Infiniti sports car concept previewed

Infiniti, which is launching its brand in Australia in 2012, says the concept is being developed to demonstrate how electric vehicles can combine high performance with low emissions.

"At the Geneva show next year, we will present our vision for a totally new kind of inspired premium performance car,” says Nissan and Infiniti executive vice president Andy Palmer. “Infiniti already has hybrid and clean diesel models on sale. And with an all-electric sedan on the way, the natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect.”

Infiniti has provided minimal detail on the concept, describing it vaguely as a "highly advanced range-extending vehicle". It suggests the sports could will have a technological set-up similar to that of the Chevrolet/Holden Volt and Fisker Karma sports sedan, which use a petrol engine to squeeze more life out of the car's battery and therefore extend the distance it can travel before recharging is necessary.

Infiniti models will first go on sale in Australia in the third quarter of 2012 to compete against the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota’s luxury arm equivalent, Lexus.

The initial range will comprise the FX SUV, M executive sedan and G37 coupe and convertible.