4. Infiniti Essence concept car

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4. Infiniti Essence concept car

If you had any doubts about just how upmarket Infiniti is, then take a look at their Essence concept car, which has been created in conjunction with uber-upmarket luggage maker Louis Vuitton.

What's the point of it all? Well, company insiders say the Essence is a styling experiment that points the way to how a future performance car could look.

It is rear-wheel-drive and is powered by a petrol hybrid system which combines a twin-turbocharged 3.7-litre petrol V6 with an electric motor to produce up to 600bhp. It has a seven-speed paddle-shift gearbox, as already sold on the company's FX SUV.

The interior is also noteworthy for its controls, which are laid out in a hierarchy of how often they are used by most drivers.

Oh, and if you were wondering, Louis Vuitton's contribution is the bespoke set of cases that sit nicely in the luggage compartment.

Why it's so good The luggage tie-in is an unfortunate distraction from a concept car that looks great and signals an intriguing hybrid future for the Infiniti brand.

Infiniti Essence concept car video
See the Infiniti Essence concept car

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