- Infiniti readies 600-hp QX80 Sport to revive its performance push.
- A more extreme 680-hp flagship QX80 is reportedly due in 2028.
- Limited-run SUV could arrive spring 2027 with 600 units yearly.
Luxury performance SUVs are getting absurdly powerful, but they’re also turning into brand statements. It’s no longer good enough to simply waft down the highway in splendid luxury and comfort. Flagship SUVs must also be able to chase down sports cars on the freeway. That’s where Infiniti appears eager to make a big splash with the QX80 Red Sport.
Last year, Infiniti revealed what it called the QX80 Track Spec that was followed by the GT-R-powered QX80 R-Spec at SEMA. Despite those two general ideas, the QX80 and a race track being diametrically opposed due to something called physics, the Track Spec concept, featuring 650 horsepower (484 kW) caught everyone’s attention.
More: Infiniti Shoved A GT-R Nismo Engine Into A QX80 Just To See What Happens
The reaction was strong enough that Infiniti is now planning a production version with around 600 horsepower, according to a source familiar with the plan who spoke to Auto News. And if that sounds like plenty for a three-row luxury SUV, it may only be the beginning. By 2028, the company is reportedly aiming even higher, targeting roughly 680 hp (507 kW) for a more extreme flagship variant.
The 650 hp Infiniti QX80 Track Spec Concept.
The automaker is hoping that a broader performance push could steer more customers to the brand, and according to the same source, it’ll begin that push with the Red Sport. That nomenclature is one Infiniti used for serious performance sedans and coupes. Leveraging it for a new QX80 signals the brand’s interest in targeting brands like BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.
Major changes will include larger red brake calipers, red “S” badging, and possibly 24-inch wheels, along with a price premium estimated at 10 percent or more. Most importantly, it’ll boast 600 horsepower (447 kW). It’ll offer “an additional level of performance but not going all the way,” said Infiniti’s product marketing director, Brian Maragno. “Things that are noticeable but not drastic. It’s what’s under the hood that matters.”
Pricing And Production Plans
Based on current information, Infiniti plans to price the Red Sport at approximately 10 percent higher than the Sport and Autobiography trims, putting it deep into six-figure territory. According to the report, the brand will build around 600 annually, and allocations will go to dealers based on QX80 sales volume.
Infiniti’s bigger play is expected to arrive a little later. Around 2028, the brand will introduce an even more extreme performance version of the QX80 with 680 hp. The transformation would not stop under the hood. Sources say the SUV would wear a more aggressive body kit, gain wider fender flares, and adopt an active exhaust system to give the big luxury hauler a much louder presence.
We’d be surprised if we don’t hear about all this with some official confirmation before the end of the year, just in time for a Spring 2027 launch. Then, later in that year, Infiniti will likely unveil the R-Spec or whatever they want to call a QX80 with almost as much horsepower as a five-year-old Dodge Durango Hellcat.
No doubt, power figures sell cars, but the highlight here so far might be the larger brakes. Right now, Infiniti and Nissan sell sporty versions of the QX80 and Armada. Sadly, neither one benefits from seriously sporty suspension or braking ability.
Again, a giant performance SUV doesn’t make a ton of sense for serious enthusiast drivers, but that hasn’t stopped vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade V and the aforementioned Durango from selling. At this point, the QX80 Red Sport could be the vehicle that helps Infiniti regain some of its performance credibility.
