Infiniti unveiled the Q50 Eau Rouge concept car today, attempting to make a step towards competing with the BMW M5s and Audi RS5s of the world. Infiniti threw down the gauntlet in the name alone, choosing Eau Rouge, which is a famous left-right-left turn at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. That’s quite the nametag for a company that has not exactly been synonymous with “sporty.”
But the Q50 Eau Rouge could change that. The sedan, even in its early stages, is dedicated to performance: It sits much lower and wider that current iterations of the Q50, it features a healthy amount of carbon fiber, and there is a huge design focus on aerodynamics.
Of course, so much of the Eau Rouge’s ability to perform with its highly-praised competitors depends on the engine, which will occur down the road. But Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen made it clear that the company would not be sitting in the shadows, saying “If we built this car I would expect it to feature over 500 hp and 600 lb.-ft. of torque. Through our various alliance partners we have access to a range of engines featuring this performance capability which, with a fair amount of engineering effort, can be developed to exhibit Infiniti character and accommodated within the Q50 engine bay.”
The race inspired theme is carried over to both the exterior and interior of the Eau Rouge. Inside, the car has carbon fiber detailing, a high-grip steering wheel, and F-1 inspired paddle shifters. On the outside, the car is clearly a huge step forward for Infiniti’s design team. It’s aggressive, fierce, and yet still very pretty. It looks like a car you would want to drive.
And, from the sound of it, that’s exactly what it will be.
Photo Credit: Infiniti
