By Alex Nunez on August 19, 2011 in
California's Monterey Peninsula is one of the focal points of the automotive world this weekend, as innumerable classic and exotic cars worth millions of dollars descend upon it for a few days of car shows, vintage races, high-profile auctions, and other related revelry. The main event, as always, is the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where last night, three new vehicles made their debuts. Two of them, from Lexus and Infiniti, you'll be able to buy. The other, a spectacular ultra-luxury concept convertible from Cadillac, is just special. Keep reading for a quick rundown on all three cars, along with photos of each.
2013 Infiniti JX Concept
Remove "Concept" from the moniker and you have the forthcoming Infiniti JX crossover, which should quickly become one of the marque's best-selling vehicles upon its release. The JX is a three-row, seven-passenger SUV, meaning it's got an inherent family-car appeal that's lacking in Infiniti's five-passenger FX sport-utility. (Yes, Infiniti does already sell a 7-seater in the jumbo-sized QX56, but while the QX may be the Best Escalade Ever, its enormousness and fuel-thirsty nature keep it out of the mainstream.) The JX will get some flavor of Infiniti's excellent V6 engine family, mated to a continuously variable transmission, with either front- or all-wheel drive. Loads of in-car tech will add geek appeal, and it'll probably be an entertaining drive, since Infiniti's brand of luxury leans toward performance. Look for the JX to arrive in showrooms next spring.
2013 Lexus GS 350
Back in April, Lexus unveiled the LF-Gh Concept, which was obviously a preview of the next-generation GS sport sedan. The concept car sported an utterly hideous front end treatment that, while still hinted at, is, thankfully, not used on the 2013 Lexus GS 350 unveiled last night. The new GS is wider and roomier than the old one, with a bigger trunk and an extra-swank, tech-laden interior. It's also got a stiffer structure than the outgoing car, which should help the 306-horsepower GS 350 be a more compelling sport sedan. It's available with rear- or all-wheel drive and it goes on sale in early 2012. The GS hybrid will be unveiled next month in Frankfurt.
Cadillac Ciel Concept
Right now, Cadillac is a luxury brand whose best product happens to be a midsized, 556-horsepower high-performance car, the CTS-V (available as a sedan, coupe or station wagon). The CTS-V is clearly one of The Most Fun Things Ever, but Caddy also hasn't forgotten the glory days when its cars were outsized rolling monuments to a uniquely American luxury experience. The proof is in the new Ciel concept, a 17-foot-long ultra-luxe convertible show car. It's unapologetically big, boldly-styled, and suggests that Cadillac's designers are fully capable of building a premium, flagship vehicle. While the Ciel itself is unlikely to ever see production, we'll bet that the engine powering it, a twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 making 426 horsepower, will surface in a future Cadillac or other General Motors vehicle.