Infiniti Q50 (2013) e Q60 (2014) - com motores Mercedes

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Mais umas fotos de Goodwood:

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[Rendering] - Infiniti Q60

[Bravo2011]

Interessante, muito interessante. A Infiniti está num bom caminho, a meu ver.

[ShakesBeer]

Espetacular!

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[Teste] - Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge (protótipo) - Autocar



The high-performance Q50 Eau Rouge is more than just a concept and previews what could be an incredible sports saloon

What is it?
Infiniti’s four-door retort to the likes of the Audi RS6, BMW M5, Jaguar XFRand Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG – the rapid Q50 Eau Rouge.

First unveiled as a so-called concept at the Detroit motor show back in January, the four-wheel drive performance saloon, which runs a modified engine from no less a car than the mighty Nissan GT-R, is the brain child of former Infiniti president, Johan de Nysschen, now residing at Cadillac.

Originally assembled as a styling model to test public reaction to plans to take Infiniti into the performance arena with a car developed in partnership with Red Bull Racing, the Q50 Eau Rouge has now been progressed into a road going prototype.

Following a debut at the Goodwood Festival Of Speed at the hands of Christian Horner, is now being considered for low volume production, with on-going feasibility studies aiming to place it into UK showrooms by 2016.

Development of the new car’s mechanical package is being overseen by Northants-based Ray Mallock Limited, whose road car department has been commissioned to carry out both early conceptual engineering and testing before an expected green light later this year.
The starting point for the fastest ever production based Infiniti is thestandard Q50, although the changes clearly run deep. This is immediately obvious the moment you see the Q50 Eau Rouge up close. Infiniti’s designers have given it an added dose of visual aggression in line with its extended performance potential.

At the front there's a new carbonfibre bumper with added structuring around the grille and an F1 inspired carbonfibre twin plane splitter element, instantly differentiating it from the standard Q50.

The fenders have been beefed up to accommodate the widened tracks and there are extravagant looking sills that incorporate extractor ducts for the front wheelhouses to reduce pressure build up at speed and provide an added cooling effect for the front brakes.
At the rear, there is a new carbonfibre bumper housing a central LED stop light from Red Bull Racing’s RB9 F1 car, as well as two large stainless steel tail pipes. The Eau Rouge also gets a unique boot lid aimed at increasing downforce without the need to resorting to a separate spoiler.
Further aerodynamic developments are in store, according to Infiniti, including an even larger boot lid for greater downforce as well as additional panelling to smooth under-body airflow.

To provide the Q50 Eau Rouge with the necessary firepower to see it challenge the lofty acceleration claims of its keener performance saloon rivals, Infiniti’s engineering brain trust has looked beyond the standard Q50 S’s 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine.

“We considered using a powered up version of the Q50 S engine but after an initial investigation by our engineers decided it didn’t provide the necessary scope to deliver the sort of power and torque we were looking to provide the car,” says Ray Mallock Limited engineer, Tom Snowball.
Taking its place under the bonnet is the highly distinguished twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 petrol unit from parent company Nissan’s currentGT-R.
Sat on lightly modified mounts and boasting a heavily redesigned inlet manifold and intercooler unit packaged to suit the tighter engine bay dimensions of the Q50, the aluminium and magnesium engine has been tuned with bespoke mapping to endow the Eau Rouge with stout 552bhp and 442lb ft of torque.
The heady reserves are currently sent to all four wheels via a modified version of Infiniti’s six-speed automatic gearbox – if only for lack of any suitable alternative.

Earlier plans to provide the new car with the GT-R’s faster shifting six-speed dual clutch transaxle were ditched due to packaging concerns. Infiniti was keen to ensure the Q50 Eau Rouge retained sufficient accommodation in the rear – something it says would have been heavily compromised had it gone with the dual clutch solution.

To see it cope with the wholesale lift in power and torque, Infiniti has extensively modified the four-wheel-drive system, although it is still very much in an early state of development.

Underneath the skin – a mixture of steel, aluminium and carbon fibre - is a largely unique chassis. Among the myriad changes is a 100mm increase in the width of the front and rear tracks. Combined with a 15mm lowering in ride height up front and 20mm lowering at the rear, the Q50 Eau Rouge a much more planted stance than its standard sibling.

Further changes include special lightweight components, larger anti-roll bars front and rear, firmer spring and dampers, while a set of 20-inch wheels shod with a set of sticky 225/35 profile Pirelli P-Zero Corsa tyres reside underneath the widened fenders, adding to the assertive appearance.



