Infiniti Launching Design Language at Pebble Beach

In what our Managing Editor rightly described as ‘mild news’, Infiniti has announced they will use the unspeakably pompous Pebble Beach Automotive Week to show a concept vehicle they claim previews the brand’s next-gen design language.

Set to be called the QX Monograph, this machine will make its public debut on August 17, using the Concours awards ramp as its dais. Infiniti promises the vehicle will feature an evolution of the current so-called ‘double-arched grille’ along with some new and updated lighting signatures. That teaser image sure looks like an illuminated badge, taking cues from its competitors who have been deploying that flourish in recent years. The grille seems to have sprouted a rearward-raked top portion, though how far it extends into the hood isn’t clear.

In a cool nod to the brand’s history, quarter-scale design models from company archives – including Skyline design references – are planned to be on display publicly, marking the first time Infiniti has ever trotted out those items for public consumption. Nissan designers and craftspeople have identified nearly 100 such models and are said to be meticulously restoring and rebuilding them. At least four will be shown publicly at the event: an early Japanese production car from 1916, a ’66 Skyline from the company’s historic Prince marque, a ’70 Skyline, and a 1995 Skyline GT-R in that Midnight Purple hue.

So far this year, Infiniti has shuffled 32,286 units off dealer lots, marking a huge jump from this time last year and the bad old days of inventory constraints. Through the first half of 2023, its QX60 is the beyond-dominant sales king at Infiniti showrooms, finding 14,870 buyers which comprises nearly half of all sales. In pre-pandemic times, the brand moved 63,058 vehicles through June 2019, with the QX60 snagging 22,836 customers.

The brand is also in the midst of implementing a new global retail architecture design, aimed at blending a clean and minimalist exterior with an open and light-filled interior. I’ll leave the critique of design to our friend Sajeev but I can’t be the only one to think ‘mid-century modern’ at the sight of the building concept shown above. If luxury is defined as light and space, then this façade may be successful – so long as they are not uniformly tacked onto Nissan dealers responsible for hucking Sentra sedans and working with sub-prime lenders.

[Images: Infiniti]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.