DETROIT MOTOR SHOW: Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge

Infiniti has revealed a “high-performance” concept car based on its all-new Q50 mid-size sedan, which is due on sale in Australia early next month.

No engine or performance details have been released ahead of its world debut at the Detroit motor show on January 13, Infiniti saying only that the car exhibits its design vision for future high-performance models.

If the Q50 Eau Rouge enters production it could be the Nissan luxury brand’s first direct rival for premium rear-wheel drive German sports sedans like the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG.

Infiniti says the Q50 show car’s design was influenced by its technical collaboration with the Formula One championship-winning Red Bull Racing team and inspired by “muscularity, refinement and understated performance intent".

It features carbon composite bodywork, with body panels “redesigned with aerodynamics in mind” and manufactured in carbon-fibre.

Infiniti says only the roof and door profiles remain unchanged, making the Eau Rouge lower, wider and presumably lighter than the standard Q50.

Highlights include a carbon-fibre roof, front splitter, rear diffuser, side skirts and door mirror caps, plus 21-inch forged alloy wheels and a dual-exit sports exhaust system below a large integrated rear spoiler.

“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,” said Infiniti’s Executive Design Director Alfonso Albaisa.

“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.”

Infiniti will launch the standard Q50 in Australia in early February, powered by 125kW 2.1-litre turbo-diesel and 264kW 3.5-litre V6 petrol-electric powertrains.

Both models will come with a seven-speed automatic transmission and the Q50 Hybrid is capable of 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds and 7.5L/100km fuel consumption. Wheel sizes range from 17- to 19-inch.

The Q50 was revealed at last year’s Detroit show and the Eau Rouge is named after a corner at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack.

Nissan launched its Infiniti brand in Australia in August 2012 but sold only 280 vehicles here to November last year and axed prices by at least $7500 across the range in September.

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