Skip to main content

Infiniti gives first glimpse at the Q50 Eau Rouge concept performance sedan. Surprise, it’s red

infiniti gives first glimpse q50 eau rouge concept performance sedan surprise red
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Early last month, Infiniti teased the concept car it’ll be bringing to the 2014 Detroit Auto Show. It’s called the Q50 Eau Rouge. And, despite its stupid name, it is shaping up to be a pretty impressive car.

What you see above is the first full image of the thing that we’ve seen yet. Although it resembles the Q50 sedan on which it’s based, the body has been re-sculpted for aerodynamics and formed entirely out of carbon fiber. In total, it’s lower and wider than the standard Q50, not to mention lighter.

The Eau Rouge was designed in collaboration with Infiniti’s Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team and features 21-inch forged alloy wheels and a dual-exit exhaust sports system that juts out beneath the large integrated rear spoiler.

Infiniti is quick to point out that that rear aerodynamic tweaks draw inspiration from the RB9 F1 car. And I am sure it does, just like how the Epcot Center draws inspiration from European countries.

So will Infiniti build the Eau Rouge? If it wants to compete with the all-new BMW M3 it will. Right now, though, the Germans have the keys to the performance sedan castle.

If you’re keen to know more about the Q50 Eau Rouge, you’ll need to check back when the North American Auto Show kicks into full gear in a week and a half. We’ll be on the show floor so be sure to check back for more.

Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
The Kia EV3 could be the cheap electric SUV we’ve been waiting for
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV9 was already one of the cheapest ways to get an electric SUV, but now the company is taking things to the next level. After teasing the Kia EV3 last year, the car is now official.

The EV3 is built to be a slightly smaller, cheaper version of the EV9 -- following the path of the Rivian R2, which arrived after the Rivian R1S. It's certainly not as technologically advanced as the EV9, but it still looks unmistakably like a modern Kia, and is clearly a sibling of the larger SUV. On the outside, the vehicle has the same split taillights and very similar Tiger Face front. But it is quite a bit smaller. The vehicle will be available in nine finishes -- however only "Aventurine Green" and "Terracotta" are being announced right now.

Read more
Kia EV3: release date, performance, range, and more
White Kia EV3

Kia is on a roll. Hot on the heels of the success of the Kia EV6 and EV9, the company is already announcing what could be its cheapest electric vehicle yet -- the Kia EV3.

The Kia EV line seems to follow the rule of lower numbers indicating a lower price — and if so, the EV3 will end up being the cheapest electric car Kia has released to date. That, however, thankfully doesn’t mean that the EV3 will be a low-end car — it just means that Kia may be pushing the boundaries on electric car pricing.

Read more
Kia EV3 vs Tesla Model Y: Can Kia’s new entry-level car take on Tesla?
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is finally coming, and it could well end up being the best small-size electric SUV to buy when it finally rolls out. It's smaller than the Kia EV9, but it offers many of the same design elements and features. But there's another small-size electric car that's currently one of the most popular vehicles out there -- the Tesla Model Y.

How does the Kia EV3 compare with the Tesla Model Y? And is one vehicle actually better than the other? We put the Kia EV3 and the Tesla Model Y head-to-head to find out.
Design
The design of the Kia EV3 is very different than that of the Model Y, though they're both reasonably good-looking vehicles.

Read more