GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Eau Rouge dumped as Infiniti looks to Q60

Infiniti has all but dumped any ideas of a GT-R-powered four-door halo car.

Although yet to receive a definitive no, it's becoming more apparent that the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge prototype will not go into production as the Japanese premium brand's go-to halo vehicle.

Instead the task looks set to fall to the sleek new Q60 coupe, recently shown in Detroit but making its Euro debut in Geneva. It's due in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2016 and referred to by Infiniti President Roland Kruger as "a brand shaper".

"We have a performance car, and it's the one you see here," Kruger told motoring.com.au.

"I think with 400hp [298kW], digital suspension, the second-generation direct adaptive electric steering and all-wheel drive, we have a very good proposition," the Infiniti boss stated.

When asked if the Eau Rouge was no more, he simply said: "We are here to talk about the Q60."

The brand's new VR30 twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine produces peak torque of 475Nm and runs through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. In the Q60 an intelligent all-wheel drive system is employed. Defaulting drive to 50:50 front to rear, it can revert to 100 per cent rear drive if the system detects additional traction is not required.

Q60 is also available in certain markets with a lower-tune 224kW version of the V6. It will also be offered with a 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and rear-wheel drive.

Infiniti's 'Dynamic Digital Suspension' is comprised of electronically-adjustable dampers that stiffen ride through sport and sport plus to sharpen response.

It works with the latest Direct Adaptive Steering system, which has been subjected to 'over 625,000 miles [that's 1,000,000km] of testing' and can make 1000 steering adjustments per second.

"It is the first step towards autonomous driving," said Kruger.

The new VR30 twin-turbo V6 has also been rolled out into the updated Q50 sedan that is expected locally in the latter half of 2016.