2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid Confirmed For Production

[HighestOfHigh]

2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid Confirmed For Production

The 2011 Infiniti M was virtually revealed in spectacular fashion at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August, but today the company has revealed its plans for its first production hybrid, the 2011 Infiniti M35 Hybrid, putting proof to rumors that have been around since early this year.

Building on its own internally-developed hybrid system--unlike the Nissan Altima hybrid, a system largely licensed from Toyota--the Infiniti M35 Hybrid promises to be the brand's "cleanest and most economical car" ever. Despite the green intentions, it's still a luxury car, and will also be rear-wheel drive with power from a 3.5-liter V-6 engine rather than the newer 3.7-liter mill found in other Infiniti and Nissan products.

The hybrid drive system promises to boost the V-6's acceleration in "power assist" mode when maximum acceleration is desired, and can also recapture energy when decelerating and braking. Under "certain driving conditions," the M35 Hybrid can also run in EV mode, though whether that will be a higher-speed system like the one found in the Ford Fusion Hybrid or a low-speed-only system like that in Lexus' hybrid luxury sedans hasn't been revealed.

Performance, driving range and transmission details will be released at a later date.

The battery pack for the car will be made of a new "laminated" lithium-ion battery setup. Infiniti says this layout offers the same size as a traditional battery pack, but stores twice the power while also enhancing cooling performance and reliability.

Sales of Infiniti's M models are due to start in early 2010, followed by the M35 Hybrid about 12 months later, in early 2011, as a 2012 model-year car.



- http://www.motorauthority.com/pictures/1036266_infiniti-m35-hybrid-confirmed-for-2011

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Infiniti Confirms M35 Hybrid Production

Infiniti today confirmed that its first production hybrid vehicle will be part of the recently announced line of 2011 Infiniti M luxury performance sedans, which are scheduled to go on sale in spring 2010 at Infiniti dealers nationwide. The Infiniti M35 hybrid is expected to arrive about 12 months later as a 2012 model. It is Infiniti’s first hybrid in its 20-year existence, as well as the cleanest and most economical car in Infiniti’s history.

Realizing the high performance/low emissions promise of the recent Infiniti Essence concept car, the M35 Hybrid has been designed and engineered to add to, not take away from, the driving experience, a key part of any Infiniti’s appeal. The M35 Hybrid is based on the all-new M, which itself picks up styling cues from Essence, the show-stopper that made its debut at the Geneva Auto Show early in 2009.

The M35 Hybrid maintains a high performance luxury sedan profile, overlaying it with the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of a smaller car, while delivering driving flair to please any enthusiast – complete with charismatic V6 and rear-wheel drive handling.

Infiniti’s hybrid system, developed solely within Infiniti’s parent group, is a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement. Innovatively, the first clutch is installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the electric motor. The result of this configuration, where all components act on a single prop shaft to the rear differential, is a consistent driving feel under all conditions with linear performance and the “direct responses” that the engineers sought.

The electric motor acts as both propulsion unit, boosting the V6 in “power assist” mode when maximum acceleration is required, and also as a generator. Along with charging the battery in the normal way, the motor recovers energy otherwise lost during deceleration and braking.

The M Hybrid can also run solely on its electric motor in certain driving conditions, furthering fuel efficiency and optimizing energy usage across the widest possible range of driving conditions. Details of driving range, performance and transmission will be released later.

As expected of Infiniti, several new technologies are introduced in the new M35 Hybrid, including a “laminated” lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack that is the same size as conventional batteries but offers twice the power. Lamination enhances the pack’s cooling performance, while temperature stability is further improved by the use of manganese positive electrodes. An end result of this is exceptional battery reliability.

The M35 Hybrid joins conventional engine-equipped 2011 M versions – including a new high-performance diesel V6 for Western Europe – as the first Ms to be sold across all of Infiniti’s world markets, currently 33 countries. All of the new-generation Infiniti M models are on target to beat their predecessors on fuel consumption and emissions – despite across-the-board performance improvements – thanks to a range of efficiency-enhancing measures.



- Nissan/Infiniti News Room

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[NarutoRamen]

I still like the look of this car, but I just don't think the premium over the regular model is worth it.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

I still like the look of this car, but I just don't think the premium over the regular model is worth it.

Do you mean the regular M37 or like Nissan models?

 

[NarutoRamen]

Do you mean the regular M37 or like Nissan models?

Not just this car or Nissan, but any hybrid car right now. All of them are like 3-4K more than their normal counterparts, and that 4K in price difference will only be offset by the Hybrid system in like 5-6 years of driving. Many people only keep their cars for like 5-6 years anyway.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Not just this car or Nissan, but any hybrid car right now. All of them are like 3-4K more than their normal counterparts, and that 4K in price difference will only be offset by the Hybrid system in like 5-6 years of driving. Many people only keep their cars for like 5-6 years anyway.

That is true. Carmakers need to make their hybrid MPG number at least 10-20mpg more then the current model to spark interest. It is still nice to see Infiniti offering a Hybrid model for an mid-size car before BMW's 5 series and MB E-class.

 

[NarutoRamen]

That is true. Carmakers need to make their hybrid MPG number at least 10-20mpg more then the current model to spark interest. It is still nice to see Infiniti offering a Hybrid model for an mid-size car before BMW's 5 series and MB E-class.

I don't know if the 5er has diesels in the US yet, but in MB's defense they have started bringing Diesels over.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

In Fuga form -

Looks like Infiniti is getting more serious about taking on Lexus. Back in August we saw the M get "virtually revealed" at Pebble Beach. We've also been following the tale of the upcoming JDM-only new Nissan Fuga, a car which is virtually identical to Infiniti's M. Then of course Inside Line dropped the M-bomb when they published pics of both the M56 and M37x after their secret pre-production test drive. Meaning we know there's going to be a 400+ hp 5.6-liter V8 M56, a VQ engined M37 (with around 330 hp -- as much or more than the V8 in the outgoing M45 makes) and M37x (x = AWD). There's also a diesel M aimed at Europe. But today we learn there is another.

Specifically, there will be a M35 Hybrid. This will be the first hybrid Infiniti and it's aimed squarely at slow selling Lexus GS400h. Infiniti claims that the hybrid parts will "add to" and not "take away from" the driving experience. As such, there's a Nissan-developed single motor and a twin clutch hooked up to the same output shaft as the engine. This should result in an uninterrupted power flow to the transmission no matter which mode the hybrid system is in. There's also a "laminated" lithium-ion battery that not only stores twice as much power as nickel-metal hydride units, but cools more quickly because of the "lamination." Look for the M35 Hybrid to hit dealers around this time next year as a 2012 model, and a full reveal of the car later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show. And now, where's the new Q?


- Infiniti confirms production of 2012 M35 Hybrid — Autoblog

 

[BKK-ES]

I really like the interior of this car.

 

[NarutoRamen]

The only thing that still annoys me is the Camry rear lights.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

The only thing that still annoys me is the Camry rear lights.

I don't know, they were kinda expected. I remember how everyone kept screaming that the previous models were to big. Maybe they took that into consideration. Either way I doubt anyone will confuse it with the camry's headlights.