Infiniti confirms Q30 concept unveil in Frankfurt

Infiniti is to unveil the Q30 concept C-segment hatchback at next month's Frankfurt motor show.

The Q30 concept, which has been previewed in a sketch, could be a pre-production version of the Etherea – first seen at the 2011 Geneva motor show –based on the same platform as the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. It's the carmaker's latest exploration into new premium segments and signifies an expansion of its product range as it moves to strengthen its global position.

The continuation of the Q classification confirms the carmaker's model new categorization. The sketch suggests the Q30 concept, like the Q50, integrates design cues from the previous Infiniti concepts – Essence, Etherea and Emerg-e.

"The Q30 concept is slender, sleek and seductive," said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti executive design director. "When you see speedy big cats, like cheetahs, they have a slenderness and a lightweight stride. It's almost like they're floating. That's the muscularity we were aiming for with Q30 Concept."

By Rufus Thompson