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Infiniti FX designed by Sebastian Vettel (2011)

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

01 September 2011 12:59

This bespoke one-off Infiniti FX has been designed by reigning F1 champion Sebastian Vettel - and it'll be at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

Vettel, who drives for Red Bull Racing, is also an ambassador for Nissan's upmarket car division. Infiniti is a sponsor of RBR, and so Vettel is often seen at Infiniti events. You can watch him discussing his car with Nissan design chief Shiro Nakamura at the 2011 Geneva motor show in our video below.

So what's new on the Infiniti FX Sebastian Vettel?

It's the fastest, lightest FX yet, says Infiniti, and it'll top 186mph.

Infiniti has taken a regular FX50S and made a raft of - as yet unspecified - changes to the engine, suspension and body.

Red Bull Racing has also put the FX through its wind tunnel to tweak up the aerodynamics. These first official photographs reveal a carbon-effect rear diffuser and a high-mounted boomerang spoiler.

So it's the next Infiniti special edition?

Probably. Infiniti wants to get the full benefit of its association with Red Bull, and we've already predicted Red Bull-badged performance versions in the spirit of the Renault Clio Williams.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn recently told CAR why Infiniti had ploughed considerable sums of money into the Red Bull sponsorship deal. 'Infiniti has a very low level of awareness, that’s one of its big problems. When people hear about the car, when people walk into showrooms, practically 50% are transformed into customers. Which means our problem is awareness.

'People need to know what an Infinti is, what products it sells. What is the best way to make people aware of a brand? Well, Formula One is a great place. So we started to look at F1... 

'I was told by my team that awareness in Europe for Infiniti was about 2%. We are expecting that after the first year of F1, it’s going to move to 4%. That is going to continue to increase.'

The full story of the FX by Sebastian Vettel will be issued closer to the 13 September 2011 press day at the IAA, or Frankfurt motor show as we call it round these parts.