China calling for Alliance concepts

APR

2014

Renault-Nissan Alliance Team

China calling for Alliance concepts

China’s is the largest car market in the world and that means the Beijing Motor Show is arguably the globe’s most significant motoring showcase.

That’s just one reason why three brands of the Renault-Nissan Alliance pulled out all the stops when Auto China 2014 – better known as the 13th Beijing Motor Show – opened its doors last week. Together, Nissan, Renault and Infiniti showed a host of new models and concepts, all majoring on performance and luxury.

Perhaps the most important premiere was the Nissan Lannia, a stylish four-door sedan with swooping lines that were created by Nissan Design China.

Although primarily aimed at the country’s rising ‘Post-80s’ generation – trendsetters looking for an energetic, sleek and agile design – Lannia “… was designed by Chinese, built by Chinese for the Chinese people, and ultimately for the world,” said Nissan’s Chief Planning Officer Andy Palmer.

Infiniti also showed a high performance sedan concept, the Q50 Eau Rouge that made its debut at the Detroit Motor Show at the start of the year.

This time, however, it was revealed that this is much more than a concept: a full running prototype has been built and track tested by Infiniti’s Director of Performance, none other than four times World F1 Champion Sebastian Vettel. Powered by a twin turbo charged 3.8-litre V6 producing 560hp, Q50 Eau Rouge is currently being evaluated for full production.

There was another luxury concept car on the Renault stand. The Initiale Paris created by designer Laurens van den Acker embodies Renault’s ambitions in the premium segment.

Other news from the Alliance members included confirmation that Nissan will be bringing the Nismo performance brand to China, while Renault showed the potent Megane RS and the innovative Captur, part SUV/part MPV. And with the show opening the day after the China Grand Prix, there was a Formula 1 theme on the Renault stand with the 2014 Infiniti Red Bull RB10 and its Renault Energy F1 engine as well as a Renault RS10 Grand Prix star from 1979 on display.