Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept bows again, now with more GT-R [w/video]

Tue, 04 Mar 2014

Think back to the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and you'll remember the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept – a sedan that showed the potential design direction for a seriously high-performance take on the Japanese automaker's new entry-level luxury sedan. And while the show car we saw in Detroit was all well and good, it lacked something. Specifically, an engine. Kind of an important thing for a performance concept, right?

Here in Geneva, Infiniti rolled out that same Q50 Eau Rouge, but with one major modification: the sedan now boasts a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 under its hood – the same engine that's found in the Nissan GT-R supercar. In the Eau Rouge, this V6 is tuned to produce 560 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, sent to the ground via the GT-R's all-wheel-drive system. Of course, this super-hot Q50 is still purely a concept, but Infiniti says that the potent engine underhood will allow the sedan to sprint to 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds, on its way to a top speed of over 180 mph.

The oft-fabled "four-door GT-R" still isn't confirmed for production, so for now, all we can do is cross our fingers (and toes). Check out the Q50 and its new beating heart in the gallery, above, and scroll below to hear what that potent Eau Rouge sounds like.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge roars into life – 560-hp engine revealed

- Twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine, 7-speed gearbox, all-wheel drive Power output of 560 hp and 600 Nm of torque
- Q50 sports sedan to receive 2.0-liter turbo charged gasoline engine in Europe

Geneva / Hong Kong – Infiniti has boosted excitement in the high-performance premium sports sedan segment at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show by revealing a powerful engine for the Q50 Eau Rouge concept. The beating heart of the Eau Rouge – a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine – was revealed on the Infiniti show stand today.

The Q50 Eau Rouge – a high-performance concept car based on the premium manufacturer's award-winning Q50 sport sedan – was first revealed at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January as a Formula One inspired, carbon fiber aero- enhanced concept. Q50 Eau Rouge now tells a compelling power story with a full 560 hp and 600 Nm of torque on demand.

"Building on the extremely positive feedback on the Q50 Eau Rouge at its recent Detroit Auto Show launch, we decided to further whet the appetite of performance sports sedan fans by engineering this powerful heart into our blood-red beast," said Johan de Nysschen, president of Infiniti Motor Company Limited.

"A car with such pronounced styling treatments demands the very best in terms of high-performance powertrains, which is why we installed this V6 twin- turbocharged, 7-speed combination as an example of what a potential powertrain for the Q50 Eau Rouge may look and sound like."

The 3799cc V6, 24-valve, twin-turbocharged gasoline engine partners a full- time, all-wheel drive system with 50/50 front-to-rear torque split. Predicted acceleration of 0-60 mph in less than four seconds and a top speed close to 180 mph would put the Q50 Eau Rouge firmly into the premier league of super- sports sedans.

The most powerful and exhilarating gasoline-powered Infiniti model has not been confirmed for production, but the unveiling of the latest iteration of the Q50 Eau Rouge in Geneva underlines the company's determination to create engaging performance cars for a premium segment.

Q50 sports sedan to receive 2.0-liter gasoline turbo engine

Expanding the Q50 powertrain range, and also on display in Geneva, was a new turbocharged 4-cylinder, powerful yet highly efficient gasoline engine that displaces 1991cc and develops 211 hp and 320 Nm of torque. Driving the rear wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission, the engine comes to China in the spring and Europe in autumn before rolling out to other of Infiniti's global markets before the end of the year.

About Infiniti

Infiniti Motor Company Ltd. is headquartered in Hong Kong with sales operations in approximately 50 countries. The Infiniti brand was launched in 1989. Its range of premium automobiles is currently built in manufacturing facilities in Japan and the United States. Production in China and Europe will start soon along with the expansion of the brand's portfolio.

As the Title Partner and Vehicle Performance Partner of Infiniti Red Bull Racing, Infiniti has a far-reaching technical collaboration with the Formula One team, and Sebastian Vettel, its four-time World Champion driver, serves as Infiniti's Director of Performance.

More information about Infiniti, its Total Ownership Experience® and its industry leading technologies can be found at www.infiniti.com. For the latest news on Infiniti, visit InfinitiNews.com, "like" Infiniti on Facebook or follow the brand on Twitter @InfinitiUSA. For interesting content on Infiniti in Formula One visit: www.infiniti- gp.com, www.youtube.com/InfinitiGP or follow on Twitter @InfinitiGP.

By Steven J. Ewing