Infiniti is going racing. Sort of. Nissan’s luxury arm has signed a high-profile two-year partnership deal with current F1 champions Red Bull Racing. The move, initiated at the end of 2010, will see Infiniti become a key sponsor of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber’s team in what the company calls ‘a unique triumvirate’ with Red Bull Racing and its Alliance partner Renault.
The liaison will see Infiniti maintain a technology-sharing relationship with RBR and Renault in 2011 and 2012, boosting the company’s global profile and visibility. Renault will continue to supply RBR with its engines over the next two years; instead Infiniti will focus heavily on the hybrid technology RBR will be developing over the next 24 months as the F1 grid prepares itself for the downsizing of engines, forced induction and the introduction of electrical assistance systems in the 2013 season.
This paves the way for the introduction of the production version of the petrol-electric Etheria concept car Infiniti will unveil at the Geneva show today, which should also (and rather neatly) arrive in 2013.
The 2011 RBR cars will feature a new Infiniti logo’d livery, as will the driver and team uniforms, and the entire F1 team will be kitted out with Infiniti cars from the current range of EX and FX models.
Reigning F1 champ Sebastian Vettel will be on Infiniti’s stand at the Geneva show today when the deal is formally. Click here to see CAR’s coverage of the 2011 Geneva motor show.