Infiniti moves to trademark Eau Rouge

Sun, 24 Aug 2014

With Formula One taking to Belgium and the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend – boasting a reputation as one of the most beautiful courses on the calendar – all eyes will likely be on the tricky Eau Rouge corner, which challenges drivers' high-speed car control over a rolling, tree-lined hill. Infiniti played on the turn's iconic legacy for its ruby red Q50 Eau Rouge concept, and now the brand hopes to trademark the famous racing name so it can keep using it for a potential production version.

In January, the company filed for a trademark on Eau Rouge for "Automobiles and their structural parts; Fuel cell automobiles and their structural parts; Concept cars" with the US Patent and Trademark Office. According to Bloomberg, the application is still under consideration and not yet a guarantee. It's possible that the track could attempt to block the automaker from earning rights to the name. Alternatively, a trademark lawyer tells Bloomberg that the two of them could also strike a deal where Infiniti would pay a small amount for each car sold bearing the title, which could give Spa a bit of extra money in the bank.

Regardless of the name, a vehicle like the Eau Rouge is something enthusiasts have been wanting for years. It combines a modified, 560-horsepower version of the engine from the Nissan GT-R into a four-door sedan covered in aggressive, carbon fiber aerodynamic parts.

While the prototype is definitely drivable, this filing still isn't any clear indication whether the Eau Rouge is actually going into production. Infiniti might just want the extra protection on a name it's already using. Although, once the trademark is granted, it would seemingly clear the company to use it later for the street.

By Chris Bruce