Infiniti To Introduce EV in 2014, Based on Nissan LEAF

The Infinity Essence, Precursor To EV?









Now we see that the Infinity brand wants to hop on the electrification bandwagon and is announcing a model slated for 2014. 2014? Huh? That is four years from now and represents an Infinity in terms of technological advances (pun intended, sorry). Who knows, in four years automobiles could be propelled by nuclear reactors or even flux capacitors (Back to the Future model). Nevertheless, we are thrilled to see yet another player in the EV marketplace. Electric cars should represent the future as the infrastructure is already in place with 110 volt outlets being ubiquitous.

What is puzzling about this announcement is the timeline. If they are basing the new EV upon the Nissan Leaf, which will be released this year, then why would it take four years to bring the more upscale Infinity model to market? All the hard work is already finished.

From Gas2.0:

According to a report on the Top Gear website, the much-anticipated Infiniti performance electric car won’t arrive until 2014. This comes even after previous suggestions from Nissan that we might see it as early as 2012. Top Gear is also reporting that the Infiniti EV will be based on the Nissan LEAF platform but have completely different styling and upgraded performance.

Although the above pic is of the Infiniti Essence concept unveiled in Geneva, the styling is indicative of where Infiniti has been headed as of late. Because the Infiniti EV will be based on the LEAF platform, you can expect it to be Infiniti’s smallest car. Although there is no official comment from Nissan on this revelation, Nissan has always stated that their Infiniti EV would be based on LEAF technology.

Back in October, Nissan’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn, said that a concept Infiniti EV is being developed for a “stylish, compact, high performance four-seat luxury Infiniti with zero emissions” that matches up to Infiniti’s hallmark of “inspired performance.”

According to Top Gear, when they asked “the boss of Infiniti” why Infiniti is choosing to take the path of smaller, more affordable EVs rather than the ultra-expensive supercar EVs like Audi with its e-tron, this unnamed individual responded “We’re not doing EVs for a limited number of people. We want lots of buyers quickly, so we are making a family car. We have no intention to make a niche EV. Besides, big vehicles are too heavy for today’s batteries, which is why our car will be compact.”

Take this report for what it’s worth, considering there are no named sources. 2014 seems like a long way away for a company that wants to dominate the EV market from upscale to everyman. Perhaps they meant the Infiniti EV would be released in Britain in 2014? I’ll bet we see a release in the US as soon as 2012 for an Infiniti-branded EV. We might even see the concept at next week’s New York Auto Show.