Infiniti gives a glimpse of its first electric car

Infiniti has confirmed it will pull the drapes off an all-new pure-electric SUV at the Detroit motor show in January after releasing a single teaser image.

Sporting a curvaceous body, LED headlights and side cameras instead of conventional mirrors -- just like the zero-emissions Audi e-tron SUV -- the concept Infiniti plans to reveal is no flight of fancy.

In fact, the unnamed concept is claimed to preview not only a real car but the new design language Infiniti will apply to a new family of electrified vehicles.

Future ultra-low and zero-emission vehicles, Infiniti says, will get exterior proportions that maximise cabin space to provide for "lounge-like interiors".

The concept is thought to be close to the production vehicle -- Infiniti's first battery-electric model -- due on sale in 2021.

Infiniti's latest concept makes a break with its recent string of jaw-dropping retro-takes on vintage racers that it has no intention of ever making.

The new teaser for a pure-electric SUV concept suggests the brand is ready to get serious with its electric plans.

Indeed, as well as heralding a new design strategy for its electrified future the concept itself is tipped to sit on a new platform that has been specifically engineered for pure-electric and hybrid applications.

According to Infiniti design boss Karim Habib, the Japanese car-maker's new concept is "the beginning of a new era for Infiniti, and an illustration of where we want to go with the brand".

"Electrification and other new technologies have given us the opportunity to evolve our design philosophy," he said.

Infiniti has already revealed it plans to offer an electrified version of every new model it produces from 2021.

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By 2025 Infiniti has declared that half of its global sales will consist of electric vehicles.