What is it like?

A handful of laps on Millbrook’s demanding hill circuit reveals the Q50 Eau Rouge is already far more than just a mere collection of ideas thrown at a concept whose primary role is to look good on a motor show stand.

Instead it transpires to be a fully functioning prototype that has been engineered to a level of maturity that makes it sufficiently advanced to be considered for production.

From the outset, it is the engine that steals the show. Serving up 224bhp and 173lb ft more than the standard Q50 S’s turbocharged 3.7-litre V6, the returned GT-R powerplant endows the Q50 Eau Rouge with truly serious pace – the sort that should see the production version closely challenge rivals a straight line tussle.

Infiniti’s in-house performance targets pitch the Q50 Eau Rogue well into the sharp end of the performance saloon ranks, with a 0-62mph time of “less than 4.0 seconds” and a top speed “pegged at 180mph”.

With a four-wheel-drive system providing impressive levels of traction off the line, it launches with great bravado and delivers huge on-boost in-gear shove on a planted throttle.

With a kerb weight of 1825kg, the one and only prototype in existence right now is still above Infiniti’s target weight of 1800kg, partly due to it retaining a steel roof and glass sun-roof – which are planned to be replaced on the production version by a carbonfibre structure.
It is not quite as quick nor anywhere near as aggressive in character as the GT-R, but that’s not Infiniti’s aim. What it is seeking is a more refined driving experience in line with a more mature customer base.

Inevitably, though, there are areas that require further fettling before you could describe it has being fully fit for the showroom.
Throttle response is tardy at the lower end of the rev range. Given the level of turbocharger boost pressure this is no real surprise.

Although Infiniti argues it is more to do with the fact that it has been forced to reduce the torque loading of the engine to suit the gearbox, which is limited to no more than 442lb. “We’re looking at alternative gearboxes that can handle more torque,” says Snowball, suggesting Infiniti’s close engineering ties with Mercedes-Benz may provide an answer.

If the Q50 Eau Rouge’s ability to tolerate being flung around Millbrook’s most demanding piece of bitumen at high speed without surrendering its authority is any guide, the chassis tuning of what is shaping up as its future performance flagship is already heading in the right direction.
The steering, which has reverted back to an electro-mechanical system after initially sporting the fully electric arrangement used on the Q50 Hybrid, is encouragingly direct, conspicuously quick and nicely weighted. There are enthusiastic turn-in traits and with quite a bit of initial front-end bite it manages to carry an impressive amount of speed up to the apex.

Infiniti has tuned the Q50 Eau Rouge’s four-wheel-drive system to provide a nominal 50:50 drive split front to rear in a move aimed at achieving neutral handling characteristics. In high-speed corners it is very impressive.

Taut damping and anti roll bars measuring 32mm up front and 20mm at the rear helps provides great body control, and there is plenty of purchase from those sticky Pirellis once you’re committed.

In tight corners, though, and the sheer potency of the drive forces being deployed by the front wheels eventually overcomes the purchase delivered by its grippy tyres on a loaded throttle, leading to a touch of understeer and the intervention of stability control when you push hard at the exit. Still, given the customer base Infiniti intends to pitch the car to, it is probably the right way to go.

Development work is already underway to determine whether the car may benefit from a slightly more rearward bias of drive, or perhaps more advanced mapping to speed up the apportioning of drive between the front and rear axles as grip levels vary, although a final decision is yet to be made.
Ray Mallock Limited is yet to fully sort the finer points of the springing and bushing, although an earlier test session by Sebastian Vettel was aimed at providing feedback on the overall set-up.

The Q50 Eau Rouge prototype didn’t much like low frequency bumps and the front end is particularly sensitive to changing surfaces, but these should be ironed or at least minimised out by the time it reaches production.



Should I buy one?

It is still early days for the Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge, but its potential is already clear. As an engineering mule, it is very a temping proposition.
The mission now is to further refine its driveline, sharpen its responses and cut its weight in an attempt to raise its already heady performance in anticipation of it heading into production.

If and when it does receive a definitive green light from Infiniti decision makers – which is something that is appearing more and more likely by the day – it is going to take at least another 14 months before we’re likely to see it head into showrooms, according to those presently involved in its development.
The vital ingredients of what promises to be a quite a special performance car are pretty much all in place. Now all it needs is someone with daring to make it happen. Over to you Infiniti.

Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge prototype

Price NA; 0-62mph under 4.0sec; Top Speed 180mph; Economy NA;CO2 NA; Kerb weight 1825kg Engine 3799cc, V6, twin-turbocharged petrol; Power 552bhp; Torque 442lb ft; Gearbox 7-speed automatic

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Contacto: Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge (vídeo)

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[Infiniti] - Chasing the edge: Speed is not enough

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[Pebble Beach 2014] - Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Concept

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[Driving] - First Drive - Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge

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Infiniti irá lançar rival do BMW Serie 4 em 2015

Infiniti has confirmed to TopGear.com that it will showcase a production version of a brand new, two-door coupe by 2015.Speaking at the international opening of its new automotive design facility in London last night, Shiro Nakamura, chief creative officer ofInfiniti and senior VP of Nissan, told TG his plans to take on the BMW 4-Series.

"I want to make a two-door coupe. It's coming, you'll see it within one year. It'll be a production version, a little bit bigger than a BMW 4-Series, but not as big as a 6-Series," he said.
"As you know, always our sizes are a little bit in between BMW's sizes. Look at the Q50, that's between the 3-Series and 5-Series," he added.

Speaking at the launch, Shiro noted how the two-door coupe would take design elements and cues from the upcoming Paris Motor Show concept, the Q80 (teaser pictured). More interestingly, he also took on TopGear.com's suggestion that enthusiasm for that Q50 Eau Rouge concept - while still not confirmed for production just yet - should influence a range-topping version of this two-door coupe. The Eau Rouge, don't forget, is a 560bhp, GT-R engined monster saloon part-developed by Sebastian Vettel.

"We are still working on the Q50 Eau Rouge, and we don't want to give up on that, but the business case is not that easy," Shiro admitted. "We believe that it's a strong statement, and we need a halo car. It's almost a cost of entry into the premium segment, because you cannot just make affordable cars. Without a halo or performance vehicle, particularly in Europe, people don't consider you a premium brand."

So when probed by TG as to whether this new two-door could get the 560bhp treatment too, Shiro's eyes opened. "An Eau Rouge type car for the two-door? Yes, I like the idea. If we can get a four-door Eau Rouge built, we can get the same for the two-door, using the same [Nissan GT-R] powertrain. That's a good idea, let me think about it."

Infiniti of course, is getting a little more serious about its future, too. Former Infiniti boss Johan de Nysschen only last year noted how he wanted the brand to remain exclusive, how "we don't want an Infiniti on every single driveway". It's not something that Shiro wants to continue, however.

"We need volume," he says bluntly. "Otherwise you cannot invest. We're hoping the Q30 will bring big volume, particularly from Europe and China, because it's the most affordable Infiniti. Without volume you can't do anything. This industry is so tough.

"Aston Martin for example, can be niche because they're expensive cars, but we cannot price ourselves any higher than Mercedes-Benz (on whose A-Class platform the new Q30 hatch sits)," Shiro added.

So there you have it. The Q30 is coming. The QX30 is coming. The Q50 Eau Rouge is still on the cards. There's a brand new two-door coupe in the wings, the potential for a halo, range-topping car which we'll get a preview of in Paris next month, and a potential 560bhp BMW M6 rival.

Watch this space...

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Infiniti Q60 Concept poderá ser apresentado no Salão de Detroit, em Janeiro 2015

Infiniti may have just lost its turnaround strategist Johan de Nysschen but the automaker has no intention of slowing down the expansion plans devised under the guidance of the South African executive. Infiniti recently appointed a new chief in the form of former BMW exec Roland Krüger, and at last month’s Paris Auto Show it gave us a preview of a new flagship model with its Q80 Inspiration concept.

Other new models on the horizon include an entry-level Q30 hatch and a QX30 crossover spinoff, but before these arrive we’ll see a new Q60. The Q60, for those not up to date with Infiniti’s new naming strategy, is essentially the G coupe, which was last renewed for the 2008 model year.

The new Q60 is expected on the market late next year, as a 2016 model, and now Infiniti’s design chief Alfonso Albaisa has revealed to Motor Trend that a production-like concept version of the car will be presented on January 13. That date just so happens to coincide with one of the press days for the 2015 Detroit Auto Show, suggesting we'll see the concept relatively soon.

