Infiniti Previews New 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept

2013 has been a defining year for Infiniti. You may recall that it was at the end of 2012 when the premium brand announced its nomenclature overhaul. So it was that Infiniti released the Q50 at the beginning of this year in lieu of the G37. Redefining the lackluster legacy of the Infiniti G37, the Infiniti Q50 originally set out to be a luxury sports sedan with a polished exterior, spacious interior and surprisingly well-tuned handling.

So far, the Infiniti Q50 has done exactly that, and reception across the board has been almost universally positive. Now, Nissan’s premium arm is looking to expand on the sedan’s success. That’s why you’ll see the 2014 Infiniti Q50 in Japan as the Nissan Skyline (or the Infiniti Skyline, or whatever they ended up calling it; it was a confusing ordeal, we just know it’ll end up with ‘Skyline’ in the name), and it’s also why Infiniti has just previewed a brand-new Infiniti Q50 Concept for next year.

This new Infiniti Q50 Concept aims to leverage Infiniti’s Red Bull Racing Formula 1 sponsorship, and Infiniti promises that we’ll see it in the metal at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show.

Curious? Check it out:

2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept

The above preview is the only image that we have of the upcoming 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept.

What’s the ‘Eau Rouge’, you ask?

As any Formula One fan would know, the Eau Rouge is a world-renowned series of extremely challenging turns in the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps track in Belgium. On the track, it’s the first place where drivers cross over the Eau Rouge (literally “red water”) stream, and it presents drivers with a series of sharp left-right-left corners. The Eau Rouge is one of the most difficult parts of any circuit in motorsports, and so it is with some gumption that Infiniti has elected to use it as their next concept’s namesake.

The announcement of the new concept couldn’t come at a better time for motorsport fans. After all, Sebastian Vettel and his Red Bull Racing team have just secured their fourth consecutive F1 World Championship Title. So, there’s no doubt that Red Bull Racing and, likely, Sebastian Vettel will have a hand in the new Q50’s tuning.

Unfortunately, we can’t tell you much more at this time. All we know is that the Q50 Eau Rouge Concept “represents Infiniti’s design vision of a high-performance variant of Q50: It features aerodynamic styling treatments and design elements which are influenced by Infiniti’s partnership with Formula One world championship-winning team Infiniti Red Bull Racing.”

Looking at the image above, some possible aesthetic changes can be seen in the new front air intakes, small hood scoops, new LED fog lights, and possible carbon fiber integration on the mirrors and front wing.

We have no information regarding powertrain upgrades or anything like that, so you’re stuck waiting with the rest of us until next year’s 2014 Detroit Motor Show if you want to learn anything more. Let’s hope it’s more than just a pretty face with a cute name.

Until then, come back tomorrow for more Japanese car news!