Infiniti Prototype 9 revealed with parts from new Nissan Leaf
The Infiniti Prototype 9 was teased earlier this week, and has now been detailed online ahead of its full debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance later this month.
The Prototype 9 mixes the look of the pre-World War II Silver Arrows race cars from Mercedes-Benz with a few Infiniti cues, such as the harp-like grille and the raised Infiniti emblem right above.
While the Prototype 9's body is unashamedly retro, it's said to feature a tuned version of the drivetrain from the next-generation Nissan Leaf. For the Infiniti concept, there's an electric motor driving the rear wheels, offering 110kW of power and 320Nm of torque.
Weighing just 890 kilograms, the Prototype 9 is said to have a 0-60mph (0-97km/h) time of 5.5 seconds. Its theoretical top speed is said to be around 210km/h, but the car is electronically limited to 160km/h, probably in deference to the car's 19-inch wire wheels and thin retro rubber.
The Prototype 9 has a 30kWh battery pack, which is said to be good for around 20 minutes of hard driving on a track.
By way of comparison, the first-generation Leaf has an 80kW/254Nm electric motor, and the option of either 24kWh or 30kWh battery packs.
Although the car looks like it features old school drum brakes, it actually has a set of disc brakes. It does have an unassisted recirculating ball steering setup, and rotational dampers.