Infiniti electric sports car concept (2012) teased

Infiniti has trailed a new range-extending electric sports car concept - a long way ahead of its planned debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show.

The company already plans an electric Infiniti to piggyback the EV learnings from parent firm Nissan, whose Leaf is the first mainstream electric car built from scratch. But this new sports car will pack a range-extender system, with a petrol or diesel engine to charge the battery when charge gets low.

Not a huge amount. We hear it's a mid-engined two-seater, which suggests Infiniti is about to ramp up its product offerings. So far, the models have been quite US-centric, but if the company is to achieve its ambitious growth targets it'll have to deliver cars aimed at Europe and the rest of the world too.

Sounds to us like an edgy sports car could be just the ticket to get people to take Infiniti seriously. And press home its connection with Red Bull Racing.

These first teaser photos reveal complex form language emphasising the 'curves' obsessed over in the latest advertising communications. And that lush molten metal paint job reminds us somewhat of the Infiniti Essence concept car from 2009.

Indeed it does, with a similar gunwhale boating feel to the as-yet-unnamed car's hips.

From these rather limited first photographs, we can see it's a sports coupe, but can tell little else about it at this stage.

Andy Palmer, executive vice president at Nissan and Infiniti, said: 'At the Geneva show next year, we will present our vision for a totally new kind of inspired premium performance car.

'Infiniti already has hybrid and clean diesel models on sale. And with an all-electric sedan on the way, the natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect.'

See Palmer talking about the new electric range-extender concept car in the video below.

By Tim Pollard