Update (March 4, 2024): Engine details added.
The gas-only second-gen Infiniti QX80, the sixth-gen Nissan Patrol’s upmarket cousin introduced in 2010, has long been in the tooth. The redesigned next-gen Infiniti QX80 is debuting on March 20, 2024, to replace the 14-year-old model, and electrification feels inevitable at some point during its lifecycle.
Hybrid for the Infiniti QX80
Ivan Espinosa, the head of global product strategy and product planning at Nissan, has indicated that a Nissan Patrol Hybrid (Nissan Armada Hybrid for the U.S. audience) could arrive in the future, as per a report Australia’s Drive published on October 26, 2023. Just for reference, a next-gen Nissan Patrol is also due in 2024, and any electrification technology introduced on the new Nissan SUV would be available to the next-gen Infiniti QX80.
The potential Nissan Patrol Hybrid and Infiniti QX80 Hybrid would have a series-hybrid powertrain. That powertrain technology, called ‘e-Power’ at Nissan, is currently limited to 1.2-, 1.4-, and 1.5-liter engines. Such systems would be too weak for a full-size SUV like an Armada Hybrid or QX80 Hybrid. Referring to the 1.5-liter engine specifically, Espinosa said that it “is not capable of moving an animal the size of a Patrol,” so a larger unit is required to be developed.
Espinosa briefly indicated the possibility of borrowing a plug-in hybrid powertrain from Renault or Mitsubishi. Concluding the discussion, he said that the immediate priority is to release the next-gen Patrol, and then electrification can be done over the course of its lifecycle.
Considering the target markets of the next-gen Nissan Patrol and the next-gen Infiniti QX80 and their positioning, we wouldn’t be surprised if the latter gets electrified first. For now, it’s certain that the Japanese automaker’s flagship luxury SUV will be a gas-only model at launch, with the company confirming a VR35DDT 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, putting out 450 horsepower and 515 lb-ft of torque.
Design & Interior
The next-gen Nissan Infiniti QX80 will closely resemble the Infiniti QX Monograph concept. It would have a familiar shape but with more striking details like split headlamps and a full-width tail lamp. These lights should play animated welcome and farewell sequences. We expect the exterior features to include animated turn signals, a panoramic roof, and a kick-activated tailgate as well.
Inside, the next-gen QX80 should have changes such as a sleeker dashboard, a more elegant steering wheel, a fully digital instrument cluster, and a more advanced touchscreen infotainment system. It will be available with a 24-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System that includes titanium tweeters, an 8-inch TriPower subwoofer, and a 24-channel amplifier.
Price
The next-gen Nissan Infiniti QX80 will likely begin reaching at U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2024, with prices starting at around USD 77,000. The full-size SUV will feature a twin-turbo V6 gas engine at launch, and eventually gain electrified powertrain options.
I got my Master’s in Business Management & Administration and have been an International Automotive News Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to global motor shows and automotive events, driven various types of vehicles, and focused on hybrid and electric cars in the last 4 years.
