Infiniti whetted enthusiasts’ appetites when it unveiled a GT-R-powered Q50 at last year’s Detroit Motor Show. Called Q50 Eau Rouge, the concept seemed nearly ready for production but the latest reports indicate that it has been put on an indefinite hiatus.
The word comes from none other than Johan de Nysschen, the former CEO of Infiniti and the current boss of Cadillac. Writing on his personal Facebook page, de Nysschen claims that he was the driving force behind the M5-fighting sports sedan and that its development has been sidetracked since his departure.
“Tell any Cadillac or Audi engineer “build me a 560hp sports sedan” and you have to reign them in. At Infiniti, it seems easier to push water uphill,” wrote the famously outspoken executive.
In a follow-up comment, de Nysschen justified the provocative post by explaining that he is trying to motivate engineers because “[Infiniti] really wants, needs and deserves that car.” Powered by a 560-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 engine, the Q50 Eau rouge was set to finally give Infiniti a world-class sports sedan capable of fighting head-to-head against BMW’s M division and Mercedes-AMG.
Infiniti has remained silent about the matter, so whether the Q50 Eau Rouge will remain a concept or get the proverbial green light for production is up in the air.
