Infiniti previews new sports car concept for Geneva 2012

This is our second glimpse of a new range-extender sports car concept that Infiniti will unveil at the 2012 Geneva motor show in March; it's already been teased once before.

You're right there. Infiniti hasn’t released much information about its new sports car concept, but we do know it’ll have a 1.2-litre petrol engine. The car will usually run on electric power, but when the batteries are out of juice the engine will start up to charge them.

And the powertrain is mounted in the middle of the concept car. ‘It is the best, most rational way to distribute the weight, and achieve a high level of handling and performance,’ said Infiniti’s advanced product planning boss Francois Bancon.

Besides the powertrain, the concept car is also previewing Infiniti's future design direction. Expect something as gorgeous as the Essence concept, with trick doors and a few extra slats and vents to help cool the batteries.

‘This sports car is about exploring what we think is next,’ said Infiniti’s vice president Andy Palmer. ‘At the Geneva show we will present our vision for a totally new kind of inspired premium performance car. With an all-electric sedan on the way, the natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect’. Infiniti's first EV is based on Nissan's Leaf EV. 

Watch Infiniti's vice president Andy Palmer discuss the company's new sports car concept 

Watch Infiniti's head of advanced product planning Francois Bancon discuss the company's new sports car concept 

By Ben Pulman