Infiniti might be a newcomer to Europe – in fact, the automaker’s European HQ is based in Switzerland, making Geneva its home field – but it's been building performance cars for 20 years.

Celebrating this milestone, the premium Nissan brand has unveiled a spectacular concept car: the Infiniti Essence.

The name speaks for itself. The Essence is everything Infiniti does and wants to represent. And while a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive supercar may not appear to be exactly in keeping with these economic and efficiency-oriented times, the Essence does debut Infiniti's new hybrid gas-electric drivetrain.

For the Essence, this combines a massively tweaked 440 horsepower version of Infiniti's existing 3.7-liter V6 and a 160-horse electric motor. Not only providing a 600-horsepower total output, the system would allow the Essence to travel on electric power alone through low-emissions zones. Don't expect ordinary production Infiniti hybrids to deliver quite such heady power.

No performance figures have been released – though it's safe to say the instant torque delivery of the electric motor alone should make it extremely rapid – but Infiniti says the Essence would get 35.3 mpg and emit just 190g/km CO2. That’s an amazing achievement for such a high-powered machine.

And the Essence is stunning in the metal. A Japanese Ferrari or Maserati: The influence is clear, but that’s not a bad thing. Apparently, it's not supposed look aggressive – you could have fooled us – but rather “inviting,” and the surface treatment with its complex crease lines is sensational.

The vents on the side are designed to resemble a “kanzashi” - the hairpin used by women when dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono. And in place of side mirrors, the Essence has discreet rear-view cameras – so there's no interrupting its free-flowing, Japanese calligraphy-style form.

Further design highlights include the C-shaped c-pillars and the pronounced ridged edges to the roof. The grille features an illuminated Infiniti badge, and details are expressed in stainless steel and aluminium throughout – including the interior, which is asymmetrical, with different colors denoting the driver and passenger zones.

Leather, Alcantara, and hand-painted wood reminiscent of traditional Japanese lacquerware further enhance the cabin's unique character. Passengers can bask in its “functional minimalism” while their baggage luxuriates in specially created Louis Vuitton luggage, crafted to perfectly fit into the available trunk space.

Overall, the Essence is a fabulous creation, which makes it even more of a shame that the vehicle was hidden out of the way at the back of Geneva’s top hall. Infiniti really needs to get people to see this car if it wants them to accept it as a genuine alternative to the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

G37 Convertible

Also on the Infiniti stand is the first European glimpse of the new G37 Convertible. This is set to go head-to-head with the Lexus IS 250C, which is also here at the show. Like the Lexus, it boasts a folding metal hardtop and open-air seating for four; both cars are aimed directly at the similar 3 Series Convertible.

With a 320-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine from parent company Nissan under the hood, the Infiniti lands the first blow on the 2.5-liter Lexus, which can manage only 205 horses. Driving through a 7-speed auto or 6-speed manual gearbox, the G37 should keep the 306-horsepower 335i version of the drop-top 3 Series honest, too.

Standard equipment is generous, including standard leather upholstery, heated and power-operated seats, keyless ignition and a reversing camera. Options allow for an even more luxurious spec with a Bose stereo and multi-zone climate control, both of which self-adjust according to speed and whether or not you’ve got the roof down. Clever stuff.