Making its Canadian debut, INFINITI’s Project Black S concept will be on display during the 2017 Formula One Canada Grand Prix in Montreal, Quebec. From June 8-10, Formula One fans are invited to attend the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival, where they will be able to experience what true performance feels like through an interactive display featuring the Project Black S.
Project Black S, which made its public debut at the 2017 Geneva International Motor Show, is a collaborative venture between INFINITI and its Renault-Nissan Alliance partner, the Renault Sport Formula One Team, celebrating the relationship between the two. It explores the potential for a new INFINITI performance grade, featuring unique-for-the-road technology inspired by Formula One.
Suggesting a radical reinterpretation of the INFINITI Q60 coupe, the Project Black S features a stand-out, aerodynamically-optimized new design. It also hints at how a performance hybrid powertrain – developed in close collaboration with the Renault Sport Formula One Team – could significantly enhance the performance and dynamics of an INFINITI production car.
“As a premium car manufacturer and a technical partner to the Renault Sport Formula One Team, it makes sense for INFINITI to explore the possibility of bringing innovative high-performance hybrid technology to our customers,” said Stephen Lester, managing director, INFINITI Canada. “Project Black S signifies INFINITI’s desire to realize higher levels of performance and driver engagement, and we are thrilled to showcase it during the upcoming 2017 Formula One Canada Grand Prix.”
The performance hybrid powertrain being explored through Project Black S features an ‘energy recovery system’ (ERS) to harvest energy, deploying recovered electric power to boost power and torque. The result is instant, significant, lag-free acceleration. Inspired by the dual-hybrid system proven in Formula One, the technology does not yet exist in a current road car.
A new ‘Black S’ grade, showcased by the Project Black S concept, could represent the maximum level of performance and dynamic capability offered by INFINITI. The company believes there is potential for a ‘Black S’ grade that offers progressive levels of product enhancement – including higher power and torque from innovative powertrains, new or uprated suspension systems, and unique design elements.
This technical collaboration with the Renault Sport Formula One Team has enabled INFINITI to explore the potential for a road-going Formula One-inspired ERS system – a first for a production vehicle. With its multiple links to motorsport, Project Black S would be the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s first consumer-facing Formula One-inspired car.
The Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival will be held from June 8-10 on Crescent Street at Corner Boul De Maisonneuve O. In addition to the Project Black S display, fans will also have the opportunity to meet Canadian Renault Sport Formula One Team Test Driver Nicholas Latifi, who will be hosting an autograph session during the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 10. For more information on the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival, please visit: http://crescentgrandprix.com.
