Infiniti’s answer to the BMW M4 and Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 has been cancelled.
Automotive News reports the Infiniti Q60 Project Black S has been axed by Infiniti, as it instead focuses resources on developing more SUVs for the crossover-hungry American market.
The high-performance project also reportedly struggled after its lead engineer was poached by Dyson to work on its stillborn electric vehicle project.
The Project Black S, a high-performance version of the Infiniti Q60 coupe, would have become the most potent machine ever to roll forth from Nissan’s luxury brand.
Inspired by Formula 1, the Project Black was set to feature a twin-turbocharged V6 engine along with a dual-hybrid system.
The hybrid system featured two heat-energy harvesting systems (MGU-H) and a kinetic energy system (MGU-K).
The former are designed to scavenge energy usually lost to heat in high-performance engines, the latter harvests energy under braking to deploy later.
Energy from the two MGU systems is stored in on-board batteries and could then assist by electronically spooling the turbocharger to cut lag, whilst also providing additional power directly to the driven wheels.
With this technology, the engine was predicted to make roughly 421kW. When compared to the standard twin-turbo V6 engine in the Q60 Red Sport (298kW), that’s a significant increase.
Infiniti also planned to incorporate lightweight materials, re-worked brakes and an aggressive body kit to promote the Project Black as its pinnacle performance product.
To keep weight down, Infiniti used carbon fibre extensively, including for the bonnet, fenders, roof panels, boot lid, and seats.
The car first came to the attention of the press in 2018 when a working prototype was unveiled at the Paris motor show.
While the Project Black S would have never come to Australia, it would have been intriguing to see how the Infiniti would compare to the best from Bavaria and Affalterbach.
Infiniti launched itself into the Australian market back in 2012 as the luxury arm of the Nissan Motor Company.
The brand saw limited success, averaging 570 sales per year until its withdrawal from the country in September 2019.
Infiniti’s range in Australia included the Q30 hatchback and QX30 SUV, the QX70 and QX80 SUVs, and the Q50 sedan and Q60 coupe.
In June 2020 the last Infiniti was sold in Australia. Nissan Australia said the closure was a push for “greater efficiencies as the brand refocuses”.
