more than just the products.
03:48Recently, J.D. Power scored all the luxury brands in the market for client experience,
03:53and Infiniti was number two in the whole industry just behind Porsche.
03:57That's something we can be really proud about, and we need to emphasize, why not be the number one, right?
04:02Thank you for spending a few minutes with us here at the Quail.
04:06I do have one last question.
04:08What's your daily driver?
04:10My daily driver is a QX80.
04:11A QX80.
04:12A QX80 Autograph.
04:14That's what we're driving this week, and I'm going to say it's a good choice.
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