GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Infiniti EMERG-E debut delayed
But plug-in hybrid supercar finally sees the light of dayThe reveal of Infiniti's EMERG-E supercar was held back 15 minutes during the media day at the Geneva Motor Show, but good things come to those who wait, they say. And certainly the Infiniti concept was worth the wait.
Infiniti's Senior VP and Creative Officer, Shiro Nakamura was proud to introduce the new design study — the third in a line of concept cars comprising the Essence and the Etherea — to journalists from all over the world.
"This third member of the Infiniti trilogy is more sporty, more dynamic and even more expressive than the previous two — with a mid-ship motor layout," said Nakamura. "It shows how Infiniti design language works in a different package. Moreover, it consolidates the future direction of Infiniti design."
According to the Infiniti executive, the EMERG-E can travel up to 30 miles (approximately 50km) in zero-emissions operation, yet the vehicle can reach 60MPH (not quite 100km/h) in four seconds. The key to the efficiency and performance lies in the car's 300kW electric motor, with battery power maintained through a range-extending three-cylinder engine.
Nakamura says that Infiniti will build two more prototypes of the vehicle during the northern hemisphere summer (our winter), but the brand's local General Manager, Kevin Snell tells us that we shouldn't draw too many conclusions just yet, as to whether the car will necessarily go into production.
"[EMERG-E] is about exploring the need for a high-end car," he told motoring.com.au. "There's a few different ways we could execute that car."
So sadly, it's not a done deal by any means, although Snell says that EMERG-E provides ideas about the form a high-end Infiniti should take, even if it's nothing much like the concept unveiled today. What we can say is that the manufacturer seems to have its heart set on having such a "high-end" car reach the market as part of Infiniti's five-year plan, possibly for fruition around 2016.
Read the latest news from the Geneva Motor Show at motoring.com.au
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