Infiniti EMERG-E prototype makes its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

Following its premiere at the 2012 Geneva motor show, Infiniti’s range-extended hybrid sports car will turn its wheels for the first time at Goodwood, in the capable hands of Red Bull Racing F1 driver, Mark Webber.

Since this is the ‘only’ running prototype, so we’re sure Mark has been told to take it easy when climbing the hill, but it should still give the public an idea of what Infiniti’s EMERG-E prototype will look like on the road.

Weighing in at a portly 1598kg (around 100kg more than a 911 Carrera), the EMERG-E is skinned in carbon fibre with a shape that cuts through the air with a drag coefficient of just 0.340 Cd.

Jerry Hardcastle, Global Chief Marketability Engineer, commented: “The Festival of Speed crowds will be seeing EMERG-E in action for the first time ever, even before many of Infiniti’s top executives have seen it!

“Goodwood’s spectators will see not just an exquisite design but a superb example of Infiniti combining our own technologies with those of our partners to create an environmentally-friendly car, brimming with true Infiniti driver appeal.”

Joining the EMERG-E prototype at Goodwood will be the 414bhp FX ‘Vettel Edition’, which goes on sale in early 2013 priced at £100,800, and of course there could only be one man to drive it – double F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, who will be behind the wheel of ‘his’ FX on Sunday (1st July).

The third Infiniti going up the hill will be the M35h hybrid. The world’s fastest-accelerating petrol/electric hybrid saloon, delivering 41mpg and producing only 159g/km CO2, will power past the festival crowd each day. Between runs the Infiniti M will take pride of place in the FoS-Tech arena.

2012 is the first year that Infiniti, the performance luxury automotive brand of Nissan, becomes an official sponsor of the Festival of Speed. Infiniti’s ‘Inspired Performance’ lounge, located between the Supercar Paddock and Goodwood House, will house the Red Bull Racing RB7 race car that took both Red Bull Racing and Sebastian Vettel to Formula One Championship titles in 2011.