Infiniti Essence concept to run the Goodwood Hillclimb
When Infiniti decides to tackle a new market, it sure knows how to make an entrance. At the Geneva Motor Show in March, the gas-electric hybrid Essence made jaws drop with its commanding size, beautiful lines, and green-inspired 592-hp soul. Unfortunately for every man, woman and child on the face of the earth, the Essence won't make its way to production -- ever -- but it's actually going to be driven in the UK... briefly.
Infiniti's voluptuous concept will make an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it'll make the run the hill climb and be joined at the FoS-TECH pavilion by the world's first right-hand-drive G37 convertible . While we're more than a little disappointed that the Essence will never hit production, if the concept's handsome design makes its way into other Infinitis, it'd be a good start. Press release below the fold.
Gallery: Infiniti Essence Concept
[Source: Infiniti]
PRESS RELEASE:
INFINITI: ESSENTIAL VIEWING AT GOODWOOD
ROLLE, Switzerland (June 25, 2009) – The Infiniti Essence concept car, shown for the first time four months ago in Geneva, will conclude its pan-European tour at the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed. But Essence isn't the only Infiniti to be making its UK debut. The luxury automotive brand from Japan will also be giving visitors to the Festival a sneak preview of the new G37 Convertible which goes on sale in the UK this September. Unlike Essence, unfortunately.
The Essence concept was created as a celebration of Infiniti and its 20 years history as a creator of performance cars. But equally it is an inspiring exploration into the brand's future ... one that includes launching in the UK. The dramatic design, technology and performance statement is a 600PS petrol/electric hybrid coupe with rear-wheel drive. It will be on display in Goodwood's FoS-TECH pavilion and also on the famous Goodwood Hillclimb where it will perform in public for the first time.
Joining Essence on the Hillclimb – and later in the Sunday Times Supercar paddock – will be the V6 powered G37 Convertible in right-hand drive form, the first example ever produced. The car's appearance at Goodwood will be particularly momentous for the two British Infiniti engineers who will drive it as they have worked on the Infiniti Europe project since it started. Offered in a choice of two comprehensively equipped models, both featuring a metal three-piece folding roof, the 320PS G37 Convertible has been designed without compromise to look as beautiful with the top up as it does down. Which is hopefully the position where it will stay for the entirety of the weekend...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jon 5:22PM (6/27/2009)
it only looks good from the rear
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adam1drift 5:54PM (6/27/2009)
yeah... I'll disagree with that...
Pengwin 6:40PM (6/27/2009)
+1, car is pretty decently good looking.
AUTOMANIAC 7:26PM (6/27/2009)
it looks very good.....like a maserati gt...
tuxchown 7:45PM (6/27/2009)
I think it's the prettiest Japanese car I have ever seen. And that is a lot coming from me because I do not like Japanese cars.
Craig 8:10AM (6/28/2009)
The shapes at the front are very Mazda conceptish
xtasi 5:37PM (6/27/2009)
It has some Aston Martin lines.... This could be a great halo car for infinity, since GTR is Nissan only.
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zamafir 11:42AM (6/28/2009)
Yup, drop a detuned version of the GT-R setup in it, work on at least matching audi on the interior design and quality, and charge a boat load for it. I often don't understand where Nissan's coming from. Waiting a decade to bring the cube over after the market is saturated, this, I dunno. I understand there's not infinite money there, or boat loads to the extent that companies like VW can just toss out a blusport roadster at will, but something like this would be very very nice for the brand indeed.
poematik14 9:28PM (6/28/2009)
Japanese people are out of touch with Western tastes and preferences. This is mainly from the leftover bitterness of WW2 combined with the fact that their culture is nauseatingly xenophobic. What you find attractive is not the same as what they do, and thus, this spills over into Nissan/Honda/etc sales decisions.
chungdaniels 5:51PM (6/27/2009)
I don't like where they put the front emblem...
might look nicer on the hood?
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Enigmatic 5:52PM (6/27/2009)
Looks stunning from side and rear profiles, but that front has gotta go. Looks like an angry amphibian or something.
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patrick 5:55PM (6/27/2009)
The tech and design is beyond way beyond Aston Martin's one-77. I do agree there are physical similarities. The curves, the creases, the pure form of the Essence sublime.
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eb110americana 5:56PM (6/27/2009)
"Essence made jaws drop with its commanding size, beautiful lines..."
You guys seriously need to get your eyes checked. This thing is over-over-over-designed with lumps, lines, and bulges in all the wrong places. It takes a special kind of talent to begin with the sultry proportions of a long hood, short rear deck, low, wide sportscar and screw it up this badly. It looks like a fat sagging pig with naive and immature detailing wherever it would possibly fit. Thank goodness this thing will never see production.
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/Pig%20head.jpg
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paul 6:22PM (6/27/2009)
if you don't like it doesnt mean it's ugly. I think it looks quite beautiful
airswingman 7:16PM (6/27/2009)
are u from india or what? why u trying to hate everything...........
Jake B 7:45PM (6/27/2009)
Yeah right chud
simran 6:46PM (6/27/2009)
I would honestly trade in my f430 for this car.....words cant describe how beautiful i think this work of art is.
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Anthony 7:20PM (6/27/2009)
it looks like the tesla model s.
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thomas 2:15AM (6/28/2009)
it looks nothing like the model S
it looks like an infiniti.
hey look at that.....
Aki 7:41PM (6/27/2009)
The car looks amazing. I guess it's not bland enough for production.
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