Fresh from winning last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, world champion Sebastian Vettel’s private jet rushed him home to Germany for the unveiling of his customized Infiniti FX crossover at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
This isn’t just badge engineering for the ‘donor’ Infiniti FX50S Premium V8, Vettel has been intensively involved in the specifications and engineering improvements which include, for example, Rear Active Steering. There’s more power, longer gearing, a 46kgs weight reduction, lower/stiffer suspension and increased downforce – all to make the Infiniti a 300km/h crossover.
To maintain the inspiration for Infiniti team members working on development in Japan, Vettel sent one of his Red Bull RB7 race cars to Japan for them to look at.
The flow-ons are obvious – not just the 20mm reduction in ride height or the new front grille – how about the carbon fibre rear wing, front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser and exterior mirrors…even the rear fog light was inspired by the rain lights fitted to F1 cars. Wheels are light weight 21-inch alloys in black and silver.
Under the bonnet, output for the 5.0-litre V8 has been boosted by 22kW to 308kW and the speed-limiter which restricts conventional Infiniti FX models to 250km/h has been jettisoned. Taller gearing also helps push the Vettel model past 300km/h, but doesn’t do much for standing starts (still its 5.6 seconds for zero to 100km/h is faster than the standard FX).
Inside there is lots real black carbon fibre, an Alcantara-trimmed sports steering wheel and sports seats with Sebastian Vettel logos.
Wonder if Infiniti Australia is working on a Mark Webber version?
