Infiniti readies high performance Q50 for Detroit
Infiniti has confirmed it will reveal the Q50 Eau Rouge concept at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13. The high performance saloon, which indicates the Japanese brand is thinking about producing a rival to Mercedes AMG and BMW M badged cars, is a technical collaboration between Infiniti and four-time Formula One World Champions Infiniti Red Bull Racing.
Named after a famous corner at the Spa-Francorchamps F1 circuit, the concept car is lower and wider than the production model, with only the roof and door profiles carrying over from standard model. Designers have made the concept significantly more aerodynamic, while making use of carbon fibre to control weight. The Q50 comes with a deep carbon fibre front splitter, rear diffuser and side sill skirts; carbon fibre roof and door mirror casings; 21-inch lightweight forged alloy wheels and a dual-exit exhaust sports system below a large integrated rear spoiler.
Executive Design Director at Infiniti Alfonso Albaisa has led the project, he said: “From our shared passion for performance with Infiniti Red Bull Racing grew a collective desire to produce a vision of what a high-performance Infiniti Q50 could look like.
“The design has a number of distinctive Formula One inspired touches. In particular, the sculpted front wing assembly and the rear aerodynamic packaging take their cues from the RB9 race car.”