Nissan's Infiniti division is taking a novel route with Essence, a concept car the company unveiled at the Geneva auto show last March. Convention has it that automakers cart their concept cars from one auto show to the next and then, someday, the concept gets molded into something they can sell to the public.

The Essence road trip is considerably different, reports The New York Times. The sleek, stylish car has been showing up at exclusive hotels and upscale shopping malls in Atlanta, Miami, and New York. The Essence also appeared at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, an exclusive annual charity event, displaying exceptional autos on the eighteenth fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links.

What's more, the Essence is being shown with a set of matching luggage that fits in the trunk, courtesy of marketing partner Louis Vuitton. Clearly, Infiniti wants to bypass industry insiders and take this concept directly to the right audience.Continue reading...

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(More headlines: Tesco loyalty, Marriott boutique chain.)Continue reading...