Up front, the Infiniti QX60 exhibits a drastically squared-off face with wide-set intake slats and furrowed headlights that bring more seriousness than last year’s taller, narrower-seeming model. The new double-arch mesh grille is inspired by Japanese origami, and below the badge is embossed Infiniti lettering. The massive faux air vents, while non-functional, look the part and add a touch of sportiness.

Infiniti first launched the three-row, seven-passenger, mid-size QX60 SUV in 2013. Other than a refresh in 2018, this popular family hauler has remained relatively unchanged. Unveiled today in Yokohama, Japan, we get our first look at what the next generation of the QX60 might look like by way of the Infiniti QX60 Monograph.

What is a Monograph, you ask? Well, Infiniti describes Monograph as more than a simple design study or concept vehicle. A Monograph provides a tangible insight into how the company plans to transform a future vehicle. This QX60 Monograph displays some of the proportions and design elements that will be found on the future production model.

Focusing solely on the exterior, Infiniti designers have given the QX60 Monograph a wide stance, sleek greenhouse, horizontal shoulder lines, and pronounced wheel arches. The current QX60 is adored by families for its spacious interior and comfortable seating, the QX60 Monograph displays the company’s intention to retain these attributes while bringing a new, more muscular and aerodynamic silhouette.

“We commenced the design of the Monograph knowing this was an opportune time to start a discussion about where we are planning to take the QX60 in the future and more broadly, where we are heading as a brand with our design language,” said Alfonso Albaisa, senior vice president, Global Design, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

When viewed from the side, the QX60 Monograph shows off its powerful horizontal hood, pronounced fenders, long wheelbase, gentle sloping A-pillar, and teardrop-shaped greenhouse. At the rear, the wide body and track, paired with horizontal window line give QX60 Monograph a sense of poise and stability. The high shoulder line raises the vehicle’s visual center of gravity. And the roof tapers into a subtly integrated rear spoiler.

“The platinum paint on the QX60 Monograph projects a sense of warmth,” said Taisuke Nakamura, senior design director, Infiniti Global Design, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. “The highly reflective nature mimics the qualities of liquid metal, allowing the surface of the body to capture the shadows and lights of the environment in which it is displayed creating a sense of dynamism.”

The intricate folds of traditional Japanese origami were the inspiration for the inner mesh of the signature Double Arch grille. The result is a two-dimensional surface that projects a sense of three-dimensional depth. The same mesh pattern is echoed in the side air intakes in the lower corners of the bumper. The large panoramic roof features a “kimono fold” pattern. This geometric feature, a series of intricate perpendicular lines, draws inspiration from the folds of a silk kimono and the structures of Japan’s modern architecture.

“The QX60 Monograph embodies the Japanese concept of ‘Ma,’ a sense of minimalism where designers seek harmony, adding just the right amount of elements with very specific meaning to create something special. This is evident on the body, where at a glance it is simple, but when you get closer, you see that there are elements that are playing against each other in a sense of harmony,” Albaisa explains.

Intricate “Digital Piano Key” lighting at the front and rear projects a futuristic appearance and showcases the company’s desire to blend human artistry with the latest technology. The inner structure of the headlamp features a shape and pattern of lines inspired by an electrical heatsink device.

Bright white at the front, and ultra-red at the back, the QX60 Monograph’s lamps are accompanied by the glowing Infiniti brand emblem. An opening light sequence begins at the logo and fans out to the headlamps in a dynamic welcome for drivers. The rear lamps are tinted and, when extinguished, appear to wrap around the back of the vehicle.

We were fortunate enough to get to see the QX60 Monograph in person before it headed from the United States to Japan for the unveiling. This vehicle is even more gorgeous in person than any photo can convey. Looking at the vehicle it’s quite easy to get a sense for what the future production model might look like. We suspect the wheels will be slightly smaller, some of the more intricate details and Easter eggs will be removed, and the lighting elements will be similar but standardized to meet DOT regulations.

We would anticipate that much of the body structure and proportions will remain, along with the shape of the greenhouse and glass. Sadly, the QX60 Monograph is being presented for external design only, so no vision of the interior or drivetrains was given at this time.

The QX60 Monograph is being debuted in Yokohama, Japan, and will make its auto show debut at the 2020 Beijing Motor Show before being placed on display within the Nissan global headquarters gallery in Yokohama. Infiniti has also stated that the production version of the new QX60 will be shown sometime in early 2021.

Climb aboard the 2022 Infiniti QX60, and you feel like you’re in a first-class cabin. The attention to detail, the hidden air vents, and haptic-touch controls make for a clean and simple interior. It’s a step above the previous generation and brings a new kind of luxury to Infiniti. Open-pore wood, chrome, and piano-black trim up the look, and the large 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster deliver modern touches.

The attractive styling continues outside, where the QX60 introduces a new design language for the brand. “Elegant, distinctive, and butch,” associate editor Alex Leanse said. “The exterior shows as much design advancement as anything else here.” Smooth and swift character lines complement slim head- and taillights, mimicking the stunning Monograph concept that appeared last year.

Although the platform didn’t change much compared to the previous generation, the 2022 QX60 feels more spacious, particularly in its second and third rows. Third-row ingress and egress is like talking to Siri: Briefly press and hold a button on the side of the second row, and the seat slides forward quickly, leaving enough space for adults to climb in. And once seated in the third row, even our tallest judges didn’t have trouble with head- or legroom.

The 3.5-liter V-6 with 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque is a carryover from the previous version, but a new nine-speed automatic transmission replaces the old, lethargic CVT. The new nine-speed is a step up, but judges noted a lack of low-end torque, particularly for freeway merging. On the sand course, the QX60 struggled as the traction-control system cut power. “I almost came to a stop a few times even though I had my foot to the floor,” Detroit editor Alisa Priddle said. “I didn’t get stuck but did slow down, and it was dicey at times.”

Meanwhile, judges dished out mixed reviews regarding the QX60’s on-pavement performance. While some noted excessive body roll on the winding road, others observed great suspension control, particularly on the separate ride-testing course. “Some of the expansion joints and the rough aggregate surface did excite some of the interior trim,” technical director Frank Markus said, “but this is a fairly smooth-riding three-row SUV.”