Infiniti has released a pair of teaser images and a brief press release about the vehicle it will debut at this year’s Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. Called the QX80 R-Spec, it appears to be an ultra-high-performance version of the brand’s extra-large SUV that may be powered by the engine from the Nissan GT-R.
The sparsely worded press release calls the QX80 R-Spec, “stronger, sharper, and ready to turn heads.” It also says, “the legend lives under the hood.” There’s no more legendary motor from Nissan and Infiniti than the GT-R’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6, so we’re betting that’s what’s under the hood of this silly fast SUV. We’ll find out for sure when it debuts under the lights in Sin City on October 27.
Why We Think The GT-R Is Powering The QX80 R-Spec
If you recall, the very last R35 GT-R came off the assembly line in late August of this year after an 18-year production run. Nissan is now bereft of a high-performance halo car, and not wanting to let the memory of the GT-R fade too quickly, sticking its engine in the bay of Infiniti’s largest SUV is a fun way to honor the so recently departed.
There’s also a precedent for this. The QX80’s closely related corporate sibling, the Nissan Armada, has a NISMO model that’s available to buy in the U.S. for the first time. It also happens to be powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 that’s technically related to the GT-R’s engine. With a smaller displacement, it makes 460 horsepower compared to 565 hp in the outgoing GT-R.
Despite that, the Armada NISMO comes with other serious performance hardware, such as special tuning for its air suspension and electronic dampening, a new Sport mode that lowers the suspension and tightens the steering, and a functional body kit that improves both aerodynamics and cooling to the engine and brakes.
If the QX80 R-Spec contains an honest-to-goodness GT-R engine, Infiniti already has the recipe to upgrade the rest of the SUV in the Armada NISMO. In fact, this project seems like a no-brainer in terms of ease of execution and budget.
TopSpeed’s Take
While most auto shows are fading into obscurity, SEMA continues to be an event that automakers and enthusiasts don’t want to miss. This QX80 R-Spec is another example of a cool side project that gets to see the light of day because SEMA is the place where these companies get to play. Most SEMA cars were probably built by engineers in their off time and then presented to the brass with a sly smile that conveyed the plea, “Please don’t fire us for this.”
We’ll take an Infiniti QX80 powered by a GT-R engine any day of the week, though it’s worth noting the GT-R’s power rating doesn’t make the QX80 R-Spec competitive in the high-performance SUV space. The Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, which still lives, makes 710 hp. A base Lamborghini Urus makes 650 hp. And we haven’t even mentioned the electric competition, most of which offer over 1,000 horsepower in their most powerful trims.
Still, it’s not really about a number with the Infiniti QX80 R-Spec. If a GT-R engine is under that hood, it’s more about honoring a legend that’s no longer with us. Even if this SUV never sees the fluorescent lights of a showroom floor, it’s still an awesome tribute to one of the greatest cars there ever was.