Quick Highlights:
- 1,000 horsepower twin-turbo V6 borrowed from the Nissan GT-R
- Custom coilover suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes, and GT-R-inspired bronze wheels
- Midnight Purple wrap pays tribute to the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition
- Built for the 2025 SEMA Show, signaling Infiniti’s renewed performance ambitions
Infiniti has finally done something wonderfully unhinged. The QX80 R-Spec isn’t just another showpiece for the 2025 SEMA Show—it’s what happens when engineers decide that a 6,500-pound luxury SUV deserves the heart of a supercar.
This one-off creation is powered by a heavily modified 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged VR38DETT V6, the same engine that powered the Nissan GT-R R35, but turned up to eleven. It’s a declaration of intent from a brand often associated with polished restraint: Infiniti wants to show it can still go a little wild.
The R-Spec follows the QX80 Track Spec, a 650-horsepower (485 kW / 659 PS) concept revealed earlier this year at Monterey Car Week. But where that one flirted with performance, the R-Spec dives headfirst into it—delivering four-digit power and a design language that screams, “Move over, supercars.”
1,000 Horses, GT-R Soul
Under the sculpted hood lies the GT-R’s soul—a VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 that’s been rebuilt from the inside out. Hand-assembled by Tsunemi Ooyama, one of Nissan’s revered Takumi master engine builders, this motor was never meant to idle politely.
It now produces an astounding 1,000 horsepower (745 kW / 1,013 PS) and an estimated 850 lb-ft (1,152 Nm) of torque, thanks to a host of upgrades: Garrett G-series turbochargers, a custom intake system with twin front-mounted intercoolers, JE forged pistons, Boostline connecting rods, and a Motec engine management system tuned for precision.
It’s also flex-fuel capable, meaning it can run on ethanol blends for even more output. Power is channeled to all four wheels via a CNC-machined transmission adapter mated to a modified automatic gearbox and an electronic locking rear differential—the kind of setup that keeps 1,000 horsepower usable instead of terrifying.
Tamed With Real Engineering
Turning a three-row SUV into a track-capable monster isn’t as easy as dropping in a GT-R engine. Infiniti reengineered almost everything to make sure the R-Spec could actually handle its newfound muscle.
The chassis has been fitted with a custom MCS three-way adjustable coilover suspension using Eibach ERS springs, designed to reduce roll and improve cornering balance. The steering system had to be reworked with custom knuckles and a relocated rack to accommodate the VR38’s placement.
And when it comes time to stop this 1,000-horsepower titan, GT-R carbon-ceramic brakes stand ready—modified with new calipers, rotors, and brackets to manage the QX80’s sheer size and weight. The setup is so overbuilt, it looks more at home on a race car than a luxury SUV.
All of this rides on 24-inch GT-R-inspired bronze alloys, wrapped in 315/35R24 Yokohama Parada Spec-X tires that practically glue the R-Spec to the ground.
Designed Like a Supercar, Dressed Like Royalty
The QX80 R-Spec is not just a performer—it has presence. The widebody kit transforms the familiar QX80 into something far more sinister and lower to the ground. The front fascia gains a deeply vented bumper with an additional cooling intake, while a carbon-fiber splitter juts out like it’s ready to scrape tarmac.
The flared fenders and sculpted side sills along the sides give the SUV a stance wide enough to command its lane. At the rear, a massive diffuser, quad titanium exhausts, and a roof-mounted spoiler combine to deliver the kind of aerodynamic aggression usually reserved for track toys—not three-row family haulers.
Then there’s the finish—or rather, the wrap. A color-shifting Midnight Purple skin pays homage to the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition, shimmering between deep violet, electric blue, and hints of magenta under changing light. Under SEMA’s spotlights, it’s less SUV and more low-orbit spacecraft.
This sense of theater is entirely deliberate. As Tiago Castro, Vice President of Infiniti Americas, puts it, “R-Spec is extreme, aggressive, and a showcase of what Infiniti can achieve when our engineering and design teams take off all the guardrails.”
A Bridge Between Past and Future
The R-Spec is not about sales or passing the emissions test of emissions—it is about soul. Infiniti is sending a message that it is tired of sitting in the luxury corner and allowing its competitors, such as BMW’s M Division and Mercedes-AMG, to have all the fun.
This idea comes at the height of a period when the 2025 Infiniti QX80 is gathering acclaim for its artistry and comfort, being praised for its interior quality and refinement. The R-Spec is based on that platform and asks a simple question: what would it be like to have luxury and lunacy at the same time?
Although the 1,000-horsepower (745 kW / 1,013 PS) version may be just a fantasy, Infiniti has already hinted it could be contemplating a sportier production version—possibly an Infiniti QX80 Sport or Track Edition. Dealers are said to be fond of the idea, and consumers seem keen on it too.
Should that happen, the R-Spec will have been the spark that revived Infiniti’s performance legacy—a legacy that began with the FX, evolved with the Q60 Red Sport 400, and now returns once more in the form of an SUV.
The Bottom Line
The Infiniti QX80 R-Spec was never designed to be practical, reasonable, or even slightly sensible—and that’s precisely the point. It exists to remind us what happens when a luxury automaker stops holding back and starts chasing pure excitement once again.
With 1,000 horsepower (745 kW / 1,013 PS), carbon-ceramic brakes, and a Midnight Purple paint job borrowed straight from the GT-R playbook, this is perhaps the boldest thing Infiniti has created in years.
Because the R-Spec proves that horsepower and hedonism can absolutely live under the same roof. And yes, somehow, there’s still room for three rows of seats.
Source: Infiniti
Read More:
