Infiniti has come up with a way to share Godzilla with small children that won’t leave them screaming and crying out of fear: the Q50 Eau Rouge concept.
In the past couple of months, the luxury division of Nissan has revealed a several important details about their concept for a high-performance sedan. Its front splitter, rear diffuser, side sill skirts, roof and door mirror caps would be carbon-fiber. Even the forged alloy wheels would be lightweight. A sports dual-exhaust system exiting below an integrated rear spoiler, “Formula One-inspired aerodynamics” and an interior with red-tinted CF and paddle shifters would round out the package.
However, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Infiniti president Johan de Nysschen was coy about what would be powering the Eau Rouge. He said it could be an in-house V8, the regular Q50’s V6 with twin turbos or a German-sourced (Mercedes-Benz) engine. “If Infiniti decided to build a limited series of this vehicle, it would likely feature a power output of more than 500hp.”
The company has used this month’s Geneva Motor Show as a platform on which to finally reveal hard numbers about what’s under the hood. And they were worth the wait.
Infiniti’s Q50 Eau Rouge concept packs a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 that develops 560 horsepower and 443 lb-ft of torque. Translation: This 4-door has the Nissan GT-R’s power plant with 15 more horsepower (but 20 fewer lb-ft). Godzilla is now family-friendly.
Full-time all-wheel-drive, split 50/50 front-to-rear, and a 7-speed (presumably single-clutch automatic) transmission will help the sedan hit a predicted 0-60 mph time of less than four seconds and a top speed close to 180.
Hit the first link to hear the Eau Rouge’s engine in action.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
