Infiniti's first hybrid, the M35h, launches in early 2011 as a 2012 model.
Late to the game, Infiniti nonetheless hopes to get off to a good start with the introduction of its first hybrid-electric vehicle, the M35h, which will be the first in the HEV segment to deliver both 30 mpg and more than 350 horsepower.
Delivering both “V8 power and 4-cylinder fuel efficiency,” says Infiniti General Manager Ben Poore, will make the M35h stand out as both “a driver’s car” and a vehicle that sharply curbs fuel consumption.
Designated a 2012 model, and set for launch next spring, the M35h starts with the same basics as Infiniti’s latest M model, the brand’s premier product line. Under the hood is a unique hybrid powertrain developed specifically by parent Nissan. (The Japanese maker’s first hybrid, a version of the Nissan Altima, licensed its basic drive system from Toyota.)
The 2012 Infiniti M35h will deliver over 30 mpg - and 350 hp.
Eventually, Nissan and Infiniti will use the new in-house system in a variety of product lines. Infiniti is also developing a battery-electric vehicle sharing the basic drivetrain found in the new Nissan Leaf. But Poore has told TheDetroitBureau.com that the luxury brand will put a bit more emphasis on performance when its version comes to market.
The combination of a 3.5-liter V6 and 50-kilowatt electric motor produce 360 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, though for an initial launch blast, torque jumps to 357 lb-ft. Unlike most of the other hybrids on the market, where electric driving mode is limited to not only short distances but low speeds, Infiniti allows the M35h to run up to 62 mph on battery power. And it has a special alert mode to alert pedestrians when it’s coming at low speeds in near-silent electric mode.
The maker says the 2012 Infiniti M35h will likely run on battery power alone as much as half the time around town, and can get a bit more than 1 mile at a time purely on electric power before the compact battery pack is discharged.
Infiniti predicts fuel economy figures for the M35h will reach 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway, once the EPA weighs in.
Among the typical array of high-tech features, such as navigation, the M35h introduces Active Noise Control, which is designed to reduce sound levels, especially when operating in gasoline mode.