Among the polished Ferraris, Bugattis and bespoke hypercars glistening on the manicured lawns of The Quail motorsports gathering at Monterey Car Week, an Aussie-flavoured off-roader quietly raised eyebrows.
The Infiniti QX80 Terrain Spec concept bore the Premcar decals on its flanks, indicating the Melbourne engineering firms involvement with more global brands, underlining the company’s fast-rising global profile.
Infiniti hasn’t spelled out how much involvement Premcar had in the concept but the rock-crushing beast looking every bit as ready for the Simpson Desert as it does for Pebble Beach.
Infiniti pulled out of the Aussie market in 2019 following slow sales but still has a presence in many major global markets.
The Infiniti QX80 Terrain Spec concept was clearly shaped with input from Melbourne-based Premcar, the company behind Nissan’s Patrol Warrior and Navara Warrior programs.
It has carved out a reputation for turning standard 4WDs and utes into bush-bashing monsters and now looks poised to take that expertise to the most important stage of all: the United States.
Unveiled alongside a wild 484kW (650hp) Track Spec version of the Infiniti QX80 – which is a fancy version of the Nissan Patrol – the Terrain Spec will pique the interest of Aussies watchers.
Wrapped in satin basalt vinyl, the Terrain Spec makes its intentions clear with lifted suspension, all-terrain tyres, toughened fender flares and reinforced bumpers.
Expedition gear includes a rooftop tent, limb risers and a full-width light bar, while a side-exit exhaust pipes add a dose of attitude.
Premcar’s fingerprints are hard to miss. Just as it transformed the Navara and Patrol into tougher, more capable Warriors without spoiling daily comfort, the QX80 Terrain Spec concept strikes a similar balance.
For Premcar, involvement in a vehicle like this is a huge fillip for the company.
The US off-road and overlanding market is massive and buyers are hungry for luxury SUVs that can still get dirty.
If the Terrain Spec moves from showpiece to production reality, the Australian engineering outfit could soon be involved in one of America’s most lucrative SUV niches.
Infiniti says the Terrain and Track Spec are part of a new “fast-to-market” mindset, meaning concepts shown on lawns like The Quail could quickly morph into production vehicles.
The Track Spec, with its 485kW V6 powerplant and quad exhausts, might win the headlines at the event but the real story is Australian ingenuity sneaking onto the world stage.