What does a Japanese eagle, an America's Cup yacht, and the works of a 1920s sculptor have in common? Each played a role in inspiring and influencing the INFINITI global design team, as they created their latest work, the Vision Qe concept. Fresh from its recent premiere in Tokyo, key members of the INFINITI global design team provide insights into the concept's inception and the diverse sources that inspired and influenced them.
Artistry in Motion
All upcoming models from INFINITI adhere to an evolved design language known as Artistry in Motion. This new design form aims to deliver products that seamlessly blend evocative, artful design with powerful yet graceful movement.
For the Vision Qe concept, INFINITI's global design team crafted a design embodying the philosophy of "Sho" to impart a sense of speed. Design Manager Hideo Komuro found a near-perfect example of "Sho" in the flying monohull sailboats of the America's Cup yacht race.
INFINITI Exterior Designer Kazuki Aoyama drew the initial design sketch for the Vision Qe, stating, "Everything is anchored around a single pure gesture. A single line flows from the INFINITI emblem at the front, along the bodyside, and accelerates towards the rear, and everything follows that line."
Team members studied Japanese eagles in flight, capturing photos of these powerful birds of prey in wildlife sanctuaries. Program Design Director Dai Sato explained, "While ideating on the Vision Qe concept's profile, they examined the streamlined shape an eagle makes when diving for prey - with its wings tucked back to reduce drag and maximize speed."
In the early stages of the project, the team developed a speed form: a model devoid of typical production details to explore the shape, profile, and proportions. Upon examining the sketches and speed form, Albaisa and Nakamura noted parallels between the lines and a powerful bird soaring in flight. For Albaisa, the shape also evoked images of Constantin Brancusi's influential "Bird in Space" sculpture. Albaisa challenged the team to "replicate the simplicity and purity of such a sculpture, while creating something visually powerful" by adhering to a single-line gesture and adding only essential elements when crafting the sleek fastback sedan's profile.
Deputy General Manager Gunda Matsumoto and Color Designer Hirofumi Akaike created the Vision Qe concept's Shadow blue paint. The overarching goal was twofold: develop a bespoke color that could help bring INFINITI's artistry in motion to life and leverage the philosophy of "Kabuku" to create a finish that elicits a sense of the extraordinary.
The designers also paid particular attention to the treatment of the concept's wheels, ensuring they offer a distinctive contrast from the dark blue body color. The team adjusted the level of gradation for the gold treatment on the wheels, increasing transparency from the outer to innermost area of the spokes. The result, says Akaike, is "a greater sense of dynamism."
Kenji Yamauchi, a digital and clay modeler within the global INFINITI design team, led the transformation from digital render to physical concept vehicle. Unlike typical design projects, the Vision Qe concept came to life without clay models. After finalizing the vehicle in digital form, Yamauchi created a scale rapid prototype model of the Vision Qe (approximately 50cm long) that allowed the team to examine the concept's character and proportions ahead of producing a full-scale model.
Designing for the EV Era
Designing any concept vehicle requires a team of dozens, but the core group responsible for the INFINITI Vision Qe consisted of nine. This core group of nine talented individuals drew on over 180 years of cumulative experience working for INFINITI and Nissan design. The team is responsible for an array of models, including the pioneering INFINITI FX, Q60 luxury coupe, and the recently revealed QX Monograph.
Each member who worked on the project expressed a desire for INFINITI's distinctive blend of artistry to leave an impactful impression.
The Vision Qe concept is currently on display at INFINITI's global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, and will make its motor show debut in 2024.
