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Detroit Motor Show

Eau god: it’s the Infiniti Eau Rouge

Published: 02 Jan 2014

This is the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, a new ‘high-performance design concept' from Nissan's posh brand.

Named after the sphincter-puckering corner of Belgian circuit, it'll be officially revealed at the Detroit show later this month, presumably to the bemusement of Americans who have never heard of Spa Francorchamps. Or indeed Belgium.

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The Q50 Eau Rouge is the first fruit of Infiniti's collaboration with the Red Bull F1 team, a collaboration that has seen some bloke called ‘Sebastian Vettel' appointed Infiniti's Director Of Performance. Rumours the Eau Rouge contains a special ‘Multi 21' button allowing you to vanquish Australians in your path remain unconfirmed.

We can confirm, however, that the Eau Rouge gets far more aggressive aerodynamic gubbinry than the standard Q50 saloon. Lower and wider, the Eau Rouge features a ‘deep and detailed' carbon fibre front splitter, rear diffuser and sill skirts. The roof, too, is rendered of carbon fibre, atop 21-inch wheels and a dual-exit exhaust. All good.

However, we don't yet know how much power lurks below that F1-inspired bodywork. The fastest Q50 available currently in the US is a 360bhp hybrid capable of getting from 0-60mph in just under five seconds, but Infiniti also has access to the hulking 385bhp 5.0-litre doing service in the hulking QX70 SUV. And of course, the explosive twin-turbo V6 from the Nissan GT-R. Choices, choices.

All shall become clear in Detroit, but Infiniti says if you can't wait that long, you can help ‘unveil' the Q50 Eau Rouge quicker on social media by... actually, we stopped listening at that point. Sorry.

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TG hopes this is the first in a series of Infiniti specials named after great corners of the world. The QX70 Follow Through has quite a ring to it, don't you think?

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