The Infiniti Etherea was a concept car shown at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It was a front-wheel-drive compact five-door hatchback, close in size and idea to the Lexus CT200h, and it used the platform of the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Mégane.
Infiniti Etherea at a glance
| Type | concept car |
|---|---|
| Shown | 2011 Geneva Motor Show |
| Maker | Infiniti (Nissan) |
| Body | five-door hatchback, five seats |
| Layout | front-wheel drive |
| Platform | Nissan Qashqai and Renault Mégane |
| Engine | supercharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol, 241 bhp |
| Electric motor | 33 bhp, lithium-ion battery |
| Length | 4,400 mm |
| Roof | glass |
| Rear doors | rear-hinged |
| Closest rival | Lexus CT200h |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Infiniti Etherea.
History of the Infiniti Etherea
Infiniti announced the Etherea at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show as a compact executive hatchback. The car was front-wheel drive and seated five, and its size and concept were not unlike those of the Lexus CT200h. It was built on the same platform as the Nissan Qashqai and the Renault Mégane.
The show car was powered by a supercharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 241 bhp (180 kW), helped by a 33 bhp (25 kW) electric motor fed from a lithium-ion battery and used to keep the car moving. The body was 4,400 mm long, had a glass roof, and used rear-hinged “suicide” doors to give easier access to the back seats.
Design and features
- Compact hatchback: a five-door body aimed at the small premium class rather than Infiniti’s usual saloons and crossovers.
- Electric assistance: a supercharged four-cylinder petrol engine worked with a lithium-ion battery and a small electric motor.
- Glass roof: the whole roof was glazed.
- Rear-hinged rear doors: the back doors opened backwards to open up the rear cabin.
Infiniti Etherea versions
- Etherea concept (2011): the single show car.
- Front-wheel drive: on the Qashqai and Mégane platform.
- Five-door hatchback body: as shown at Geneva.
- Glass roof and rear-hinged rear doors: the show configuration.
The Etherea’s headlights and double-arch grille fed into the design of the Infiniti Q50, and the small-car idea returned in the Q30 concept. More cars are in the Infiniti collection.
Video: Infiniti Etherea
Video by L’Automobile Magazine on YouTube.
Sources
- Infiniti Etherea, English Wikipedia: show debut, body, platform, powertrain, dimensions
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