2011 Infiniti M35 Hybrid

The Infiniti M35 Hybrid is the first petrol-electric car for the brand and is a sign of cars to come both from Nissan and Infinit in the future.

The technical details is a little different to the Toyota/Lexus hybrids with the electric engine being built into the transmission.

A 3.5-litre decoupling V6 engine plus a 50 kW, 270 Nm of torque electric motor built in to the 7-speed automatic transmission powered by lithium-ion battery pack powers the car.

The front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout will mean a proper engineered luxury Japanese car to take on the world.

The technology allows the clutch to fully decouple from the V6 when in both electric and power regeneration modes – in order to reduce mechanical drag and boost the efficiency of the electric motor.

The Infiniti M35 HYBRID underwent day-in, day-out driving test over a three-month period on a route that took in not just busy city streets but also suburbs, freeways and even mountain roads.

The results from the test show the Infiinti M35 Hybrid can drive in electric-only mode, with zero tailpipe emissions, for almost 50 per cent of the time.

Infiniti says there are two key factors in the car's hybrid setup that separate it from other hybrid cars. The first being the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery pack – which is twice as powerful as conventional batteries. The second is the apparent direct manner in which the petrol or electric power is delivered to the rear wheels. One of the benefits of the 7-speed Adaptive Shift Control transmission is that there is no torque converter, and therefore no losses that torque converters cause.

One other interesting features of the Infinit M35 Hybrid is the world's first Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) system. Although called a world first, it's a take on the Volvo BLIS system, which warns the driver if there is another vehicle in their blindspot, however the Infiniti system also actively prevents the car form being steered into their path

Highlights of the M35 Hybrid

* World premiere of Infiniti’s first production hybrid at 2010 Geneva Motor Show
* M35 HYBRID the low CO2 champion of all-new M Line saloon range
* Innovative new INFINITI DIRECT RESPONSE HYBRID technology with one motor/two clutch system
* Decoupling V6 engine reduces frictional losses for outstanding efficiency
* Responsive Adaptive Shift Control 7-speed automatic transmission
* Linear power delivery and incisive rear-drive handling: a hybrid for keen drivers
* Joins M Line range from 2011