INFINITI Makes Tailgating Classy with QX80 Autograph Lounge
Think tailgate parties and you think beer hats, bare chests, BBQ, and beer. And did we mention beer? Yes, lots and lots of ice-cold brewskis. All of it spills out from the back of American pickups and SUVs and minivans in parking lots across the continent. Recently, however, INFINITI asked: “What if tailgating could be better?”
INFINITI — the Japanese luxury brand celebrating its 35 anniversary — offered up its own take on the tailgate party. And, wow, is it ever classy. At this year’s SEMA show of custom and modified cars in Las Vegas, INFINITI unveiled the QX80 Autograph Lounge concept that makes tailgating a five-star experience.
Instead of beer and BBQ, the Lounge concept is all about champagne and caviar, grapes and a cheese plate. It all comes from a bespoke slide-out drawer system built into the trunk. As INFINITI describes, “the enclosure is gorgeously finished in burgundy leather, with custom metal speaker grilles.” Think of it as the ultimate picnic set. The drawers have space for plates, silverware, crystal glasses, plus a couple bottles of your favourite champagne. Each compartment is filled with fitted foam inlays to keep all of that finery from rattling around in the trunk. Directly above is a quilted leather surface for setting everything out. The whole SUV can be lowered on its air suspension to help put the whole picnic within easy reach.
Still, INFINITI understands that tailgates are a party, and every party needs a killer sound system. The brand’s full-size flagship QX80 SUV is not bad starting point, but for the Lounge concept the company has cranked it up to 11. Beyond the 14- and 24-speaker Klipsch Premium Audio system available from the factory, the engineers fitted additional subwoofers and speakers into specially designed enclosures built into the trunk. (Again, it’s all covered in quilted burgundy leather with metal speaker grilles that match the Klipsch units in the SUV’s cabin.)
So nobody misses the pre-game highlights, there’s also a television built into the trunk, because, why not?
For the exterior, the QX80 Autograph Lounge goes for low-key luxury. A matte-grey wrap covers the paintwork. The wheels are custom 24-inch INFINITI Performance items featuring floating center caps. If they look familiar it’s because these are the same hoops that first made an appearance on the QX Monograph concept. (Fingers crossed these make it to production.)
Of course, INFINITI is not the first automaker to imagine a greater use for their SUV’s gaping trunk. Bentley and Rolls-Royce offer fitted picnic sets and built-in fridges, but they’re triple the price of the QX80 (or more). Rolls also offers what it calls the Viewing Suite, a pair of thrones that — at the push of a button — extend out from the Cullinan’s trunk and fold open. One suspects Rolls-Royce had polo matches in mind for the Viewing Suite, rather than tailgating an NFL game. (You don’t get a built-in television in the Rolls, although we’re sure the brand would do that for you if you waved enough cash at their bespoke division.) Still, we like what INFINITI has done here.
As for the rest of the Autograph Lounge concept, it’s pretty much the new QX80 we know and love. It’s not just INFINITI’s new flagship, the company says this SUV is a new dawn for the entire brand.
Under the hood is a powerful new turbocharged V6 engine, churning out 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. Inside you’ll find a warm, elevated brand of luxury inspired by Japanese culture and artistry. For example, the brand’s redesigned double-arch grille includes vertical strakes and LED running lights meant to evoke the imposing beauty of a bamboo forest. There are massaging seats for both first- and second-row occupants, and heated seats for all three rows.
“The all-new 2025 INFINITI QX80 is the ultimate expression of bold design, advanced technologies, and detailed craftsmanship, and we believe it re-establishes the standard for full-size luxury SUVs,” said Craig Keeys, group vice president of INFINITI Americas.
We must sadly report that the QX80 Autograph Lounge is a one-off concept built for SEMA. But, who knows, if you make enough noise with your local INFINITI dealer, maybe the brand will add the Lounge to the option list. We can only hope.
