Infiniti QX50 Concept Hints at Future Application of VC-Turbo Engine
Concept headed to the Detroit auto show
Infiniti will use the stage of the Detroit auto show to introduce the QX50 Concept. According to Infiniti, the model previews a possible application for its new, production-ready variable-compression turbo engine.
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Earlier this year, Infiniti announced it would bring out the new engine in 2018, although it didn't give a specific timeline for its rollout among different models. Using a multi-link system, the variable compression engine, dubbed VC-Turbo, can adapt its compression ratio to different driving conditions to offer optimal levels of performance and fuel economy.
"Such an advanced powertrain would be perfectly suited to the packaging of the QX50 Concept," Infiniti said in a press release.
On the outside, the Infiniti QX50 Concept looks quite a bit like the QX Sport Inspiration Conceptthat debuted earlier this year at the Beijing auto show. It features muscular proportions and a raked roofline like the previous model, as well as a new large skid plate that lends the SUV a distinctly athletic appeal.
Infiniti says the QX50 Concept also previews the brand's rollout of autonomous technologies. Expect the automaker to make an announcement on that front at the show, but in the meantime, Infiniti says its autonomous technologies are intended to act as a "co-pilot" rather than a replacement for the driver. The car will take over certain driving tasks, such as muddling through start-stop traffic, while the driver can focus on more enjoyable ones.
We'll learn more during the Detroit auto show, which begins January 8.
Source: Infiniti
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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