Infiniti Centre Newcastle - Opening Night, the expansion contineus for Inifinti.

The UK’s tenth Infiniti Centre was officially opened in Newcastle-upon-Tyne last night, giving discerning North East motorists direct access to the premium carmaker’s unique fusion of elegance and performance for the first time.

Prominently located on the city’s Silverlink Business Park, the stunning new facility further strengthens Infiniti’s nationwide presence and gives the brand an important foothold just a few miles from the Sunderland factory where the first British-built Infiniti  - the Q30 – will enter production next year.

Its opening also marks the beginning of a new relationship between Infiniti and Gateshead-based Vertu Motors PLC – one of the country’s largest and most successful automotive retail groups – which will operate the new outlet.

Steve Oliver, Infiniti’s director for northern Europe, said: “The North East has a pivotal role to play in Infiniti’s future in the UK and Europe. The launch next year of the new Q30 will be a landmark moment in the brand’s history and so to be opening this fantastic new Infiniti Centre just a few miles down the road from the factory where the car will be built is terrific.”

Robert Forrester, CEO of Vertu Motors, said: “As a company based in the North East we are incredibly proud to be opening the region’s first Infiniti Centre. The new Q30 will go into production in Sunderland next year and it’s fantastic that we’ll soon be able to sell North East made premium cars in this fantastic new facility.

“We know how loyal the people of the region are to cars that are built here and with the quality of its products and the global reputation it has for quality and performance we are extremely confident Infiniti will be a big hit with the area’s motorists.”

The launch event was attended by scores of invited VIPs and showcased the exclusive models that make up the Infiniti range – including the new Q50 sports saloon and QX70 SUV – and the outstanding facilities that will see Infiniti Centre Newcastle deliver new standards of excellence in customer care.

Guests were also among the very first in the country to see the new Infiniti Support Our Paras Q50 racing car which will compete in the coming British Touring Car Championship season, driven and maintained by injured service personnel. The Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One car driven by Sebastian Vettel was also on display.