Sensational concept could be production reality
By Gavin Conway on March 6, 2012 3:43 PM
Another eagerly anticipated show star is the Infiniti Emerg-e. It is the company’s take on a range-extended electric sports car and, in the flesh under those motorshow lights, it looks absolutely sensational.
The nose is pure corporate Infiniti but quite gorgeous anyway (not something Infinitis always pull off), and the deeply sculpted flanks work so much better in 3D. It uses a three-cylinder range-extending petrol motor developed by Lotus and two 200hp electric motors to drive the rear wheels.
As with previous concepts, the interior is asymmetric to give both driver and passenger the best experience.
At the moment, Infiniti’s product planning guy Tatsuya Shiosaki says that the Emerg-e is pure concept, but tantalisingly he adds that they will have a couple of “fully functioning” cars on the road by summer. So is it on for production? Shiosaki says he really hopes so, but “I don’t know what the executives are thinking about that”. I’d say that’s probably a yes.