Infiniti’s New Electric Concept Is a Glimpse at the Future of Auto Design

Wow.

Infiniti is continuing its mission to define itself to customers in a heatedly competitive premium car market with the debut at the 2018 Monterey Car Week of the all-electric Prototype 10 concept car that informs the brand’s styling and technical directions.

While the company cites classic California speedsters — old Ford Model As and their ilk stripped to the bare essentials and raced on dry lakes such as the Bonneville Salt Flats — as inspiration, the Prototype 10 is a distinctly contemporary design, with crisp, clean lines wrapping its electric drivetrain.

“The Infiniti Prototype 10 echoes the layout and design of early speedsters,” noted Karim Habib, Infiniti’s executive design director. “This period saw the creation of some of the most evocative car designs of all time, where power was celebrated through high-powered single-seat competition cars.”

“Our new concept speaks of an electrified future, something which is reflected in its form and details,”he continued. “It is appropriate that we found inspiration in an optimistic bygone era in which cars were characterized by the simple love of driving.”

Infiniti is providing no details on the concept’s proposed battery-electric drivetrain, but says that the configuration is important because all of the brand’s cars will feature some level of electrification by 2021.