Infiniti pulled the wraps off the QX Sport Inspiration crossover concept, previewing the styling direction for the premium brand's critical utility lineup.

 

The concept, unveiled ahead of the Beijing motor show, showcases the brand's "Powerful Elegance" design language, which features flowing sculptural lines and strong, muscular proportions.

 

Infiniti says the concept points to the looks of a next-generation midsize SUV. Elements could appear in the updated QX70, which is expected to get a redesign around 2018, or the smaller QX50, which just had its chassis reengineered to lengthen the body but hasn't undergone a redesign since 2007.

 

"The QX Sport Inspiration is a statement of intent from Infiniti, showcasing a daring design philosophy and a demonstration of our capabilities in the midsize SUV segment," Infiniti President Roland Krueger said in a statement.

 

The concept advances several Infiniti design traits.

 

Up front, it gets the double-arch grille and "human eye" headlamps with a flourish of feathery jeweled lighting reminiscent of eyelashes. The side paneling gets undulating sheet metal and a strong character line and brake vents.

 

The short front and rear overhangs emphasize its sporty image.

 

Toward the rear, Infiniti updates its crescent-cut pillar to give the leading edge of the crescent a raised look for a more angular and dynamic feel. Blade-shaped taillights and massive dual-exhaust ports round out the performance feel in back.

 

"The exterior design will appeal to an artistic sensibility," Infiniti Executive Design Director Alfonso Albaisa said. "It has a more flowing, natural aesthetic than that evident in traditional premium SUVs."

 

Infiniti is introducing the QX Inspiration Concept in China to tap the county's booming demand for crossovers.

 

Soaring sales of crossovers and SUVs in China powered a 6.8 percent increase in the country's passenger vehicle sales in the January-March quarter, pushing volume to 5.67 million units.

 

Sales of SUVs are forecast to increase 13 percent this year in China, outpacing overall market growth, according to IHS Automotive. Their local market share in China has climbed to 30 percent today, up from 10 percent in 2010, it said.

 

Domestic Chinese brands, leveraging lower sticker prices, are increasingly grabbing a bigger slice of the country's SUV market. But IHS Automotive expects international brands to remain the top players in the premium and luxury segments.

 

The Americas are Infiniti's biggest market. The brand's sales there grew 14 percent to 147,609 vehicles in 2015.

 

But China is a rapidly rising No. 2. Sales in China surged 34 percent to 40,188 last year. Globally, Infiniti posted a 16 percent increase in sales to 215,250 vehicles in 2015.