Infiniti cars

Infiniti wants more hybrid models

The M35 Hybrid is not the only hybrid model Infiniti will offer to its customers. Automotive News reports that three months before unveiling its first hybrid vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Infiniti is already contemplating other models that could use the hybrid powertrain.

This hybrid powertrain is actually the first system made by Nissan themselves. Before anything can be said, there are hybrid Altimas in the States, but those powertrains are created by Toyota. Ben Poore, vice president of Infiniti promises that this new hybrid system will deliver "V-6 power at four-cylinder fuel economy levels" and Larry Dominque, Nissan North America’s vice president of product planning, claims that the new hybrid system was designed to fit all of Infiniti’s rear-wheel-drive models.

The M35 Hybrid is powered by a gas/electric power train system that combines a naturally aspirated 3.5 Liter V6 and an efficient electric motor. The electric motor acts as both a propulsion unit, boosting the V6 with a “power assist” mode when the pedal is pushed to the metal and also as a generator to power the vehicle’s accessories and improve the engine’s efficiency. It should be arriving in showrooms in the second quarter of 2011.

2011 Infiniti G25 Sedan

Next to the IPL G Coupe, Infiniti will also be unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance the new G25 Sedan. The new model will go on sale this September at a price of $30,950 USD.

The new G25 sedan is powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine that produces 218 HP and 187 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. It will be available in both rear-wheel drive and intelligent all-wheel drive and three trim levels: G25 Sedan, G25 Sedan Journey and G25x Sedan AWD.

The list of standard equipment will include: leather-appointed seating, Shodo aluminum interior trim, 8-way power driver’s seat and 4-way power front passenger’s seat, Automatic Temperature Control, premium audio system with six speakers, XM® Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately), 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, High Intensity Discharge (HID) Xenon headlights, 4-wheel Anti-lock Disc Braking System (ABS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS).

Press release after the jump.

2011 Infiniti G37 Performance

In just a few days, at the Concours d’Elegance, Infiniti will be unveiling two new special edition models. The first of them, called the G37 Performance, has already been caught total undisguised.

Compared to a standard G37 model, the Performance version gets a redesigned front bumper with a new spoiler element, larger air intake with honeycomb black mesh, and an upper half that better joins the styling lines extending past the sides of the hood. The G37 will also feature a new rear bumper, a replacement decklid spoiler, and optional tailpipes and wheels. The car sits on 19-inch wheels wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza 245/40 tires.

Unfortunately, we still don’t know which engine Infiniti will be placing under the hood. The only thing we do know is that the two new models have been described as "a new engine option, not an all-new model." Something tells us we won’t be getting any information on the new engine until the climactic unveiling at Pebble Beach.

Official details will be revealed on Sunday, August 15th with sales beginning at the end of the year.

Infiniti trademarks JX name

In just a few days Infiniti will unveil two new special editions at the Pebble Beach Concours. However, this is not the only surprise coming from the Japanese luxury maker. According to Car And Driver, the company has filed for trademarks for cars named JX20, JX25, JX25h, and JX30.

While we have no idea what this new model will be, we are sure that the number indicates engine displacements: 25 might indicate a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 2.5-liter VQ-based V-6, while "h" clearly indicates a hybrid model. The big question comes for the 20 and 30 as Nissan has no 2.0 liter or 3.0 liter engine in its line-up and it’s been years since the company developed a 3.0 liter V6 engine.

Going even further with the speculation, we presume we are talking about a crossover/ SUV model (taking under consideration that all of Infiniti’s SUVs have an X in their nomenclature). So, are we talking about an Infiniti version for the recently launched Nissan Juke? We don’t know for sure, but we do know one thing; this will definitely be another competitor for the German models.

TopSpeed’s 10 Best Mid-Level Luxury Cars

You’ve finally got that big time job and you want something that isn’t too cheap, but you don’t want to spend $80,000 quite yet. There is much to choose from in the middle luxury segment and each car has it’s own unique characteristics that make it better, or worse than the competition.

Just like the entry-level luxury segment, the Germans have always had the middle levels to themselves. The Japanese and the American automakers have never been able to catch up. Yet, 2010 is a new year and things might be changing in the automotive marketplace.

Let’s take a look back at our previous winners before we begin with this list. We rated the Mini Cooper as the best small car and the Hyundai Sonata as the best midsize sedan. Finally, we rated the Audi A4 as the best entry-level luxury car on the market.

