Infiniti Looks To Hybrids for High-Performance Vehicles

Infiniti and high-performance vehicles just never seem to happen. We hear about plans and see concepts that preview an upcoming model. Then, the plans fall through. The latest victim was the Q50 Eau Rouge concept that was officially canceled last year.

Still, Infiniti isn't giving up the dream. Infiniti's European boss François Goupil de Bouille tells Autocar that the brand knows it needs a halo vehicle (such as performance model) and hinted that hybrid power could be used for it.

“Having halo cars is important, but historically brands develop their base and then add in these higher-end models. One day the question will come for Infiniti, but at the moment our focus is on building the core," Goupil de Bouille said. (In terms of Europe, not North America. -WM)

“But if you look at what we are doing in F1 then you can see some possibilities. We worked closely with Red Bull, but now with Renault we are more integrated than ever and have taken charge of the hybrid modules on the F1 car. That gives an idea of the direction in which we are going in terms of performance and, while no decisions have been taken for road cars, when we are ready to discuss it, there is one opportunity there.”

But like previous times with any talk of an Infiniti performance vehicle, we'll believe when we see it.

Source: Autocar