What's the news?
This is the Infiniti Project Black S, debuted in Geneva, which shows off a potential BMW M/Mercedes-AMG/Audi RS-rivalling performance sub-brand for the luxury arm of Nissan. It's based on a Q60 coupe and was developed in conjunction with the Renault Sport Formula One Team, but don't think it's all just big wings and overt aggression - this is actually a performance hybrid powertrain.
Exterior
Obviously, we don't actually get Infiniti at any level here in Ireland and the Japanese marque also doesn't talk about the interior finish, so this is purely a styling exercise to gauge public interest. And, if you don't mind us saying, the matte-grey-and-black Q60 looks pretty damn mean. Big air intakes, colossal 21-inch alloys, a huge rear wing and flared wheel arches define the Infiniti's look, while there's 'extensive application of carbon fibre' in the make-up of the bodywork. So if public interest is what Infiniti was after, it would seem to be going about things in entirely the right aesthetic direction with this Black S.
Mechanicals
Using the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 already used as a range-topper in the regular Q60 range (in places where it's on sale), Project Black S features an F1-inspired 'energy recovery system' (ERS) to harvest otherwise wasted kinetic energy, and then using that recovered electric power to boost the power and torque. That means a potential 25 per cent increase in power - and as the 3.0 has 405hp anyway, you're looking at around 506hp using this system alone. And those mighty alloys aren't just for maximum show - they reduce the unsprung weight at each corner, simultaneously counter-acting the increases brought about by the hybrid gear, while also bringing additional benefits in terms of grip.
Anything else?
Roland Krueger, Infiniti's president, said: "Infiniti is the premium car manufacturer within the Renault-Nissan Alliance and a technical partner to the Renault Sport Formula One Team, so it is natural that we come together to explore the possibility of bringing innovative high-performance hybrid technology to our customers."