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The "extreme, aggressive" Infiniti QX80 R-Spec concept borrows the GT-R R35's engine and gains other performance enhancements.
Nissan has shoehorned the GT-R's twin-turbo V6 into the new Patrol Y63's luxury twin for a concept car being shown at the SEMA show.
The "extreme, aggressive" Infiniti QX80 R-Spec is a nod to the Nissan GT-R sports car, swapping the off-road luxury SUV's 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 for a modified 3.8-litre unit delivering 1000 horsepower (756kW).
The VR38 twin-turbo V6 engine fitted to the concept car is joined by other performance enhancements, including custom turbochargers, intercoolers, exhaust manifolds, and an upgraded fuel system.
A custom wide-body kit and front splitter also pay homage to the GT-R, specifically the 2024 T-spec Takumi Edition sold in the US, with a Midnight Purple exterior wrap.
Suspension and brake enhancements include custom springs and three-way external reservoir coilovers, along with a relocated steering rack, a custom steering shaft, and carbon ceramic brakes from the GT-R R35 with caliper adapters and rotor hats.
It is also fitted with 24-inch custom GT-R-inspired wheels and 315/35/24 Yokohama Parada Spec-X tyres.
Infiniti Americas vice president Tiago Castro said the QX80 R-Spec is "extreme, aggressive and a showcase of what Infiniti can do when our engineering and design teams take off all the guardrails".
"With the QX80 R-Spec build, we challenged ourselves to explore an even more extreme direction for QX80 as we look to a future with high-performance variants that offer a broader breadth of adrenaline-pumping capabilities for our clients.
"We gave our team the freedom to be creative and dream of the unexpected as we redefine the future of luxury in a way that combines visceral performance with incomparable refinement."
The latest concept from Infiniti follows the QX80 Track Spec and Terrain Spec concepts unveiled at Monterey Car Week in August, with the Terrain Spec adding enhancements from Australian firm Premcar, which builds the modified Patrol Warrior Y62.
Standard versions of the Infiniti QX80 and Nissan Patrol Y63 feature a VR35 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 – related to the GT-R's 3.8-litre VR38 unit – which develops 317kW and 700Nm in the Nissan.
While the standard Infiniti QX80 is not planned for Australia after the luxury brand left the market in 2019, the Nissan Patrol Y63 it is based on is due to launch in the second half of 2026.
The Patrol Y63 is already on sale in the US and the Middle East, however, Australia needs to wait for the commencement of right-hand drive production.
Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
