REPORT: Infiniti M hybrid coming in 2010

Nissan and Infiniti have been lagging when it comes to bringing gas-electric models to market, with the exception of the Altima Hybrid which relies on a system borrowed from Toyota. According to a report by the Nikkei business daily in Japan, that's set to change when Infiniti begins offering a hybrid version of the M sedan in 2010.
As previewed in August, the system differs from "conventional" hybrids on the market by using advanced lithium-ion batteries that boast more power and quicker recharge times. Additionally, the parallel hybrid system is equipped with one electric motor and two clutches to allow the gas engine and electric motor to drive the rear wheels simultaneously. Acceleration and response is expected to be more performance oriented – previewed in the Essence concept at the Geneva Motor Show – while a trio of driving modes will allow the M to run on electric power at low speeds, a combination of electric and gas propulsion when under load and gas-only when traveling at speed. Direct injection is also rumored for the next generation of models, bringing Infiniti on par – and beyond – its competitors.
[Source: Nikkei via BusinessWeek]






Get a WordPress.com Blog




Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
MikeW 10:25AM (3/23/2009)
Red rover, red rover let the VQ25hr come over.
Reply
phooky 11:23AM (3/23/2009)
I personally love this car: My Dad had zero problems over his 3 year lease of his 05 M45, and so far has no problems at all with his 09 M45x. The level of refinement in this car astounds me, especially compared to the 5 and E-class, for tens of thousands less. I actually prefer the interior of this car way more than my cousin's E350.
Looking forward to what they can do with a hybrid powerplant in this beauty. Hopefully they can keep the performance and still have good MPG numbers; crossing my fingers for an M45 Hybrid
Reply
superman211 12:28PM (3/23/2009)
Yeah I really like reliability but the car looks kind of awkward IMO.
BoxerFanatic 11:32AM (3/23/2009)
meh, hybrid-whatever...
Bring on the VK50-VVEL V8 with Direct Injection into the M-series, and better yet, into the G-series (coupe, at least) as a special sport model.
DI into the VQ37 with VVEL would be good, too.
Reply
Mike 5:00PM (3/23/2009)
VK50 with Di does sound enticing, but not in the G37.
That car is already gaining too much weight.. I understand it gain upwards of 70hp, but even with 390hp or 405 if it gains any more weight it's going to be a 6 series fighter!
I wouldn't mind them making a nice 6series competitor though. Just not out of the G37!
My personal request (as a former 350z owner) would be to Di the 3.7 liter and get more TORQUE! 260ish torque isn't enough when the weight gets up this high.
3.7 liter with 325hp and 300 torque would be very nice. With the Di I hope they can tune it to pull this off! Instead of 345hp and 260 torque.
I'm not an engine expert by any means, but whenever I see a car with Higher HP and lower torque, it seems to get sooo much worse gas mileage than a non high hp. I know higher hp gets less mpg.. but follow me here..
Audi V8
4.2 Liter - 420hp - LOW Torque = 13mpg city
Mercedes V8
6.2 Liter - 475HP - High Torque = 13 mpg city.
Honda Civic Si
2.0 Liter - 200 hp - LOW Torque - 21mpg city
Sentra SE-R Spec V
2.5 Liter - 200hp - HIGHER Torque - 21mpg city.
I've showed 2 comparable engines that higher higher liter and still get the same mpg with BOADLOADS of more torque and much faster!
So why do some manufacturers have this infatuation with high hp and no torque? Is it their way of keeping up with the "hp wars"?
I've driven the S2000, the Si, Sentra SE-R and can tell you, wringing the thing to 7000+ RPMS is a lot of fun.. but its also not fun driving at for any length of time. The SE-R feels like it will run forever! Much more complacent ride and still gives all the same speed.
BoxerFanatic 6:34PM (3/23/2009)
Ok, Mike, I can grant you that the G37 is gaining a bit of weight.
It still isn't as heavy as a Camaro or a Challenger, though. And a 400hp V8 with RWD and a 6MT is probably no heavier than the G37x Coupe with AWD.
And a 90 or 180 degree V8 sings even better than an offset-crankshaft V6.
I do wish it could lose a few hundred pounds, though. maybe down to 3500...
As for the torque issue, it is an interesting one... But one also has to take into account that your example of a low-torque 4.2 Audi V8... has more torque than a 2.5 liter NA Nissan inline 4, even if it has less than a 6.2 Mercedes or GM V8... Some of it comes down to the car it is pushing around. A 3000lb front-drive economy chassis, vs a bigger, luxury laden sedan.
It is kind of like the dilemma between smaller turbo motors, and more moderate sized NA motors with similar horsepower. horsepower for horsepower, NA engines respond better, but getting the same horsepower means more engine is needed...
Direct injection, like VVEL, should serve to make the engine's efficiency band wider, and help torque, while also helping horsepower, and fuel efficiency. It is basically technology being applied to the intake of air and fuel, to make a system with a narrow efficiency band, have a larger, wider efficiency band out of the same displacement. Basically making the valve timing and lift more adaptive over a wider rev band, while only using the fuel that is necessary for optimal burn, with more fuel delivery precision.
I, like you, wish the G coupe were lighter. It is a nice car. I wonder how the weight of a VK50 equipped G-coupe (G50) would compare to the G37, and conversely to the M3 V8, and the S5 V8, which aren't the welter-weight contenders they used to be, either. I don't know that Infiniti has the market for offering two grand touring coupes, unless G37 gets significantly smaller/lighter, or the lux coupe becomes a luxury alter-ego to the GT-R, or even more up market.
Then one might as well get an Aston Vantage V8, anyway. I would think of an Infiniti G50 as a sort of junior combo of the Vantage and DB9 anyway. V8 like the Vantage, 2+2 seating like the DB9, and more affordable than any AM.
P.V. 5:42PM (3/23/2009)
I've heard/read this car is supposed to come with a 3.5 L V6. If so, why not the 3.7? That would be even better, IMO, as it gets more power and fuel economy alone (than the 3.5).
Reply