2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge Ready for Goodwood Premiere

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge will continue its apparently inexorable march to the marketplace this weekend, when a prototype of the hi-po sport sedan makes its driving debut at the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed in West Sussex, England.

As some folks may remember, the 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept premiered earlier this year in Detroit, at the North American International Auto Show, and drew its inspirations from the Infiniti Red Bull Formula One racing team. However, that was just a non-running design study that was meant to show off a highly aggressive aero upgrade, with carbon-fiber body pieces, massive 21-inch alloy wheels and a stunning exterior finish.

Now, it's true that the Goodwood prototype may not have the same kind of high-gloss, straight-from-the-factory appearance as the show car, but it will have a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 installed. The powerplant is expected to deliver some 568 hp and more than 600 lb.-ft. of torque, enough to propel the car from 0-60 in fewer than four seconds, while also enabling a top speed in excess of 180 mph. Even better, Infiniti reports that four-time Formula One driving champ Sebastien Vettel—also the brand's director of performance—took "an active part in the testing program" to make sure the end result could meet his own strict driving criteria.

Goodwood attendees will be among the first to see that for themselves, and they also can expect a few other Infiniti-inspired highlights at the event, including an opportunity to talk to Sebastian Buemi, who will be among those putting the protoype through its paces. Also a veteran test/reserve driver for the Infiniti Red Bull F1 team, Buemi will both discuss his experiences with the 2014 Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge and provide an update on the Formula One season. And when it's not making performance runs across the grounds of Goodwood House, where the Festival is held, the Eau Rouge will be on public display so fans can see the car up close.

Just note that, per the automaker, "the most powerful Infiniti ever has not been confirmed for production, [although] Infiniti will continue to listen to feedback from potential customers."

On the other hand, the standard2014 Infiniti Q50, priced from $37,150, is on sale now.