A Formula One-inspired Infiniti Q50 concept car will make its world premiere at next month’s Detroit auto show.
Dubbed the ‘Eau Rouge’, after a famous corner of the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps Formula One circuit, Infiniti claims the concept represents a design vision for a high-performance variant of the Q50 sedan – itself first unveiled at the 2013 Detroit show.
Teased in a single image, the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge will combine road and racing technology and feature design elements and aerodynamic components said to be influenced by Infiniti’s relationship with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team, including a carbonfibre front splitter, carbonfibre mirror caps and a ventilated bonnet.
The concept is also a likely preview of the brand’s upcoming performance division, confirmed by Infiniti Asia and Oceania managing director Allen Lu in September.
Infiniti executive design director Alfonso Albaisa said with performance being a key pillar of the brand’s DNA, the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge “expresses a deepened design interpretation of that”.
The premium Japanese car maker started its association with the Red Bull Racing F1 team in March 2011 before expanding as title and performance partner from the start of the 2013 season. It also appointed four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel as director of performance in April.
The standard Infiniti Q50 range is due to launch locally in early 2014, after being pushed back from an initially planned late-2013 arrival.
The 2014 Detroit auto show begins on January 13.