As for the eventual production version, Shiro Nakamura, design chief for all Nissan brands, previously said the new Q60 will target the BMW 4-Series but will be slightly larger and feature a design influenced by the Q80 Inspiration. Other potential rivals for the new coupe include the Audi A5, Cadillac ATS Coupe, Lexus RC and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe.

The platform for the new Q60 is likely to be a shortened version of the rear-wheel-drive platform underpinning the Q50 sedan. It’s too early to talk powertrains but it’s possible we’ll see the new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 from the Q80 Inspiration offered in the new Q60. There’s also the chance that a high-performance Eau Rouge version powered by the Nissan GT-R’s twin-turbo V-6 could be developed at some point.

Stay tuned for an update.

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Teaser oficial do Q60 Concept, que irá ser apresentado no Salão de Detroit em Janeiro 2015

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Nota de imprensa

The power to captivate: Infiniti Q60 Concept

• Infiniti reveals two-door concept for a future sports coupe
• Design draws cues from latest Infiniti models and Formula One
• Handmade leather finishes, Alcantara®, and carbon fiber feature in the bespoke interior

HONG KONG – Ahead of the 2015 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Infiniti raises the curtain on its vision of a premium sports coupe.
The striking Q60 Concept is poised to entice coupe fans with its sharp contours and hand-crafted interior, while at the same time suggesting performance and power to match. Result: a no-compromise fusion of looks and speed.

The Q60 Concept sits low and wide in a road-hugging stance hinting at exceptional dynamics and driving pleasure.

While the Q60 Concept is fresh and original, it evokes a sense of déjà vu at times with whiffs and traces of the Q80 Inspiration (shown this past October at the Paris Motor Show) evident in its finest details.

The audaciously low roofline and quilted leather seats remind one of the elegant full-size Q80 Inspiration, while the aerodynamic gills behind the front wheel arches are inherited from the Q50 Eau Rouge sports saloon concept.

"The Q80 Inspiration was an indication of Infiniti's future design language," said Alfonso Albaisa, Infiniti Executive Design Director. "The Q60 Concept is the next step in the journey. The sweeping lines of the Q80 Inspiration gave the Q60 Concept its coupe silhouette and looks while the Formula One-inspired touches from the Q50 Eau Rouge endowed the coupe with its sports personality."

The visual excitement in the edgy lines of the concept is set off by the custom 21-inch wheels, which take up the entire wheel arch. Inspired by jet turbine blades, the black spokes in a combination of mattes and chromes stretch to the edge of the wheel, further emphasizing how "planted" the coupe is.
The high-quality ambience inside speaks of Infiniti's meticulous attention to detail, clearly evident from the impeccable hand-stitched leather to the precise treatment of the carbon fiber accents.

Infiniti designers use a variety of leathers on the seats to provide just the perfect balance of comfort and support as befits a premium sports coupe. They also make the Q60 Concept a genuine "2+2" coupe by giving rear passengers more legroom through the use of genuine sport seats.

As a foreshadowing of the next generation of Infiniti's premium sports coupe, the Q60 Concept makes use of taut lines and sports car cues to convey exceptional stance and presence.

See the Q60 Concept in the metal when Infiniti holds its 2015 NAIAS press conference at 8:10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, January 13.

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Mais fotos do Q60 Concept

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Interior:

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Rendering da versão de produção:

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Q60 Concept: Alfonso Albaisa Answers Your Questions

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Q60 Concept: Infiniti Executive Design Director DIscusses Inspiration and Design

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/DRIVE

Infiniti Q60 Concept: First Look

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Mais fotos do Q60 Concept:

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Algumas informações:

- Novo motor 3.0 V6 Twin-Turbo
- Dimensões: 4,69m; 1,86m; 1,37m
- Coupe "2+2"
- Comercialização confirmada para 2016

Nota de imprensa completa aqui


Mais umas fotos do em estúdio:

Exterior:

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Interior:

[Mrodrigues]

Tardam em expandir-se, mas poderão vir a ser tiro certeiro, bons carros, a aparência diferenciada, e motores diesel...onde é que os responsáveis pela toyota tem a cabeça?!

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Infiniti Q60 Concept Reveal Detroit, MI

[MadDragon]

Tardam em expandir-se, mas poderão vir a ser tiro certeiro, bons carros, a aparência diferenciada, e motores diesel...onde é que os responsáveis pela toyota tem a cabeça?!

Nissan queres tu dizer.