Hit the jump to see who we chose as the top mid-level luxury car.

Top Ten Entry-Level Luxury Cars Under $45,000

As you have seen by now, we have a tendency to rank cars differently than other car sites. While we love practicality as much as the next site, at TopSpeed, we put speed, performance, and that certain sparkle above the size of the trunk and the back seat.

With entry-level luxury cars, finding the gems between the boring sales rep vehicles can be a pretty hard task. We have so many terribly dull sedans that are only good for taking you down the motorway to work and that’s about it. We aren’t looking for that. We don’t care about sales, we don’t care about popularity, we care about how these cars drive on the track and in the real world. We are aware that a point to point car is what most people will like, but we want an entry-level sedan that provides excitement on that everyday journey. Something that can make you smile and enjoy the drive home. A car that will make you take the back roads.

Over the course of this series we have jumped price by $10,000 each time, starting from $20,000 with the small cars and then $30,000 with the midsize. For this test, we are jumping by $15,000, to make the price cap at $45,000.

Hit the jump to see what our top ten entry-level luxury vehicles are.

Infiniti G25 Hits Dealers In China

We have been wondering for quite some time about an Infiniti entry-level sedan and they finally got around to making one, just not here.

Images of the Infiniti G25 have begun to surface on the Chinese website, Autohome and the shots show the car on the showroom floor of a Chinese dealerships. You can also have this car in certain areas in Russia.

Under the hood of the G25 is a 2.5-liter V6 that creates around 232 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. We would like to see a little more torque if this car does come to our shores.

Reports have indicated that the G25 will be heading to the United States, but we don’t have official word if that will be the case or not. It seems logical though, as the Japanese automaker would need this car to compete with the BMW 328i and the Lexus IS250.

Stay tuned to find out more on the G25.

Infiniti M hybrid aimed for double mileage

Infiniti’s new M35 Hybrid is about to go on sale and it seems that Nissan is pretty confident about their new hybrid system. The company expects the new model to deliver nearly double the mileage of the gasoline-engine version.

"Typically, carmakers say the fuel economy improvement on their cars using a ’strong’ or ’full’ hybrid system is roughly 30 percent, while for ’mild’ hybrids (like Honda’s), it’s 15 percent," said Koichi Hayasaki, chief engineer of Nissan’s rear-wheel-drive hybrid system. "We’re aiming for an improvement of 60 to 90 percent," meaning the future M hybrid will have the same fuel economy of a compact car."

The M35 Hybrid is powered by a gas/electric power train system that combines a naturally aspirated 3.5 Liter V6 and an efficient electric motor. The electric motor acts as both a propulsion unit, boosting the V6 with a “power assist” mode when the pedal is pushed to the metal and also as a generator to power the vehicle’s accessories and improve the engine’s efficiency. However, the combination of electrically charged wound wires and powerful magnets is not the only item that charges the hybrid’s next generation Lithium ion battery pack, but it is also recharged by the luxury sedans deceleration and braking.

Infiniti works on Mercedes CLC competitor

At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show Infiniti unveiled the Essence, a concept car that previewed the company’s future design language. Now Infiniti says they are working on a coupe model inspired by that concept that will be a competitor for the Mercedes CLC.

The future model will feature a hatchback-like body (it will in fact be a coupe that offers the practicality of a three-door hatchback), "but not as you know it". From the Essence, the new model will carry over the tiered C-pillars. It will be aimed at the European market and Infiniti has defined it as "a front-wheel drive car that can still deliver driving pleasure." Something like BMW has done with Mini.

Also Infiniti plans to unveil its own version of the Nissan Leaf electric car. Like with the coupe, this will take its design inspiration from the Essence concept, but it will come with a more powerful electric motor for improved performance.

More details on Infiniti’s two new models

As previously reported, Infiniti will bring two M-based models to Pebble Beach. Today, in an interview with Automotive News, Ben Poore, vice president of the Infiniti business unit, offered new details on the two cars.

The two models will be revealed in October or November with the new one being referred as a new engine option, not an all-new model. Poore described the second offering as a product in a "volume segment" that is new to Infiniti. "It expands our footprint into an area where we’ve never played before," he said. Both models will go on sale before Infiniti will offer the hybrid M sedan. He also confirmed that Infiniti is preparing a four-seater hybrid model, but he offered no other details on it.