The latest generation of the midsize Infiniti M sedan is sleek and curvy with more than a little styling inspiration from the even sleeker and curvier Infiniti Essence concept coupe. Sources close to Infiniti tell us that that a production coupe is under serious consideration among Nissan executives.
The sketches being traded around the higher ranks of the company depict an upscale two-door that looks a great like the Essence -- and a great deal like the coupe in these renderings. The 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 sedan already have the nose of the Essence, and on the coupe, designers are doing their best to preserve the concept's other provocative styling cues -- the scalloped rear quarter windows and the unusually shaped fender vents.
Look for Infiniti offer both an M56 coupe (as shown above) and an M37 coupe (after the jump), likely with a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. The company's seven-speed automatic transmission would be standard across the board, and you can count on Infiniti offering a sport package with a stiffer suspension tune and larger wheels and brakes.
While having a midsize coupe in the lineup might seem like a frivolity in the current economy, it's a niche that Infiniti will eventually need to fill to increase its market share in the luxury class. The Infiniti M37 and M56 would go toe-to-toe with the Audi A5/S5, BMW 6 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes, with pricing most closely matching the Benz.
Of course, all these model lines include a convertible as well, so if Infiniti does go ahead and build an M coupe, a four-seat, drop-top version can't be far behind.
Renderings: Nick Wilcox
And here are a few images of the Essence concept to refresh your memory:
inlinesix says:
05:49 PM, 05/14/10
that c-pillar is no good
sgude says:
06:46 PM, 05/14/10
Ummmm, no. This will take a while to grow on me. It would be bold of Infiniti to try it though.
subaru123 says:
09:00 PM, 05/14/10
That is the most beautifully ugly thing in the whole world.
billt9 says:
10:10 PM, 05/14/10
ugly chop.
good essence.
estreka says:
05:27 AM, 05/15/10
I think it looks great. It has a certain Maserati quality to it.
ed124c says:
08:09 AM, 05/15/10
Anything that reduces rear visibility is design excess. And does Infiniti really want that backward curl in the c-pillar to define the style of the entire car? I hope not.
Having said that, If I cover the curl with a finger (top photo) it looks like any other upscale coupe. So, I don't know.
inlinesix says:
09:49 AM, 05/15/10
Ed124c, yeah you nailed it.
greenpony says:
05:15 AM, 05/16/10
Egad! The concept is sexy. The rendering looks like the artist put Infiniti touches on a Crapmaro.
jayrandall says:
08:34 PM, 05/16/10
Please tell me these side vents will be come to the 2nd Gen FX.
sixwheeler says:
10:19 PM, 05/16/10
If it's going to look like this, NO!
bruceleroy81 says:
10:58 PM, 05/16/10
All I'll say is...is that if they build this, it better come in a V-8 only. Because a V-6 version of this would defeat the purpose of the G37 coupe. I'd much rather get the G coupe anyway.
But if any case, I'd much rather prefer the new Infiniti Essence over this M coupe.
bigmuggle says:
01:24 AM, 05/17/10
No, they should not build it, and no, you should not be in the business of doing photoshop hatchet jobs.
piredon says:
05:30 AM, 05/17/10
"But if any case, I'd much rather prefer the new Infiniti Essence over this M coupe." - bruceleroy81
nuff said
jgcl2005 says:
06:27 AM, 05/17/10
Wow that M Coupe is ugly as sin. It is almost insulting that Nissan would make such an gorgeous concept like the essence, then flip us the bird and hawk this mutt...Come on...look at that sad attempt to incorporate styling cues from the essence.
stingray454 says:
07:55 AM, 05/17/10
The Cadillac CTS Coupe looks much better, and the CTS-V Coupe blows it (and every other luxury coupe) away. So Infiniti would lose with this before they even got out of the gate.
drjohn43 says:
09:12 AM, 05/17/10
"If you build it, they won't come."
cr_driver says:
09:41 AM, 05/17/10
"Wow that M Coupe is ugly as sin"
+100
deadviper says:
09:42 AM, 05/17/10
Need a nose shot before rendering a final judgment, but the side view isn't encouraging. That window scallop looks like a botched attempt at Hyundai's genesis coupe scallop and that's NOT a vibe you want to get from a luxury GT coupe car.
The Essence's nose is butt-ass ugly. Hope thats not the direction their going in.
myob says:
09:55 AM, 05/17/10
I'm curious. Why the flood of coupes recently, especially ones built on sedan platforms? Is there some demographic shift that calls for it? The styling "improvements" come at the cost of rear seat leg and head room, trunk space sometimes, and ease of access.
rickallen says:
10:31 AM, 05/17/10
If you change that rear window...maybe. If I put my thumb over that disgusting design element it's almost like the Audi A5 and Maserati made a baby. That rear window is useless, ugly, and just plain ruins the whole car. It could have the most amazing engine, driving dynamics, luxury, whatever...but all anyone is going to see is that damn window.
iskch says:
10:43 AM, 05/17/10
The M coupe needs more "Essence lines". Other than that is going to look bland I.M.O
men3z says:
10:44 AM, 05/17/10
They should just build the Essence. Polarizing, outrageous, sexy, and it doesn't look like most new coupes that look just like chopped sedans. High price, limited production halo car with styling and driving dynamic elements trickling down throughout the lineup. Should they build the M Coupe? Yeah, go ahead and build that, too.
vikasdesai says:
11:59 AM, 05/17/10
as a proud owner of an m56, i can say the car looks great, but it needs more essence and less m56, it also needs to weigh 3700 pounds , only then will it steal sales from the 6-series, the grand turismo, e550 coupe, the fact is the infiniti has to be better than those cars to compete, otherwise,it will be lost in the crowd because my m56 is a good looking car but not really a head turner.. I think it can do well, lexus was very succesful with their sc series, until it became a blob, the 1990's sc400 still looks awesome, I say infiniti should do it, but focus on styling first, because a coupe is always an emotional purchase
ptcdawg says:
12:14 PM, 05/17/10
There has been ONE real good looking Japanese Coupe to my eyes...the original Lexus SC. It would even be had with a REAL manual transmission in 6 cylinder form.
flwind says:
12:31 PM, 05/17/10
Pointless, being that this is just what some Insideline photoshoper thinks it could look like. That being said it is fugly. Note to Insideline, stick to writing articles not photoshoping imaginary cars because not only is it stupid, you aren't very good at it.
flwind says:
12:32 PM, 05/17/10
Pointless, being that this is just what some Insideline photoshoper thinks it could look like. That being said it is fugly. Note to Insideline, stick to writing articles not photoshoping imaginary cars because not only is it stupid, you aren't very good at it.
jacel says:
04:14 PM, 05/17/10
No one wants a car that looks like a successful design but not quite as good. People want the Essence not some cheap simplified version. If they can not deliver the essence then go back to the drawing board and draw a good looking coupe and produce that. Do not say hmm I wan't a coupe that this nose and this window... oh wait but then the wheels look to small for it... oh well at least it has some of the "essence".
j2j says:
08:06 PM, 05/17/10
Not bad - while not perfect, still has better lines than the sedan (which is way too bulbous).
mrsampson says:
05:31 AM, 05/18/10
that rear end has too much genesis for my taste
tx8 says:
04:10 PM, 05/19/10
if it looks like the concept sure, but if it is going to be that ugly thing above it then infiniti will lose money