Infiniti Is Delaying the 600-Horsepower QX80 Red Sport in Order to Inject Even More Performance
tags:- The Infiniti QX80 Red Sport, a more performance-focused version of the full-size SUV, has been delayed to 2028, according to Automotive News.
- Expected to churn out around 600 horsepower, the QX80 Red Sport will also get a retuned suspension, stronger brakes, and wider fenders.
- More serious aerodynamics and an active exhaust are also planned.
Back in March, a report from Automotive News alleged that Infiniti was working on a new performance-focused version of its largest SUV, the QX80. Set to wear the Red Sport moniker, the SUV was expected to pack around 600 horsepower and would eventually be topped by a production version of the QX80 Track Spec concept. Now, however, a new report from Automotive News claims that the Red Sport has been delayed after Infiniti decided it needed to bring even more performance to the sporty SUV.
The Infiniti QX80 Track Spec concept.
The QX80 Red Sport was originally expected to reach dealerships this summer, but Infiniti is now taking a new approach to the project, pushing its arrival back by at least a year. The Red Sport may now join the lineup as part of the QX80's mid-cycle refresh in 2028.
The initial thinking had been that the Red Sport would focus on adding power and sportier looks, but that most of the more serious mechanical upgrades would be left to a production version of the Track Spec concept. Now, however, Infiniti is reportedly planning to supplement the added power with suspension and brake upgrades, along with even more hardcore styling. Vice president of Infiniti Americas Eric Ledieu told Automotive News, "As we have started to work on the project, we’re realizing that power alone is not sufficient."
"We know we have one chance at a first impression when it comes to this type of product," he explained. "When you’re paying six figures for a performance-based SUV of this size and scale, it needs to deliver."
The QX80 on sale now comes with a 450-hp twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6, and Infiniti said that the power increase will be significantly more than 20 percent. The company wants the SUV to sprint to 60 mph in under five seconds, which would represent a significant improvement over the 6.1-second dash we recorded at the test track in an all-wheel-drive QX80 Autograph.
The exterior design will also be revised with a more aggressive look than originally planned, which will include a new grille, a reworked lower front fascia, wide fender flares, and aerodynamic doodads. There will also be a new active exhaust system, 24-inch wheels, and changes to the cabin to elevate it above the regular QX80. Some of these new elements are similar to the proposed upgrades for the QX80 Track Spec.
The Red Sport is expected to cost around $30,000 more than the QX80 Sport, which currently starts at $104,140. Infiniti is reportedly aiming for annual sales of over 600 units. We've reached out to Infiniti for comment on the report and will update this article when we hear back.
If you're wondering where this change in scope for the Red Sport leaves the production version of the Track Spec, well, the answer is that the Track Spec's fate is now up in the air. Originally intended to make close to 700 horsepower, the Track Spec would require notable changes to the powertrain and may not end up being worth the R&D investment. With the Red Sport getting even more serious, it may end up serving as the sole performance variant for the QX80.
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Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.