Infiniti’s high-performance prototype super-saloon called the Q50 Eau Rouge has finally come face to face with Eau Rouge, the signature high-speed corner of the famed Spa-Francorchamps race circuit in Belgium, from which the car takes its name.
The car was driven by the four-time Formula One World Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel as part of a social media powered race against US professional race driver Parker Kligerman and Nine-Ball World Champion snooker player Pan Xiaoting of China.
Spa’s notoriously fickle weather was true to form with heavy rain dousing the track throughout Vettel’s test run in the Q50 Eau Rouge.
Vettel has been involved in the ongoing development of the Q50 Eau Rouge prototype which was first revealed as a design concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January this year. The prototype was subsequently shown at the Beijing Auto Show in April.
“Even though it was difficult to get a proper feel for the car’s performance due to the wet track, the engineering team have made definite improvements to the car in the areas of steering and suspension since I first drove it earlier in the year,” said Vettel. “There is no shortage of power from the Q50 Eau Rouge.
The Q50 Eau Rouge is powered by an aluminium and magnesium twin-turbo, 24-valve, 3.8-litre V6 engine that develops an exhilarating 560hp, with engine torque measured at 600Nm.
Originally a design concept of what a high-performance variant of the Infiniti Q50 premium sports saloon could look like, the Q50 Eau Rouge lives on as a dynamic development vehicle with production plans currently under evaluation.
Source: Infiniti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvc-BUrSg68
