Detroit show: Infiniti teases Q60 concept

INFINITI has released a shadowy image of its Q60 Concept ahead of its world debut at the Detroit motor show in January, hinting at a sleeker version of its sporty coupe bearing the premium brand’s new design language.

Although it is silhouetted, the car’s muscular rear haunches, pumped up front guards, large wheels, heavily raked windscreen and narrow glasshouse can clearly be seen.

Infiniti said in a statement that the Q60 Concept was a progression of the design of previous concepts.

“This latest concept builds upon the design language seen on recent Infiniti concept cars, foreshadowing the strong visual consistency to be a key ingredient of products in the future Infiniti line-up,” the statement read.

The Japanese luxury car-maker unveiled its Q80 Inspiration Concept at the Paris motor show in October this year, and said at the time that its design would influence the styling of its future models.

A spokesperson for Infiniti Cars Australia told GoAuto that it was unclear when a production version of the next-generation Q60 would launch here.

Originally called the G37 when it launched in the United States in 2008, and then Australia in December 2012, it became the Q60 earlier this year when Infiniti introduced its new naming policy that saw all passenger cars start with a 'Q', while all SUVs in its line-up received the 'QX' moniker.

The Q60 is available in two-door coupe and convertible body-styles and starts at $63,900, plus on-road costs for the GT Premium Coupe and tops out at $79,400 for the flagship S Premium Red Convertible.

Direct rivals for the Q60 include the BMW 4 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, Audi’s A5 and the just-launched Lexus RC.

So far this year, Infiniti has sold just 58 Q60s/G Coupe and Convertibles, which is a fraction of what its rivals have shifted in the same period. In contrast, Lexus has sold 37 RC coupes after just one month on sale.

Infiniti's local line-up includes the four-door Q50 sedan, the larger Q70 saloon and QX70 SUV.

The Mercedes-Benz A-Class-based Q30 hatch is due in 2016 along with the related QX30 crossover.