We were saddened when Infiniti announced that the GT-R powered Q50 Eau Rouge project was scrapped, but apparently, there maybe some hope for it.
The reason why the Japanese car manufacturer abandoned the project – at that time – was due to costs, as the performance-oriented model would’ve been too expensive to build. Moreover, the all-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged automobile’s potential pricey sticker wouldn’t have coped with the performance per buck offered by its rivals – and BMW’s and Mercedes’ offerings don’t come cheap.
Still, Auto Express reports that the project could be revived sometime in the future, as president of Infiniti Roland Kruger stated at a special event marking the Q30 to roll off the line:
“Every premium brand that has performance aspirations needs a halo model – a model at the forefront that symbolises power and performance. But we need to concentrate on cars like Q30. That said, next year we will launch the Q60 with a powerful 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine. That car will definitely be very special.”
So, it seems that it will take some time before infiniti will let loose a German-stomping, performance automobile, taking “baby steps” in the process with a the new 3.0-litre engine on its new Q60 model, as Kruger continued:
“We see the next few years as a grade walk,” he said. “We are still a very small company compared to our competitors and we need to introduce the right grade walk.”
Mind you, the “grade walk” will still probably spawn a fairly potent automobile, while the full-on Eau Rouge model – if there will ever be one – will come only after Infiniti will leave its distinctive mark in the segment. No need in making it if no one will buy it, right?
PHOTO GALLERY
