キューバとインフィニティの共通点とは？
日産の高級車ブランド、インフィニティのエグゼクティブデザインディレクターを務めるアルフォンソ・アルバイサが、インフィニティの新型クーペ「Q60」（米国仕様車）とともに、キューバ・ハバナの地に上陸した。なお、これによりインフィニティQ60は、この58年間にキューバで登録された最初の米国仕様車になったそうだ。
日本を含む世界4カ所に拠点を置くインフィニティのデザインスタジオを統括する立場にあるアルフォンソ。今回のハバナ訪問は、マイアミ生まれの彼が両親の出生地のルーツをたどる目的もあったとのこと。
そこで出会ったのは、彼の叔父である建築家Max Borges-Recioがかつて手掛けたミッドセンチュリーモダンな建築物の数々。それらは彼に大きな刺激を与えたという。なぜなら、そこに現在のインフィンティ車にも通じる独特の流れるようなライン、そのルーツ、DNAを感じ取ったのだそうだ。
アメリカとキューバは2015年、54年ぶりに国交を正常化。58年ぶりに登録された初の米国仕様車は、キューバにルーツを持つアメリカ人がデザインしたクルマだった。これはある意味、必然だったのかもしれない。
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- Text：Yasushi HOSODA Photo：NISSAN NORTH AMERICA
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- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
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- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
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- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
-
- Alfonso Albaisa, INFINITI executive design director, took an all-new INFINITI Q60 to Havana � the first U.S.-spec car registered in Cuba in 58 years � to trace his roots back to his parents� birthplace. Now based in Japan, where he oversees all four INFINITI design studios across the world, Alfonso grew up in Miami. This was his first opportunity to visit Cuba and see the curves of the mid-century modern architecture of his great-uncle Max Borges-Recio, including the Tropicana, Club Nautico, as well as Borges Recio痴 own home. In the process, Alfonso may have also found the origins of his own design DNA that is expressed in the unique flowing lines of current INFINITI vehicles.
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