Infiniti to Launch Five New Models by 2018, Including Performance Sedan

Infiniti president Johann de Nysschen said at the Detroit Auto Show that the luxury automaker intends to launch five new vehicles by 2018, including the Q30, a new Q60 coupe, a QX70 replacing the current FX 50, a high-performance luxury sedan and a halo performance model.

The first to arrive will be the Q30 compact vehicle, which will be produced in Sunderland, England starting next year. The Q30 will be a rival for the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mercedes-Benz A-Class.

“The Q60 coupe will be an evolution of the Q50 saloon. The car’s been pushed back as we need to fix the design language. We need more cohesion in our design language across the range,” de Nysschen told Auto Express. He added that the design of the Q60 will be inspired by the Q50, but will feature “a more prominent shoulder line and a strong wedge.”

The new design language inaugurated by the Q50 will be consistent across all Infiniti sedan, coupe and SUV models, the CEO added. The high performance luxury sedan will be inspired by the Q50 Eau Rouge Concept revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. De Nysschen said that if the study were to be built, it would feature over 500hb and 600 lb-ft (813 Nm) of torque.

As for the halo performance model, the 2012 Infiniti Emerg-E concept may serve as inspiration.

By Dan Mihalascu

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Infiniti Details New Q50 Eau Rouge Concept, Says if Produced, Will Have Over 500HP!

As it turns out, the new Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept is much more than a conceptual study for a wilder looking aero and styling package, as today, ahead of its world premiere in Detroit, the Japanese carmaker revealed that it hints at a "future powerful product line".

Brand boss Johan de Nysschen went even further adding that a production version could have over 500 horses under the hood, meaning that it would seriously overpower the likes of the BMW M3 that comes with a 425hp (431PS) six-cylinder twin-turbo-engine.

"If we built this car I would expect it to feature over 500hp and 600lb/ft of torque," said Nysschen. "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," he stated.

While Infiniti is still working on the powertrain aspect of its performance Q50, the exterior and interior of the car have been heavily revised. On the outside, the Eau Rouge concept features bespoke aerodynamic carbon fiber bodywork with " Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One design influences", according to the company.

"The design has a number of distinctive Formula-One inspired touches. In particular, the sculpted front wing assembly and the rear aerodynamic packaging take their cues from the RB9 race car. The rear fog light packaging is unmistakably Formula One," said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti's Executive Design Director.

"The Q50 Eau Rouge is a combination of the seductive lines of the Q50 but with a fiercer design urge in keeping with a high-performance vehicle. The Q50 Eau Rouge is Infiniti to the power of four; like a bull with its shoulder muscles flexed, a bull in Infiniti clothing," Albaisa added.

As for the interior, the study sports a re-trimmed cabin with special touches like the carbon-fiber colored accents, high-grip sports steering wheel and Formula One-style paddle-shifters.

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