Infiniti has released the first images of its QX50 midsize SUV ahead of its debut at the Detroit Motor Show.

The new concept builds on the QX Sport Inspiration shown at the 2016 Beijing Show.

The new concept builds on the QX Sport Inspiration shown at the 2016 Beijing Motor Show and shows how it could be adapted for a future production model.

Roland Krueger, president of Infiniti, said: “With the unveiling of the QX Sport Inspiration at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show, we showed the future of Infiniti QX models. The new QX50 Concept evolves this concept further and shows how Infiniti could develop its future presence in the fastest-growing vehicle segment globally.”

Infiniti has not revealed the interior but says it brings a ‘driver-centric, passenger-minded’ cabin.

The QX50 Concept also brings semi-autonomous drive technologies that preview the first production-ready version of a package that will be further developed in future production models.

The brand said the technologies will act as a ‘co-pilot’ for the driver, empowering rather than replacing them, and ‘delegate’ more onerous driving tasks to the car – such as navigating stop-start traffic on the motorway or keeping track of the positions of surrounding vehicles.

The concept also demonstrates a potential application for Infiniti’s VC-Turbo technology, marked out as the first production-ready variable compression ratio engine. The technology has been engineered to combine the power of a high-performance 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with around a 27% improvement in fuel efficiency.

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