Infiniti Gives The QX80 An Engine From The Nissan GT-R

by AutoGuide.com News Staff

Published: October 27th, 2025

infiniti gives the qx80 an engine from the nissan gt r

Infiniti has unveiled one of the most extreme builds at this year’s SEMA Show — a QX80 transformed into a performance prototype called the QX80 R-Spec. The project swaps out luxury-first refinement for genuine track-inspired engineering, borrowing heavily from Nissan’s GT-R parts bin — including its hand-built VR38DETT twin-turbocharged V6.

Under the hood, the GT-R engine has been extensively reworked. The 3.8-liter V6 features Garrett G-series turbochargers, JE pistons, Boostline connecting rods, and ARP hardware, along with ETS exhaust manifolds and a MOTEC engine management system. Infiniti says the engine is capable of producing around 1,000 horsepower, supported by custom cooling and fueling systems designed for sustained high output.

Beyond the powertrain, the R-Spec incorporates substantial chassis and suspension work. Infiniti engineers fitted custom coilovers with Eibach springs, which required relocating the steering rack and modifying the front suspension geometry to manage bump steer. Stopping power comes from carbon-ceramic brakes sourced from the GT-R, tucked behind 24-inch bronze wheels wrapped in Yokohama PARADA Spec-X tires.

A wide-body conversion and front splitter help balance the SUV’s stance, while a Midnight Purple finish — a nod to the GT-R T-Spec Takumi Edition — ties the project back to Nissan’s performance heritage. The exhaust system exits through dual GT-R-style pipes integrated into a reshaped rear bumper.

According to Tiago Castro, Infiniti Americas vice president, the R-Spec was built as an engineering showcase rather than a production concept.

“QX80 R-Spec is extreme, aggressive, and a showcase of what Infiniti can do when our engineering and design teams take off all the guardrails,” Castro said.

This article was co-written using AI and was then heavily edited and optimized by our editorial team.

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