"It's about hospitality, not transportation."

That's a quote from Mark Igo, Vice President and General Manager of the Infiniti Division of Nissan North America, when he presented the Infiniti Kuraza luxury utility concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Igo stated that the Kuraza is a design study in luxury that is focused more on the use of space rather than the utility of space.

That theme of comfort versus utility is readily apparent after a few minutes of viewing the Infiniti Kuraza. While the interior provides seating for six (three rows of dual buckets), each passenger is afforded a great deal of personal space. That results in very little room for cargo behind the third row seats. And while all seats feature power adjustment, the one-piece center console that runs continuously between all three rows prevents any true interior versatility. But, again, versatility and utility are not goals of the Infiniti Kuraza concept.

Indeed, the Infiniti Kuraza is simply a passenger vehicle. Words and phrases used by Infiniti representatives during the Kuraza's debut included "strong," "vibrant," "rewarding," "offering a highly social space that provides panoramic views." One of the goals of the design was to exhibit gracefulness and serenity, which reflects the Japanese culture from which it was born. Needless to say, there were plenty of poetic terms used in reference to the Infiniti Kuraza.

Helping to form the Infiniti Kuraza's attractive silhouette are glass roof panels, flush suicide style rear doors, and brushed aluminum that outlines the grille and roof. The fluid lines of the body and glass indeed say elegance, but the mammoth 23-inch tires make "graceful" a tough sell. However, with wood trim located on the dash, on the floors, and scattered throughout the cabin, and supple leather covering nearly everything else, the interior can accurately be called serene and rewarding.

It seems odd for an automaker to experiment with a utility-less utility vehicle. But, given the fact that most luxury SUV owners do little more with their vehicles than transport themselves and friends, the Infiniti Kuraza's "let's cut to the chase" approach may be one of the more sensible concepts to hit this year's Detroit Auto Show.

By Thom Blackett

Photos by Erik Hanson