The Japanese have decided to postpone the debut of the previously announced "hot" new model by about a year. The estimated price is already known.
Nissan's premium brand Infiniti has been producing its full-size SUV since 2004, although it was originally introduced under the index QX56. The second generation appeared in 2010, and four years later the model underwent a facelift, during which it was renamed QX80. In March 2024, the current third-generation SUV was unveiled, and in August 2025, the lineup was expanded with the Sport variant – featuring its own characteristics but standard technical specifications.
It is worth noting that the current SUV is equipped with a 456-horsepower 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 gasoline engine, with a maximum torque of 700 Nm. The engine is paired with a nine-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission, with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Nevertheless, the company had previously seriously considered producing a "performance" version of the Infiniti QX80 with a more powerful setup.
The result of these explorations were two concepts. Thus, in August 2025, the Japanese brand presented the Infiniti QX80 Track Spec. This show car was equipped with the same twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, but with a different turbocharging system and a revised exhaust system. As a result, the engine's maximum power increased to 659 hp, and torque to 1016 Nm.
The second concept – the Infiniti QX80 R-Spec – was shown in October last year. It was fitted with a modified 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine from the VR38DETT series, which the show car inherited from the Nissan GT-R Nismo. The engine received Garrett G-series turbochargers, a Motec engine management system, an air intake with two front intercoolers, ETS exhaust manifolds, and an improved fuel system. The result was an increase in output from 608 to 1014 hp.
As previously reported, the production "performance" SUV will be called the QX80 Red Sport. It is worth recalling that such a name suffix was previously used, for example, on the Infiniti Q50 sedan, which was retired in 2024, but the manufacturer is currently continuing to prepare its successor. According to unconfirmed data, the engine output of the Infiniti QX80 Red Sport was expected to be around 608 hp, plus it was promised improved dynamics.
Moreover, the "hot" modification was originally planned to appear in December 2026. However, it has now become known that the debut timeline for the "performance" new model will likely shift: as reported by Automotive News, the release date of the Infiniti QX80 Red Sport will most likely be delayed by more than a year. The company explained this by the need to revise the project for the upcoming new model.
"We know we only have one chance to make a first impression when it comes to this type of product," Infiniti Americas head Eric Ledieu told the agency. "When we started working on the project, we realized that power alone is not enough." Incidentally, it is expected that the power of the "hot" version's engine will be higher than the previously assumed 608 hp. Additionally, the QX80 Red Sport will likely receive improvements to the chassis, braking system, as well as changes in exterior and interior design.
According to preliminary data, the Infiniti QX80 Red Sport will be approximately $30,000 more expensive compared to the "standard" QX80 Sport trim. As of today, in one of the model's key markets, the United States, the price of such an SUV is $103,285 (equivalent to approximately 8.07 million rubles at the current exchange rate). This means that purchasing the Red Sport variant would cost around $133,300 (approximately 10.4 million rubles).
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