2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid -Photo
Japanese manufacturers have been leading the hybrid movement from the beginning, but so far Nissan’s only entry has been the Altima hybrid, which licenses its powertrain from Toyota and is only sold in eight states. Now, shortly after announcing the Leaf electric car, Nissan tells us that its Infiniti luxury arm will be getting into the hybrid business with the 2012 M35 hybrid debuting at the Geneva auto show.
While the company is currently being coy with performance and fuel-economy estimates, it's calling the M35 the “cleanest and most economical car in Infiniti’s history.” With technology previewed by the Infiniti Essence concept from last year's Geneva show and now coined Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid, the M35 hybrid will feature a 3.5-liter V-6 augmented by a 67-hp electric motor fitted between the engine and a revised seven-speed automatic transmission. There is no conventional torque converter. The rear-wheel-drive-only car will be capable of moving solely under electric power, although Infiniti is keeping quiet on how far or how fast. The company claims that its 1.3-kWh laminated lithium-ion battery is the same size as a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, but with twice the power, and that the use of manganese for its positive electrodes improves the battery’s temperature stability and, therefore, overall reliability.
The 2010 Infiniti M will go on sale in the spring of 2010, with the hybrid to follow about a year later as a 2012 model.
Japanese manufacturers have been leading the hybrid movement from the beginning, but so far Nissan’s only entry has been the Altima hybrid, which licenses its powertrain from Toyota and is only sold in eight states. Now, shortly after announcing the Leaf electric car, Nissan tells us that its Infiniti luxury arm will be getting into the hybrid business with the 2012 M35 hybrid debuting at the Geneva auto show.
While the company is currently being coy with performance and fuel-economy estimates, it's calling the M35 the “cleanest and most economical car in Infiniti’s history.” With technology previewed by the Infiniti Essence concept from last year's Geneva show and now coined Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid, the M35 hybrid will feature a 3.5-liter V-6 augmented by a 67-hp electric motor fitted between the engine and a revised seven-speed automatic transmission. There is no conventional torque converter. The rear-wheel-drive-only car will be capable of moving solely under electric power, although Infiniti is keeping quiet on how far or how fast. The company claims that its 1.3-kWh laminated lithium-ion battery is the same size as a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, but with twice the power, and that the use of manganese for its positive electrodes improves the battery’s temperature stability and, therefore, overall reliability.
The 2010 Infiniti M will go on sale in the spring of 2010, with the hybrid to follow about a year later as a 2012 model.
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