Psssst. Wanna buy some youthful credibility?

Sorry? What are you talking about?

Youthful credibility. You know, being able to appeal to Generation X and Y, the people who invented the concept of 'meh.' When you just don't care about anything, how are carmakers going to get you to care about their cars?

Well, quite. How?

Infiniti reckons that the secret is...

Yes?

Is...

Yes? Come on.

Roof rails. Boom!

Roof Rails? Seriously?

Yup. This is the QX30 concept car, which we've already kinda seen, but which Infiniti is giving us a few more details on ahead of its official unveiling tomorrow at the Geneva Motor Show and it's all going to be about the roof rails. They curve inwards, and Infiniti says that 'they artistically "obstruct" the rear passenger's view through the glass roof, resulting in an inimitable perspective of the outside.' This is frikkin' genius.

Seriously? What else do we know about it?

Well, we know a little more about its engines. The concept gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit and Haldex-based four-wheel drive. Infiniti says that there's going to be "a family of vehicles which are designed to be matched with a wide range of powertrains, both gasoline and diesel." We suspect that means that it will get Renault-Nissan's 1.6-litre dCi diesel and 1.2-litre turbo petrol, plus Mercedes' 2.1-litre diesel and 2.0-litre turbo petrol. The whole shebang rides on a modified Merc A-Class platform, part of the tech-sharing agreement between Mercedes-Benz and Renault-Nissan.

The concept is a four-seater (with Connolly saddle leather highlighted with blue stitching), but the production model will doubtless be a full five-seater. The seats have been designed to be slimmed-down to free up as much cabin space as possible.

There's also the de rigueur infotainment touch screen, this time dubbed Infiniti InTouch. No details are given but judging by the huge rotary controller in the centre console, it might share some bytes with Merc's Comand setup.

It's part of a major model expansion by Infiniti as it seeks to make itself more relevant to European buyers, hence the attempt to appeal to both Gen X and Gen Y - Infiniti reckons that around 80 per cent of car buyers will come from those disparate demographic groups by the end of the decade. The QX30 will be built in Sunderland alongside the similar Q30 hatchback; while there will also be a Q60 coupé and QX50 and QX70 crossovers.

"QX30 Concept foreshadows an entry in the premium compact segment that provides a stylish alternative to the existing offer in this segment," said Roland Krueger, Infiniti President and CEO. "The vehicle embodies our conviction to give customers the freedom to go wherever they want, whenever they want - in a style that turns heads and makes a statement, in a way that expresses their individualised character. The QX30 Concept seeks to inject style in the segment. It promises effortless elegance whether it's dealing with bad weather, poor road conditions or urban traffic."

Neil Briscoe - 2 Mar 2015