Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.It's not often that an automaker admits a mistake, but Infiniti is humble enough to concede that the plans it had to take on the likes of Mercedes-AMG and BMW M with a high-performance Red Sport version of the QX80 were not laid out well enough. Automotive News reports that Infiniti is delaying its hot QX80 by roughly a year to develop a more comprehensive overhaul that does more than just increase horsepower, with the Japanese marque understanding that buyers in America and Europe want more than just big numbers if they're to consider something that isn't German.Infiniti's High-Performance SUV Plans Change For The BetterInfinitiInfiniti was originally expected to launch its foray into the high-performance luxury SUV space with a 600-horsepower machine, and later reports indicated that even more power could be on the table, but now, the focus will expand beyond just straight-line speed and cosmetic improvements, with suspension upgrades, beefier brakes, and more aggressive and unique aesthetics compared to the normal QX80. "As we have started to work on the project, we're realizing that power alone is not sufficient," said Infiniti Americas boss Eic Ledieu. "We know we have one chance at a first impression when it comes to this type of product. When you're paying six figures for a performance-based SUV of this size and scale, it needs to deliver."AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Infiniti QX80 Red Sport is expected to cost buyers around $30,000 more than the QX80 Sport, which starts at $103,945, and Infiniti wants to sell more than 600 examples a year. Rather than rushing into dealers with a mildly warmed-up SUV this December, as was originally planned, Infiniti is taking the project more seriously. "What we were working on before was a very different scope than what we're working on today," said Ledieu. "It'll take a little bit more time, but that little bit of extra time will be worth the wait."Infiniti QX80 Red Sport Will Be Powerful And Quicker Thanks To NISMOInfinitiThe hot QX80 is being developed by NISMO, the performance arm of parent company Nissan, and it'll make the current 450-hp twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 even more powerful, with a boost of "much more" than 20 percent. That means the Red Sport will make well over 540 hp, which would already put the QX80 above the BMW X7 M60i, which makes 523 hp. Infiniti wants the big SUV to achieve 0-60 mph in under five seconds, and we can expect a valved exhaust system, a new front end, wider fenders, 24-inch wheels, and a unique interior design scheme. "It's muscled up," said Ledieu. "It will not look like the car that's on the road today."Related: The 2027 Infiniti QX80 Gets More Tech And A Lower PriceHe also mentioned that other models in the lineup will benefit from Infiniti's new performance focus, but the outlandishly extreme QX80 Track Spec variant (that's the one we expect to get over 700 hp, pictured here) has not yet been greenlit. The QX80 R-Spec one-off show vehicle used Nissan GT-R elements to become a 1,000-hp monster, and such a wild creation requires "a whole different type of development," according to Ledieu. He added that Infiniti will "evaluate the business proposition and the lead times that it would take," but we wouldn't hold our breath until after the Red Sport is launched. If this draws in the customers Infiniti is after, a more powerful and more resource-intensive hardcore SUV could still happen later.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jul 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
