INFINITI Ethrea | Infiniti Ethrea: Birth of the First Compact 5-Door Model

INFINITI Ethrea

INFINITI's First Compact Premium Car Debuts

INFINITI, Nissan's premium brand for overseas markets, unveiled the "Ethrea," a compact and luxurious concept model, at the Geneva Motor Show.

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A Luxury Car Aimed at Younger Customers

The development objective of this Ethrea is to introduce a compact model positioned below INFINITI's G line of coupe and sedan segments.

As Toru Saito, Nissan Motor Corporation's Executive Officer in charge of the Global INFINITI (and Luxury) Business Unit, stated, "It's a luxury car aimed at younger customers." It was created with the goal of establishing a new segment that surpasses rivals, while upholding the traditions of a premium brand.

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Designed under the direction of Shiro Nakamura, Nissan Motor Corporation's Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, this vehicle is INFINITI's first 5-door model, blending characteristics of coupe, sedan, hatchback, and crossover body styles to meet diverse needs. Its body surface possesses a sculptural solidity.

2.5-Liter Engine + Electric Motor Hybrid System Adopted

Only the overall length has been announced, approximately 4,400mm, making it about 350mm more compact than the current INFINITI G Sedan at 4,775mm. However, INFINITI states that comfort has been ensured through an innovative layout and features such as a panoramic roof.

Regarding other design elements, it adopts a crescent-shaped C-pillar, similar to the "INFINITI Essence" concept model unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

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However, the Ethrea is a new model that represents the future direction of INFINITI vehicles. It utilizes materials unique to Japan and offers a distinct finish that reinterprets Japanese values.

Specific details announced at this premiere concern the powertrain: a hybrid system combining a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder supercharged engine with an electric motor. This system is also capable of zero emissions.

That concludes the specifications. INFINITI has also commented on its future marketing strategy. Currently, INFINITI sells in 19 countries, primarily in Europe, China, the Middle East, and Russia. However, by 2013, the company plans to expand its market reach to 25 countries, focusing mainly on Southeast Asia, with a sales target of over 145,000 units per month. INFINITI will launch its vehicles in Indonesia within the next two weeks and begin sales in Singapore within six months.