Hinting at the Birth of a High-Performance Series

The special model "Q50 Eau Rouge," named after a corner at a famous Belgian circuit, is a concept car that takes inspiration from the "Red Bull Racing" F1 team, sponsored by Infiniti, and adds sporty features to the mid-size premium sedan "Q50." To commemorate four consecutive F1 GP championships, it incorporates aerodynamic parts and a design and color scheme inspired by Infiniti Red Bull Racing, evoking the image of an F1 car speeding around a circuit.


The aerodynamic parts, including the splitter and rear diffuser added to the lower body, and the side sill skirts, all made of carbon, emphasize the sporty image. The upper and lower parts of the front grille, featuring the Infiniti emblem, have a matte dark chrome finish, further enhancing their presence. The body is 20mm wider than the standard model, and it is fitted with large-diameter 21-inch forged alloy wheels in a black theme, color-coordinated with the added spoilers.


The roof is also made of carbon, contributing to weight reduction, and the door mirrors have also been replaced with carbon components. The exhaust finishers are dual-type, and a specially tuned high-performance unit is expected to be installed for the production model.

The interior is also coordinated to be as spartan as the sporty exterior. The steering wheel and paddle shifters are F1-inspired and made of carbon. Carbon is also extensively used on the doors and center console.


The Q50, which will also be sold in Japan as the new "Skyline," is a flagship model in North America. Following Infiniti's recent renaming of its production cars, the current sedan models are sold as the Q50, and the coupe models as the Q60.


At the Detroit Motor Show presentation, Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen stated, "Performance is a key element for the Infiniti brand, especially for sports sedans like the Q50. Our involvement in F1 brings inspiration and excellence to our designers and engineers. The Q50 Eau Rouge is a hint of a design language that could lead to a potential future performance model. If Infiniti decides to produce such a special series of cars, it would likely feature an output exceeding 500 horsepower."


Taking President Johan de Nysschen's words at face value—he was headhunted by Infiniti after serving as President of Audi Japan and then Audi North America—it can be understood that Infiniti is considering establishing a lineup of high-performance versions, similar to Mercedes' AMG, stemming from the Q50 Eau Rouge.


This year marks the 25th anniversary of Infiniti's launch in North America, and the premium brand originating from Japan is poised to challenge a new stage.