Infiniti Etherea hatches out

By Jack Rix

February 2011

It's a brave new dawn for Infiniti! Nissan's luxury arm has revealed its bold new Etherea concept car at the Geneva Motor Show.

it's the Japanese firm's take on a luxury hatchback, and previews how a future entry-level model could look. The design is the marque's first foray into a front-wheel-drive platform, and if the concept's wild styling is anything to go by, the production car will be the among the most distinctive in its class, taking on rivals like the BMW 1-Series, Audi A3 and Lexus CT 200h hybrid.

Although the design isn't yet signed off for production, elements such as the front and rear light clusters, sweeping MPV-style dash and curved C-pillars are all likely to feature on the new entry-level car.

The Ethera uses an evolution of Infiniti's established design language, and the front end ties in neatly with the rest of the existing range. But the full-length panoramic roof and curved C-pillars, first seen on the Essence concept, give it a unique identity. Infiniti claims it blends elements of coupé, sedan, hatchback and even crossover into its design.

Despite being the smallest car Infiniti have yet made at 4.4 metres long, the emphasis is still on performance. Under the bonnet is a unique petrol-electric drivetrain, pairing a 242bhp 2.5-litre supercharged four-cylinder engine with a 25kW electric motor, and CVT automatic gearbox. However, Infiniti say that the finished model will be powered by conventional petrol and diesel engines sourced from Mercedes. 

Jim Wright, Vice President of Infiniti for Europe, says that the key to growing the brand's presence outside of the US is offering something different to its rivals. "We can't just build a Japanese version of a Golf or a 1-Series, we have to offer our customers a distinctive alternative." Speaking about the Etherea's striking design, he added "Ultimately people buy cars for the way they look, and if I could have the show car on sale today, I'd be very happy."

A full production version of the concept won't arrive until 2014, but we can expect the styling cues from the Etherea to feature heavily on the third generation of the G-saloon, which promises to be "a big step forward" from the current model, according to its designers.