With Europe having a long history of taxing cars based on engine displacement, automakers have long dodged this levy by placing diminutive engines in even their largest vehicles.

Infiniti is hoping to get around this by following the same path, and starting in 2012, the Infiniti M will feature a pair of 4-cylinder engines borrowed from Mercedes-Benz; a 204 horsepower turbocharged 1.8 L, and a a 170 horsepower 2.1L turbodiesel. Both engines are from the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and will be some of the first technology sharing to come from the agreement signed by Mercedes-Benz and Nissan.

The vehicles are expected to be introduced at March’s Geneva Auto Show.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Nissan and Mitsubishi continue to cozy up, with the latest announcement including the sharing of Nissan’s newest flagship luxury sedan. Sold in North America as the Infiniti M, Nissan will supply what it dubs the Fuga in its domestic market to Mistubishi. The new Mitsubishi-badged vehicle will go on sale in Japan starting in the summer of 2012.

In addition, both automakers have signed on to work together to bring Mitsubishi’s MINICAB-MiEV (a larger version of the tiny electric car intended for commercial use) to market next year.

This news is the latest development from an agreement that began back in December of 2010 that has also seen Nissan supply its NV vehicles to Mitsubishi as well as a joint-venture to develop minicars for the Japanese market.

Infiniti is at your service… with a sweepstakes that could have you driving away a new car.

The Infiniti At Your Service Sweepstakes gives you the chance to win the grand prize of an Infiniti M, G Convertible or FX. Your prize also comes with a two-year Infiniti ELITE Maintenance Vehicle Service Plan. Don’t feel too bad if you don’t win the grand prize. You could be packing your bags after you win a VIP trip for two to a Formula One race in Australia, Britain, Canada, Monaco or Spain. Or you could win one of 200 instant prizes of two-year Infiniti ELITE Maintenance Vehicle Service Plans.

To enter, you need to complete service at your participating Infiniti retailer between now and September 30, 2011. You’ll receive a PIN code or VIN – just enter this number on the site before October 31, 2011. Verify and submit your personal information and you’re entered to win.

To find out more about this contest or to enter, visit Infiniti’s At Your Service Sweepstake’s page.

Automakers are stepping up their game to entice car buyers to choose their brand. Upping the ante is Infiniti – they have just launched the complimentary Infiniti Personal Assistant benefit. This service offers new Infiniti owners unlimited 24-hour access to a live team of professional assistants.

If you’re a new Infiniti owner, you can get a hold of your personal assistant using your mobile phone, either synched in-vehicle through Bluetooth or while you are away from your vehicle. Just some of the services to take advantage of are directory assistance, driving directions, dining suggestions and reservations, movie times and reviews, schedule reminders and stock market information.

“The new Infiniti Personal Assistant benefit is a great addition to the Infiniti Total Ownership Experience, providing true ‘anything, anytime, anywhere’ concierge service with the personal touch of talking to real people, not some computer data site,” said Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore. “There’s seemingly no limit what Infiniti Personal Assistant can do for you – adding to the pleasure of driving and owning an Infiniti vehicle.”

The first luxury automobile brand to offer this type of service in the U.S., owners of the new Infiniti M, G, QX, FX or EX can start using this service right now. If you don’t want to talk to an assistant, feel free to get in touch via e-mails, text messaging and online portals. The service comes free for the first four years you own the car, but if you like the service, feel free to renew it for a cost – presumably, much less than it would cost to hire someone to pick up your dry cleaning and run your daily errands.

Starting out in the United States more than 20 years ago, the Infiniti brand began an aggressive expansion into markets outside North America a few years ago.

Following on from Western Europe, parts of South America and Asia, Australia is now set to become the latest country in which consumers will be able to buy Infiniti brand vehicles.

Down Under, the initial models on offer, will comprise, the FX crossover utility, G37 sport coupe and convertible and the M-sedan, or saloon as four-doors are generally known in that part of the world. The dealer network that will sell and service these vehicles promises to be up and running by the third quarter of 2012.

