Infiniti Preps Us For The All-New Q30's Debut In Frankfurt — All-New Compact To Take On Audi A3, BMW 1-Series, Mercedes CLA?

To say we're a little excited for the seasonal auto shows to get up and running would be an understatement. And with the latest news starting to trickle in, it seems like Frankfurt will be a pretty happening place to be this year.

The latest headline comes to us from Infiniti, who is bringing forward an all-new compact to take on the other luxury marques who have been trying to get more youth into their respective brands and sell a higher volume of products.

From what we're reading in the press release below, it seems to me like this will be the landmark vehicle that propels Infiniti into a new direction. That's because it will be a car of "firsts." Given the timeline of Johan de Nysschen's arrival at Infiniti, I am guessing this would be the first product he's really had a say in the development of. In addition, Sebastian Vettel — F1 World Champion — is getting his first crack as the Director of Performance at Infiniti.

Though we only have a sketch for the time being, to us it seems like this may be a very pivotal moment for the Infiniti brand.

Keep an eye out for more Frankfurt-related news, right here on AutoSpies.com.


Infiniti's press release follows:

Infiniti set to reveal Q30 Concept at IAA Frankfurt Motor Show

Q30 Concept signals Infiniti's next step in its portfolio expansion into new premium segments

Hong Kong – Infiniti will stage the world premiere of its Q30 Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Infiniti Q30 Concept signals the contemporary design vision for a compact Infiniti vehicle which will target a new generation of premium customers.

Set to be unveiled at Infiniti's press conference, scheduled for 10:15 am CET on September 10 in Frankfurt, the Q30 Concept is the next step in Infiniti's foray into new premium segments. It embodies Infiniti's vision to deliver head-turning design, innovative materials with precise fit and finish and passionate craftsmanship.

"This Infiniti Q30 Concept is a prelude to the product portfolio expansion which underpins our aggressive global growth strategy," said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. "In our quest to appeal to the modern, young-minded premium customer, the Infiniti Q30 Concept has a distinctive style and reaches new levels of product quality."

It represents the latest evolution of the Infiniti design philosophy introduced with the Infiniti Q50 which had its world premiere at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Like the Q50, the Infiniti Q30 Concept also incorporates dramatic design cues from the visionary Infiniti concept trilogy – Essence, Etherea and Emerg-e.

Infiniti envisions provoking a radical shift in the premium compact segment. The adventurous design and graceful athleticism of Q30 Concept inspire greater expectations of what is possible beyond the designs dominant in the market today.

"Q30 Concept is slender, sleek and seductive," said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti Executive Design Director. "When you see speedy big cats, like cheetahs, they have a slenderness and a lightweight stride. It's almost like they're floating. That's the muscularity we were aiming for with Q30 Concept."

Infiniti's forthcoming compact premium entry will be the first Infiniti model Sebastian Vettel, Infiniti's Director of Performance, will influence from its inception. The three-time Formula One world champion from Infiniti Red Bull Racing, who was actively involved in honing the driving dynamics of the Infiniti Q50, is engaging with Infiniti's technical teams around the world as part of a commitment to infuse the brand with race-bred performance.