The Infiniti M hybrid sedan will go on sale in 2011.
A hybrid model will be among the next generation of Infiniti M sports/luxury sedans that are due to go on sale next spring.
It will be the first hybrid produced by the upscale division of Japanese manufacturer Nissan and it is expected to be in dealerships 12 months after the rest of the model-line-up is introduced.
The company said the system is designed to add to the Infiniti driving experience while reducing fuel consumption and pollution.
According to the company’s news release, “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 hybrid system will include a lithium-ion battery pack that is the same size as a conventional battery, but holds twice the power. The M hybrid will be able to run on battery power alone “in certain driving conditions.”
It will also provide a power boost when the car is under maximum acceleration and turn into a generator to supply electricity to the battery pack when the car is coasting or braking.
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