Heading up Infiniti’s Australian operations is Kevin Snell, who will serve as General Manager. Snell previously worked at Nissan Australia as a Senior Product Planner and before that was at Saab Automobiles.

In a recent statement he said  “Infiniti is a passionate brand with inspiring cars which will provide Australian consumers a clear alternative to the traditional premium makes.”

[Source: Nissan]

Who would have thought that punk icon Henry Rollins would ever end up doing voice-overs for a luxury car? Certainly not us, but while the punk days are over, Rollins is a tremendous speaker, and we’re looking forward to his work for Infiniti as the brand prepares to launch its new M Hybrid.

With 360 horsepower and an expected 32 mpg combined, the M Hybrid is more Porsche Panamera than Prius, but we’re hardly complaining. There’s also a great dig at Lexus if you look closely, and you can hit the jump to watch the ad for yourself.

[Source: Infiniti]

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Infiniti has only been in Europe since 2008, but the brand has big ambitions: it aims to double its sales by the end of this fiscal year.

In 2010 up until March 31st, Infiniti sold 4,500 cars. This isn’t even a drop in the bucket compared to the likes of Mercedes, Lexus, and Audi, the company’s closest competitors. BMW sold 10 times that amount in January alone. See what parent company Nissan is dealing with here?

To be fair, the luxury car market is hard to break into, and even harder to develop a reputation (some people in America still remember what “rocks and trees” is). So Infiniti plans to achieve this lofty goal by introducing new models such as the M sedan, pictured above, as well as diesel engines on the EX and FX crossovers. Infiniti will also ready a hybrid version of the M35 for both Europe and America.

The plan calls for 60 dealerships across Western Europe by the end of the year, an increase of 20. In Russia and the Ukraine, popular markets for luxury cars, Infiniti will add five more dealerships, bringing the total to 19.

And if Infiniti does intend to build the bizarre Etherea concept from Geneva, it won’t enter these new dealerships until 2013.

Remember, baby steps, Nissan—baby steps.

[Source: Automotive News via Carscoop]

Nissan/Infiniti tuner Impul chose the Tokyo Auto Salon to make the public debut of its new 651S tuning package for the new Infiniti M luxury sedan.

While some of the aerodynamic modifications aren’t to out taste, thankfully Impul isn’t just some plastic-fantastic shop. They actually offer a full line of modifications.

Shown on this car is a spring and shock combo package, as well as a big brake upgrade with 6-piston front calipers and 4-piston rear. Added power comes thanks to a dual-exhaust system, as well as a retuned ECU and larger throttlebodies. Those upgrades are, however, only offered for the M37 and M25 models (yup, they have an M25 in Japan) and Impul has yet to announce any performance upgrades for the big-dog M56.

GALLERY: Impul 651S

While Infiniti has debuted both a new M sedan and QX SUV for the upcoming model year, their core products, the EX crossover and G sedan and coupe, have received some minor tweaks for 2011.

The G lineup gets two new variants set to debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in August. Titled the Limited Edition and the Sport Appearance Package respectively, no information has been given on the models, aside from the promise of “special exterior and interior content features.”  The G Coupe will get a sport package for the all-wheel drive models while the convertible gets a revised front end and a Limited Edition model.

The EX’s big announcement is a seven speed transmission similar to the G and M models, as well as 17″ wheels.

Hit the jump to read the official press release

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Nissan has chosen the Tokyo Auto Show to debut the next generation of the company’s top-level Fuga luxury sedan. Sold in North America as the Infinti M, it’s not clear if Nissan plans to offer the same 3.7-liter V6 (M37) and 5.6-liter V8 (M56) engine choices. Nissan will, however, deliver a hybrid model, similar to the M35 Hybrid that the company announced yesterday. Engineered comletely in-house, this new hybrid model promises increased performance with increased fuel economy and will use a lithium-ion battery pack, combined with an electric motor and Nissans 3.5-liter V6 engine.

In a sign of what is to come with the new Infiniti M37/M56, Nissan has said the new Fuga will contain several “worlds first” technological innovations.

GALLERY: Nissan Fuga/Infiniti M