A report has surfaced that suggests Infiniti are looking to expand their range with a four-door coupe and possibly a range-topping sportscar.

The Japanese premium brand have an ambitious plan over the next 10 years to increase global sales by 150,000 units per year. This will require an investment of $10 billion to expand the existing range by five models. One of which will be a four-door coupe based on the gorgeous Infiniti Essence Concept you see in the attached photos.

The two-door concept will require a little extra room to accommodate the space required for rear seats and doors, but engineers will retain the sloping roofline. Reports indicate it will be based on Mercedes' versatile MFA (modular front-drive architecture) platform that will also underpin the A-, B-, CLA- and GLA-class.

Infiniti are targeting a launch date between 2017 and 2018.

Also under consideration but not yet confirmed is a production version of the Emerg-E Concept. It will give the brand a competitor to rivals such as Aston Martin and Jaguar. No further details are known at this early stage, but the signs are looking good.

All in all, the plans are a step in the right direction. Infiniti have the brand and expertise of Sebastian Vettel on their side, so we can see great success as they aim for a sportier line-up of models.

Infiniti is planning a flagship, sporty four-door coupe in the mold of the Porsche Panamera as the joint flagship of its expanding range.

The sweeping-looking four-door will take its styling inspiration from the Infiniti Essence concept penned by design chief Shiro Nakamura and first shown at the Geneva motor show in 2009.

The new car is part of Infiniti's ambitious plan to become a serious global luxury brand by carving out 10 percent of that market, equivalent to about 500K sales by 2020 and backed up by a significantly expanded model range and huge investment from parent Nissan.

One estimate puts the cost of the total plan at $10 billion -- $1billion a year through 2020 -- enough to add a further five models to Infiniti's range while significantly overhauling the existing vehicles.

The plan is being backed-up by Infiniti's "title" sponsorship of Red Bull Racing, which is pivotal to spreading awareness of Infiniti around the globe.

Avoiding head-on conflict with the established German and British players in the luxury market, Infiniti's plan is built around a mix of sporty-focused saloon, coupe and soft-road models, each styled with panache and powered by significantly electrified hybrid powertrains.

"We can't just take on the opposition directly; we have to bring our own unique flavor to the global market," says new Infiniti boss Johann de Nysschen, who last year left a comfortable job running Audi North America to launch Infiniti on the global stage.

The desire to be different is the inspiration for the four-door flagship.

"We won't do a Merc S-Class or that type of car. We have had that before," says Nissan/Infiniti VP Andy Palmer. "We want a flagship car that's appealing and different."

Read our interview with Nissan/Infiniti VP Andy Palmer here.

Nakamura's team is understood to be working around the dimensions and detailing of the Essence concept, while stretching its proportions and roofline to accommodate a roomier rear cabin and extra pair of doors.

The dominant styling feature is likely to be a sweeping, fastback roofline.

The launch date isn't yet confirmed, but a date around 2017/18 is being discussed.

There's a possibility that it will be based on the latest Mercedes-Benz MRA -- modular rear-drive architecture -- that will underpin C-, E- and S-class models, just as the new Q30 is based on Mercedes' latest MFA -- modular front-drive architecture -- under the latest A-class hatchback.

Later in the decade, Infiniti's plan calls for the Essence four-door to be joined by a mid-engined two-seater powered by a high-tech hybrid powertrain and inspired by the Emerg-E concept first revealed at the Goodwood Festival in 2011.

The production Emerg-E is conceived as a supercar, but appointed with a luxury cabin, more in the mold of a Jaguar or Aston Martin than a Ferrari.

"We don't want to get too far away from the center-of-gravity of the brand," says Palmer.

"We have the halo car in the plan, but it is not signed off yet. The sales of saloons like the Q50 and SUVs like the QX60 will have to be going well and then I can go to our approval committee," says Palmer.

Both cars will be considered flagships -- one for the sedan range and the other for Infiniti's sportier range of cars.

This marks a significant about-turn in Infiniti's current strategy, which places two SUVs at the head of its range — the imposing US-only QX80 4x4 and the sportier FX off-road coupe.

