Is This The First Teaser Of The Infiniti QX30 Crossover?

Yesterday Infiniti released the first teaser heralding an all new addition to the lineup coming at the 2014 Paris Auto Show in October. Although we only have this single image to go on, the timing of the unveiling and a few pre-existing rumors help paint a picture of what you can expect at the unveiling.

First, though, let’s get a good look at that teaser photo:

As you can see, all we have to go on is a darkened front grille with an unprecedented linear design, instead of the typical mesh grille we’ve come to expect from new Infiniti models. The lines around the grill are swoopy and well-defined, which leads us to believe that the car in question features an aggressive front-end, perhaps one that belongs on a smaller car.

With that in mind, let’s think about upcoming small cars in Infiniti’s lineup… The first one that comes to mind is last year’s Infiniti Q30 Concept (below), which the premium Japanese automaker has confirmed will begin production at the beginning of 2015. So, the Paris Motor Show car could be that production model.

But, Inifiti also hinted at a slightly larger crossover-version of the Inifiti Q30, which will reportedly begin production at the same time next year in Europe. The new compact crossover would be called the Infiniti QX30, and would be available in the US and Europe just like the new Q30.

Ultimately, it’s too soon to say exactly what this new Infiniti model will end up being. Depending on who you’re talking to, you might hear that it’ll be a large flagship SUV called the Infiniti Q80. Others will tell you that it’ll be the range-topping Porsche-rivalling coupe Infiniti has promised will come at some point. Or, it could be just about anything else… Infiniti recently committed to expanding their lineup by 60% over the next five years, which leaves us with a lot of possibilities.

Whatever it is, though, one thing is for sure: this is going to be a very important car for Nissan’s premium marque. The only statement that they made with the teaser is that, “Soon, Infiniti will share a vision – its soul – on a scale not seen before by the company.” Take that however you like, but it sure sounds important. We’ll keep you updated as it gets closer to the 2014 Paris Auto Show in a couple months.