2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rogue Concept - Interior and Exterior

2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rogue Concept. Infiniti is pressing ahead with the evaluation of the Q50 Eau Rouge high-performance vehicle and will show footage of the testing of a prototype version, at the hands of Infiniti's Director of Performance Sebastian Vettel, at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show.

The four time Formula One world champion tested the 560hp high performance sports sedan at the Millbrook Proving Ground automotive testing facility, UK, putting the prototype through a challenging series of performance, handling and precision driving evaluations. Vettel's invaluable feedback will be engineered into the next stages of the prototype's extensive development program – testing components, packaging and viability.

Further information regarding the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge running prototype will be released on press day at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show on April 20.

The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, revealed at the 2014 NAIAS Detroit Motor Show, is a concept car that expresses Infiniti's design vision of a high-performance Q50 premium sports sedan.

The Q50 Eau Rouge embodies the arresting design features of the Q50 premium sports sedan - infused with the enticing spirit of Formula One.

Featuring bespoke aerodynamic carbon fiber bodywork, Q50 Eau Rouge is lower and wider, possessing genuine road presence. This striking design is inspired by muscularity, aerodynamics, refinement, and understated power.

"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 Motor Company Limited.

Further underlining the sporty character of the design study, the interior was designed to offer command and comfort. Further precision control is afforded by a high-grip sports steering wheel and Formula One-style paddle-shifters.

Red-infused carbon fiber detailing to the doors and center console complement the exterior style, and dark-chrome again replaces silver-chrome in the red cockpit. The breadth and depth of capability is self-evident; the Q50 Eau Rouge is a design concept that clearly indicates what Infiniti could achieve if it was to build a performance version of the Q50 sports sedan.

"Performance is a key ingredient of Infiniti vehicles such as the Q50 sports sedan. Our involvement in Formula One provides inspiration and excellence to our designers and engineers. Q50 Eau Rouge provides not only a glimpse of the design language, but also the performance capability of a future special series," de Nysschen added.