The infiniti Q50 has been designed to take on the BMW 3 Series - but infiniti is trying to attract a more youthful set of customers and efficient diesel and hybrid saloons aren't exactly going to gain any favour with the young crowd.
Enter the 2014 infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept debuting at this year's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. This thing has been designed to take on the mighty BMW M3 and could well have the weaponry to succeed. That level of power and torque eclipses the 431hp, 40lb ft 2014 BMW M3, which will sprint from 0 to 62mph (approx 100kmh) in 4.1 seconds.
Makers reckon the BMW will be lighter than a production version of the Eau Rouge through, so even with that mammoth intended power output, don't expect a hot Q50 to destroy the M3 over the same benchmark test.
As part of the transformation from family saloon to performance car, infiniti has given the regular Q50 a pretty heavy makeover, endowing the Eau Rouge concept with a more sporting look.
Infiniti has not yet announced if the Q50 Eau Rouge concept will get the green light of production, but when it does get confirmed, expect to be able to buy one in late 2015 or early 2016, priced from $90,000 (Rs. 56.5 Lakhs).
When the Q50 Eau Rouge concept was revealed in Detroit, Johan de Nysschen hinted that if a production version ever happened it would have around 500 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of toruque, which is a significant hike over the current Q50. Infiniti hasn't announced any details of the engine that is going to debut in Geneva, but it's expected that it will be a turbocharged six-cylinder.
