Infiniti released the first images of their unique concept car for 2011 Geneva Motor Show and confirmed its name as Etherea. It is a compact luxury model that previews how a future entry-level Infiniti could look.

You can clearly see the influence of the of the Essence Concept on the design of the Etherea, but it’s also obvious they wanted to create something new. Maybe that’s why it looks a bit weird at first glance!

Infiniti Etherea as they say is a premium compact model. It has the same profile of a crossover vehicle but it sits lower and has smaller dimensions (4.4m long). It blends elements of coupé, sedan, hatchback and even crossover in one highly sculptural, near-mono volume form. Infinit says thanks to new mechanical layout and innovative access arrangements, it is also fairly spacious and practical.

They will use some of the design cues seen on this model, including the highly distinctive crescent-shaped C-pillar, on future production cars.

“ETHEREA is about a new type of luxury for younger buyers,” said Toru Saito, Corporate Vice President and Leader of the Global Infiniti Business Unit. “It is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative and traditional luxury car.”