Infiniti hints at powertrain for Q50 Eau Rouge concept [video]

Infiniti has today released a new video of the Q50 Eau Rouge concept – a preview of what’s underneath the heavily sculpted and vented bonnet. The video treats the viewer to a 45 seconds sound symphony from the concept’s forced induction engine.

The identity of the big personality powerplant, Infiniti’s most powerful ever, will be fully revealed at the 2014 Geneva International Motor Show in March.

The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept was first revealed at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in January as a design vision for a high-performance variant of the Q50 premium sports sedan. Now, after significant interest from the public, Eau Rouge boasts an almighty powertrain that suits the aggressively styled and motorsport influenced exterior.

“If we built this car I would expect it to feature over 500hp and 600lb/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 engine we are evaluating for the Q50 Eau Rouge is a big personality, V-cylinder engine with forced induction. I think our engineers have been waiting for a project like this,” – said Johan de Nysschen, President of Infiniti, earlier this year at the 2014 North American Motor Show.

Aimed to take on its German opponents – BMW M3, Audi RS4 and Mercedes C63 AMG, the Q50 Eau Rouge has not been confirmed for production, but Infiniti will continue to gauge public interest and listen to feedback from potential customers.

“With its Formula One-inspired carbon fiber bodywork, we thought it only fitting the Q50 Eau Rouge’s beating heart was suitably sporting. Our engineers have perfectly captured the tone of Infiniti’s take on premium performance, and a car that is as impressive as the Q50 Eau Rouge sounds is surely a car to challenge performance cars in the premium sector,” said Johan de Nysschen.

Although the Eau Rouge is based on the standard Q50, almost every exterior panel is bespoke to the concept, with only the front doors and the arch of the roof pillars retained as standard components.

The Q50 Eau Rouge visibly hunkers down with new wider front and rear fenders, which extend the standard Q50 body by 20mm. At the back, a larger deck lid spoiler creates air-pressure downforce. Framing the customised red paintwork across the Q50 Eau Rouge’s athletic physique is dark-chrome detailing to replace the chrome bright work of the production Q50, darkening the concept’s demeanor dramatically.

Stay tuned as we bring you full details of the Q50 Eau Rouge at next month’s Geneva Motor Show.