The Infiniti Eau Rouge performance line may not have come to fruition, but Infiniti isn’t about to throw in the towel on performance models just yet. On the contrary, the Japanese automaker is indeed pushing forward with a range of performance models, but instead of using the name of the famous section inside the Spa Francorchamps race track, it’s settling on a far simpler nomenclature by using an “S” badge on all of its performance models.
The automaker has already used the performance badge on the Q60 with the 400-horsepower Q60 S and the BMW M3-fighting Q50 S. Soon enough, the S badge will make its way into other models, most notably the QX50 SUV, a model the company is counting on to take the fight to some of the segment’s established performance SUVs.
Infiniti’s approach isn’t just about slapping an “S” emblem on its performance models. There’s a method to creating the lineup that ties into a plan of also creating some differentiation between the S-badged models. Infiniti president Roland Krueger made the distinction to Auto Express, describing it by attributing certain characteristics to a specific color. For instance, silver S-badged models are geared towards visual and performance modifications. On the other hand, blue S-badged models will feature the company’s direct response hybrid technology with red models making up the rest of the lineup.
Using color to denote a specific S-badged variant sounds a little quirky, but it’s also a subtle indicator that the company believes is an ideal first step towards creating a full-fledged performance lineup. Krueger didn’t say if this is going to lead to a separate performance division akin to BMW’s M division and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG division, opting only to say that the company is going to take it one step a time.
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