Tuningcars: Infiniti QX70-LR3 by Larte Design Shows Porsche Purple Side in Essen

Friday, November 28, 2014

Infiniti QX70-LR3 by Larte Design Shows Porsche Purple Side in Essen

Larte Design is a relatively young company in the tuning world, but it's built up quite the reputation. Once again, the Russian firm is relying on large and very boldly styled SUVs to attract attention at the Essen Motor Show.

One of them is based on the Infiniti QX70, or as we used to know it, the FX. The Japanese did a wonderful job styling this large SUV to look sporty and cool, but it was beginning to show it years… before Larte took care of it.

Now, the QX70 looks as aggressive as a hot hatch, like it wants to devour the road at the same pace as a GLA 45 AMG. It's no longer concerned with subtlety or appealing to 60-year old businessmen, and we love it for that.

The body kit is called LR3 and it was unveiled earlier this year. So why are we looking at it again? Because the paint they chose this time is what's affectionately known in the industry as Porsche Purple, a deep metallic color with flakes that under certain lighting conditions can seem almost black.

Larte's makeover has left the front end of the SUV almost unrecognizable. There are sharp edges everywhere and a set of LED daytime running lights that share more than a passing resemblance with the Cayenne. The boldness continues down the side with flared wings and side skirt, but the real magic reveals itself when you see those massive quad exhaust tips and the huge wing mounted on the boot lid. Does the SUV need a wing? No, but it deserves to have one.

Infiniti lends its name to an F1 racing team, we know that. The FX was even sold as a limited edition V8 model named after Sebastina Vettel (who's left for Ferrari). So we have no problem accepting the fact that Larte QX70 is equipped with a useless but very cool F1-style center brake light.

And that about sums up this car, it's a pretender, an SUV that wants to be everything it isn't. Yet just like a 30YO woman with curves dressed as a schoolgirl, we find the Larte QX70 incredibly sexy.