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I was on hand in Germany this week at the 2013 Motor Show and snapped these photos of the all-new Infiniti Q30 Concept. Expectations are that this new concept car will be very close to the compact CUV that Infiniti will ultimately release.

The gold color really grabs your attention and the reveal came across as a big hit. The front end is very similar to the current design language we’re seeing from Infiniti, but the back end really stood out with the back window blending into the rear tail lights. The effect was very impressive.

I got shots from all angles so you can get a feel for the vehicle. The compact CUV market is very hot right now and the luxury brands are trying to grab their share as well, so it will be interesting to see how quickly Infiniti can get to a production model here.

“We are becoming the younger, trendsetting brand, more relevant and more exciting,” said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti Motor Company, Ltd. “Infiniti Q50, and now the Q30 Concept, deliver on this promise.” Infiniti executives have been stressing the importance of design in the Infiniti strategy, and they are definitely pushing the envelope in an attempt to challenge the other luxury brands. It will be interesting to see if the buyer mix starts to skew younger. The company notes that “by the end of this decade, Gen X and Gen Y will represent 80 percent of buyers in the premium segment.”

The design of the Q30 is intended to create “a unique blend of features reminiscing of a coupe, a hatch and a crossover.” It definitely inspires a sporty vibe that should grab the attention of buyers looking for luxury and fun in their driving experience.

During the press conference de Nysschen was joined on stage by Sebastian Vettel, a 3-time Formula One world champion who has been assisting the company. He was presented with a special helmet to use in testing engineering prototypes of the future compact premium model, the first Infiniti model that he will have a role in influencing from its inception.

Whenever a new concept car is released, particularly if it looks like it’s one of a kind, there’s always plenty of excitement from people in the motoring industry and petrolheads alike. This is certainly true of the new Renault Alpine, a mid-engined 400bhp sports car which has been unleashed on the Monaco Grand Prix circuit to demonstrate its prowess. Paying homage to Alpine, the former sports car manufacturer which was amalgamated into Renault in the 1970s, this car has set a lot of tongues wagging, wondering how much car insurance would cost if they were to buy one.

Before the brand was discontinued by Renault, Alpine’s motoring heritage was long and impressive. The A110, made during the 1960s-1970s, famously won the first ever World Rally Championship in 1973, while, not long after being taken over by Renault, they won the Le Mans race in 1978. Having been dropped in the 1990’s, the new Renault Alpine will be made available for sale, ideal for racing around a track.

Renault’s CEO, Carlos Tavares, claimed that this was their last chance to build an iconic sports car, while another member of the French manufacturer’s board said “If we don’t do it this time, we never will.”

The Alpine’s 400bhp V6 engine means that, when it finally hits showrooms, it will make a great thrill-a-minute ride for people who’ve always wanted to drive a great-looking sports car. As for the bodywork, its emphatic rear spoiler and metallic blue paintwork complete with orange trim makes it look the part.

Gerardo Orlando of Bullz-Eye.com checks out the Infiniti Etherea Concept at Pebble Beach!

I’ve seen tons of beautiful cars, old and new, this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It’s an amazing celebration of the automobile, and this morning we found ourselves on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach as Infiniti introduced its Etherea Concept for the first time in North America. It was a little cloudy and chilly as you can see from the photos, but the view was spectacular. Tomorrow morning we’ll be back for the Concours as some amazing classic automobiles will be on display on the same spot.

The Etherea Concept is very impressive and is worthy of such a prestigious location for its introduction. I love the lines on this car, and the suicide doors punctuate the bold design. It’s clear from this vehicle and the JX Concept introduced yesterday that Infiniti will continue to be aggressive in its styling. The Etherea is an “exploration” of a future model so it will be interesting to see the final product, but they’re definitely headed in the right direction.

Check out the full gallery!

There’s concept cars and there’s “concept cars”. The Lamborghini Cnossus is so in your face you might feel like it might even be getting ready to lay a big kiss on you! Check out the front end of this piece of art from design students at Italy’s Scuola Politecnica di Design studio and you’ll walk away knowing something new and fresh came together.

The lines are incredible as it’s apparent many design cues originated from the spectacular Lamborghini Countach. Very nice!

From Motorcrave.com:

On our Tuesday tour of Mediterranean area design, we move eastward from Spain to Italy where this Lamborghini Cnossus concept was born. A thesis collaboration between two Scuola Politecnica di Design students: Russian student Victor Filipchenko and Portuguese student Nelson Simoes, the Cnossus is named after a city on Crete. The designers took some inspiration from the Lamborghini Countach and made a Lambo all their own.

Check out the full article here.

Cadillac has one sleek and elegant ride in the upcoming XTS if it’s to be real close to the concept. The Beijing auto show was fortunate to have this beauty in it’s presence and when it hits the road my guess is that sales will be strong. The interior is off the charts and hopefully an engine that resonates with buyers is part of the package.

From AutoGuide.com:

Ever since a report a few weeks back that Cadillac had signed off on production of the XTS Concept, execs at GM’s luxury arm have tried to deny any such thing. But last week GM decided to showcase the car at the Beijing Auto Show, and have released a gallery of new photos – indicating the XTS is moving ahead.

Read the full article here.