INFINITI QX65 Monograph: A Bold Sportback SUV Concept Inspired by the Trailblazing Spirit of the FX
At Monterey Car Week’s prestigious The Quail event, INFINITI unveiled a concept that embodies the brand’s next bold chapter. The QX65 Monograph is a provocative sportback SUV concept that extends the company’s design philosophy, Artistry in Motion, into the midsize, two-row segment. With dramatic proportions, elevated detailing, and a daring fastback silhouette, the QX65 Monograph not only pays homage to INFINITI’s innovative past but also signals the brand’s confident step into its future.
A Tribute to the FX Legacy
Few vehicles have had as much influence on INFINITI’s design identity as the FX SUV, which debuted in the early 2000s. At the time, the FX challenged conventional SUV design by blending coupe-like proportions with athletic stance and luxury refinement, carving out a segment of its own. The QX65 Monograph draws from this daring lineage, echoing the same spirit of unapologetic innovation and boundary-pushing aesthetics.
“QX65 Monograph has extraordinary character, combining inspiration from our innovative FX coupe SUV with Artistry in Motion design principles to create a stylish two-row that proudly stands apart in the cluttered midsize luxury space,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Senior Vice President for Global Design. “It’s sculpted with an underlying sense of speed and elegance, blended with muscular and strong proportions – all headlined by the expectation-defying fastback roof silhouette.”
The FX DNA is visible not just in the coupe-like stance, but also in the willingness to disrupt established design tropes in the midsize luxury SUV segment. Just as the FX did two decades ago, the QX65 Monograph is designed to redefine expectations.
A Statement of Intent
INFINITI executives describe the QX65 Monograph as more than just a concept—it’s a design manifesto. For the brand, it represents a clear signal that the company is moving decisively into a new era of luxury mobility.
“QX65 Monograph is more than a concept — it’s a signal that INFINITI is moving decisively into its next era,” said Tiago Castro, Vice President, INFINITI Americas. “It builds on our rich legacy of innovation, pushes our design language forward and reinforces that we’re not slowing down. With QX65, we’re expanding our portfolio with purpose and shaping the bold, confident future of INFINITI.”
The unveiling comes at a pivotal moment for INFINITI, as the brand continues to evolve its lineup to match changing consumer expectations while reinforcing its position in the premium SUV market.
Confidently Extraordinary: Exterior Design
The first striking feature of the QX65 Monograph is its fastback roofline. The roofline arches powerfully over the body before plunging toward the rear, creating a dynamic silhouette that exudes speed and motion. This design element, central to INFINITI’s Artistry in Motion philosophy, gives the SUV a coupe-inspired character rarely seen in the midsize luxury segment.
The fastback roof contrasts sharply with the robust lower body, where the wheels are pushed to the corners and the fenders are pronounced, giving the SUV a planted, confident stance. Unlike the vertical, upright posture of many midsize SUVs, the QX65 embraces horizontal design lines, reinforcing width and stability.
One of the standout design elements is its paint finish. The concept wears a satin color-shifting paint called Twilight, an evolution of the Akane shade previously featured on the QX80 Monograph. Twilight evokes the fleeting transition between sunset and night, shifting from a reddish-purple to shimmering gold depending on the angle of light. Achieved through a multi-layered paint process, the finish adds a sense of depth, warmth, and sophistication to the SUV’s sculpted surfaces.
The Twilight body color is contrasted with gloss black roof rails and wheels, while bronze accents highlight key areas, including the spear tracing the dramatic roofline and the intricate grille. This mix of finishes gives the QX65 Monograph a crafted, jewelry-like richness.
Daringly Dynamic: The Front Design
From the front, the QX65 Monograph projects an unmistakable sense of power and aggression. Its bold grille reinterprets INFINITI’s established motif inspired by Japanese bamboo forests. However, in this concept, the designers went further—crafting a wilder texture that evokes bamboo forests stirred by a storm. This layered, storm-like design centers around a three-dimensional INFINITI emblem, underscoring the SUV’s unapologetic character.
Adding to its drama is the digital piano key lighting that stretches across nearly the full width of the front fascia. These LEDs, already a signature of INFINITI design, give the SUV a futuristic character while enhancing its wide stance. When illuminated in sequence, they create a dazzling light display inspired by the Japanese notion of Kabuku—the extraordinary and unexpected.
Elevated Details and Precision Craftsmanship
What makes the QX65 Monograph remarkable is not only its bold form but also the precision in its details. The sculpted fastback roofline is accentuated by a delicate bronze spear, emphasizing the coupe-like flow of the design.
The 22-inch wheels embody the same philosophy. Each wheel features intricately layered spokes that twist and interweave, mimicking the sensation of movement even when the vehicle is stationary. These elements reveal themselves gradually, rewarding close inspection and sparking curiosity among onlookers.
Aeronautical Inspiration: The Rear Design
The rear of the QX65 Monograph continues the theme of movement and aerodynamics. The full-width LED taillight array projects dramatically outward from the body, its vertical fins recalling the tailfins of jet aircraft. These details enhance the SUV’s futuristic and high-performance image.
In contrast, the rest of the rear design is understated, with smooth surfaces and clean sculpting. This balance between bold lighting and restrained bodywork reflects INFINITI’s careful blending of artistry with modern aerodynamics.
A Vision of INFINITI’s Future
The QX65 Monograph demonstrates INFINITI’s renewed confidence in pushing design boundaries. While it is a concept, it also hints strongly at future production intent. The SUV embodies a balance of muscular stance, dynamic elegance, and precision detailing, all crafted to resonate with luxury buyers who value individuality in a crowded marketplace.
By building upon the legacy of the FX while advancing the brand’s modern design language, INFINITI has created a concept that connects past, present, and future. It’s a powerful statement that the brand intends to stand apart in the midsize SUV segment, offering an alternative for customers who crave distinctiveness, craftsmanship, and boldness.
