t seems Nissan has finally decided it’s time for Infiniti to rise again. After years of quiet momentum, the luxury brand is preparing a bold comeback built on fresh models, richer trims, and—yes—serious high-performance machines. The surprise? Infiniti is even bringing back a manual gearbox, despite openly admitting that “almost no one will buy it.” They’re building it anyway, simply because they can.
The Performance Revolution Starts Here
Infiniti is laying the groundwork for a new high-performance sub-brand, though the name remains a mystery. Nissan uses “Nismo,” of course, but the rumored Infmo label doesn’t seem to inspire anyone, least of all Infiniti fans. Whatever the final choice is, the brand wants something that sounds meaningful—and memorable.
The QX80 Has More to Give. A Lot More.
Christian Meunier, Nissan’s head of operations in the Americas, recalls driving the next-gen Infiniti QX80 for the first time and thinking one thing: this SUV deserves a performance version—and it can absolutely handle one.
He compares the idea to what Nissan achieved with the 2026 Patrol Nismo and its 460 hp. But he stresses that Infiniti needs to go far beyond modest upgrades: a few extra horses won’t cut it anymore.
And Infiniti has already shown what it’s capable of. The QX80 Track Spec concept delivered 650 hp and over 1,000 Nm of torque. Then the brand went even further at SEMA, unveiling the outrageous QX80 R-Spec—a 1,000-hp monster built around a GT-R engine, wearing wide-body fenders, dropped suspension, and that legendary Midnight Purple finish. A masterpiece—but destined to remain a show car.
Still, these prototypes weren’t built just for fun. They were built to send a message: Infiniti wants to be different, and it’s ready to prove it.
A 650-Horsepower Production QX80? The Study Is Underway.
Infiniti is now evaluating whether the QX80 Track Spec can become a real, road-legal production model. The brand knows customers want it. It also knows the engineering is completely feasible. But Infiniti wants to ensure that the end result doesn’t just look fast—it deserves to exist.
Ponz Pandikuthira, head of product planning for Nissan Americas, says Infiniti must “double the power” if it hopes to stand on the same stage as AMG, BMW M, Cadillac V, and Genesis Magma. That’s why earlier attempts like IPL—just 20 extra hp—or the Red Sport models, which only bumped the Q60 from 300 to 400 hp, never truly moved the needle.
Pandikuthira is convinced there’s a dedicated audience waiting for a 650-hp QX80 to take on the Cadillac Escalade-V. But he adds that such a model must also receive serious upgrades to brakes, suspension, and chassis tuning—not just bigger numbers on paper.
When Will We See Infiniti’s First True Performance Model?
According to the report, Infiniti will make a final decision next year about launching the new performance division. If the plan is approved, the QX80 Track Spec will lead the charge, arriving at dealerships roughly 12 to 18 months later.
And the Name? That’s Still Under Wraps.
Infiniti says the performance division won’t reuse an old badge or settle for a dull abbreviation. A shortlist already exists, and Nissan’s leadership has personal favorites. We’ll learn the final name once the decision is made, God willing.
