Infiniti’s QX80 Monograph concept debuts with bolder, more aggressive styling

By Stephen Edelstein Updated April 12, 2017

Nissan’s Infiniti luxury brand has tried to go head to head with the Germans in the sporty luxury car sector, but now the Japanese automaker is focusing on a different area of the market.

Debuting ahead of the 2017 New York Auto Show, the Infiniti QX80 Monograph concept previews the next version of Infiniti’s QX80 full-size SUV. Infiniti won’t say exactly when the next QX80 will arrive, but when it does you can bet the big SUV will feature some styling elements from this concept.

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The Monograph retains much of the current QX80’s boxy, traditional SUV styling, but with some more unorthodox elements that bring it closer to Infiniti’s cars and crossovers. The more sculpted grille and headlights show DNA from the Q60 coupe and QX30 pseudo-crossover. The front bumper is more aggressive than anything currently seen on large luxury SUVs, with massive side air intakes and a lower element that juts out from the rest of the front end, giving the QX80 a bad case of underbite.

It will be hard for anything on the New York Auto Show floor to rival the QX80 Monograph when it comes to bling. The SUV concept rides on 24-inch wheels, with rims that wrap around the tires to give the appearance of 26-inchers. A more subtle touch is the pair of rearview cameras in place of exterior mirrors. That isn’t allowed by U.S. regulations, although carmakers wish it was, owing to the potential aerodynamic benefits.

The current QX80 shares a platform with the Nissan Armada, and both models stem from the Nissan Patrol sold overseas. While both the QX80 and Armada are marketed more as luxury cruisers in the vein of the Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator, the Patrol has built a reputation over several decades as a competent off-roader. It’s basically Nissan’s equivalent of the Range Rover.

While many customers likely cross-shop the QX80 with Land Rover’s flagship, it’s unlikely that Infiniti will start emphasizing off-road ability. Infiniti did not release any mechanical specifications for the QX80 Monograph, as it wants to keep the emphasis on the design. That design will likely transition to the next-generation QX80 production model Infiniti also said it will continue to use the “Monograph” name in the future.

Update on 4-11-2017 by Stephen Edelstein: Added more photos and design details

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Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
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But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

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