The sportier side of Infiniti's range is likely to emphasized with more "Sebastian Vettel" branding that has appeared on the FX soft-roader.

Vettel is said to have advised a wholesale revamp of the FX's chassis and performance, but was held back by production practicalities.

A new sports sub-brand may also evolve to reflect the Red Bull links, although Palmer says exactly how that will work on the cars has yet to be finalized.

"There's a desire by some people internally to make the next Nissan GT-R and 370Z Infiniti models, but that would be wrong for the brand," said Palmer.

Could be joined by a production version of the Emerg-E concept

Nissan executive vice president Andy Palmer has revealed some new details about Infiniti's upcoming flagship.

Speaking to Automotive News, Palmer said "We won't do a Merc S class or that type of car. We have had that before. We want a flagship car that's appealing and different."

The executive declined to go into specifics but the publication says the company is reworking the Essence concept to accommodate two rear doors and a more comfortable cabin. There is also speculation that the model could ride on a Mercedes-sourced rear-wheel-drive platform but nothing is official as of yet.

The four-door coupe could be introduced in 2017 and could eventually be joined by a production version of the Emerg-E concept. However, Palmer said "We have the halo car in the plan, but it is not signed off yet."

Speaking to Automotive News, Palmer said "We won't do a Merc S class or that type of car. We have had that before. We want a flagship car that's appealing and different."

We recently reported Infiniti's plans to add a four-door coupe to their line-up and here is a rendition of what the model could look like. It has been dubbed the Q100 by artists Theophilus Chin.

The new range-topping model is set to be based on the Essence Concept that was well received when shown to the public at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. However, development from concept form has remained dormant in the months and years that have followed.

Hopefully all that is about to change.

The new model would likely ride of Mercedes' versatile MFA (modular front-drive architecture) platform with a number of petrol and diesel units available. The original concept came with a hybrid powertrain consisting of 3.7-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor producing a combined output of 600PS.
If rumors are true, the new Infiniti four-door coupe will hit the market in 2017.

We recently reported Infiniti's plans to add a four-door coupe to their line-up and here is a rendition of what the model could look like. It has been dubbed the Q100 by artists Theophilus Chin.

The new range-topping model is set to be based on the Essence Concept that was well received when shown to the public at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. However, development from concept form has remained dormant in the months and years that have followed.

Hopefully all that is about to change.

The new model would likely ride of Mercedes' versatile MFA (modular front-drive architecture) platform with a number of petrol and diesel units available. The original concept came with a hybrid powertrain consisting of 3.7-litre twin-turbo V6 and an electric motor producing a combined output of 600PS.
If rumors are true, the new Infiniti four-door coupe will hit the market in 2017.

Due in 2017 or 2018

Infiniti is allegedly working on a powerful hybrid sedan based on the Essence concept which will serve as the company's flagship model.

The attractive Essence concept was introduced back in 2009 at the Geneva Motor Show and now global chief Johann de Nysschen expressed his desire for a production version to come out before the end of the decade. He didn't go into any details but Motoring reports it will be a four-door, long-nosed sedan that could receive the Q80 Eau Rouge or Q90 Eau Rouge moniker.

It won't compete with the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8 since the report indicates it will actually be a four-door coupe as the Porsche Panamera, Mercedes-Benz CLS and BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe.

It is believed the flagship Infiniti will be offered with a newly developed hybrid system encompassing a V6 3.0-liter direct-injection turbocharged engine working together with an electric motor to provide a combined output of 550 bhp (410 kW). There will also be a second more powerful hybrid version with an all-new V6 3.7-liter engine and electric motor which will deliver an impressive 700 bhp (522 kW). Both hybrid versions will send their power to a revamped Attesa all-wheel drive system found in the GT-R.

The range-topping Infiniti is expected to come out in 2017 or 2018 and will carry a starting price of less than 200,000 USD.

The range-topping Infiniti is expected to come out in 2017 or 2018 and will carry a starting price of less than 200,000 USD