Infiniti‘s first hybrid, the M Hybrid luxury sedan, will go on sale March 16th, priced from $53,700. Also available with two gasoline-only engines, the M sits atop the Infiniti lineup as the brand’s flagship sedan.

For comparison’s sake, the M35h is $6,000 more than the base M37, but undercuts the top-level M56 by about as much.

Powering the M Hybrid is a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 50 kW electric motor to deliver a total of 350-hp, enabling speedy acceleration. Fuel economy doesn’t suffer as a result of all that power either, with Infiniti claiming 27-mpg city and 32-mpg highway for a combined total of 29-mpg.

Standard features include leather seats, 18-inch wheels and Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, while high-tech options include Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention.

GALLERY: 2012 Infiniti M35h

Official release after the jump:

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Infiniti still doesn’t have much of a presence in Europe, but the brand it looking to continue to grow thanks to a strong lineup of sport-oriented luxury models on one side, and an expanding hybrid and EV initiative on the other. The latest addition to the Infiniti lineup, the M35h, has plenty of potential with a strong combination of luxury, performance and fuel economy.

On display at the Paris Auto Show, the M35h uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine to produce 302-hp and 258 ft-lbs of torque and is joined by an electric motor that adds 67-hp more. The system uses a lithium-ion battery pack that Infiniti says allows for more driving to be done under electric power. Infiniti also boasts an industry-first clutch setup that has been installed between the gasoline engine and electric motor.

What really maters, however, are the numbers, with Infiniti making some impressive claims. The car is touted to get 38.6 mpg, while also being able to hit 60-mph in just 5.9 seconds. What isn’t clear is if those mpg numbers are based on the more generous European test cycle.

GALLERY: Infiniti M35h

Infiniti will officially debut the production version of the M35 hybrid at the LA Auto Show later this year and it’s likely to be followed by more hybrid models from the Japanese luxury automaker. According to an Automotive News interview with Ben Poore, VP of Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury arm is currently studying what other models could use the hybrid setup.

Included in the list of most likely candidates are the G sedan, as well as the EX and FX crossovers. According to Nissan North America product planning boss Larry Dominique, the M’s hybrid system will work in all three of these platforms and was designed that way from the start.

The hybrid system that will debut in the M35 h will deliver a significant increase in fuel economy. According to Infiniti’s own engineers the M35 should deliver anywhere from a 60 percent to 90 percent improvement over the standard gasoline-powered model. Impressively, the new Infiniti hybrid powertrain is also touted to be both lighter, simpler and less expensive than, say, Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, which delivers a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy.

[Source: Automotive News]

Nissan aims to almost double the fuel economy of its new Infiniti M luxury sedan with a hybrid version due out in 2012. Engineers at the Japanese automaker have been working hard on a new type of hybrid system for half a decade, preparing it for use in the upcoming M35 Hybrid.

The new setup uses one electric motor and two clutches, making it far less complex than Toyota’s current setup and also much cheaper. According to Nissan’s top rear-wheel drive hybrid engineer Koichi Hayasaki, the company’s new hybrid system does away with the need for a torque converter by using a lithium ion battery and the two-clutch setup – something he says other automakers believed was a hurdle that couldn’t be cleared.

As a result, “We’re aiming for an improvement of 60 to 90 percent,” he said, a significant improvement over the 30 percent improvement produced by full hybrid systems like Toyota’s or the 15 percent improvement by mild hybrid systems like Honda’s.

Another benefit of Nissan’s simpler hybrid system is its weight. The less complex system is not only cheaper but should come in at roughly 66 lbs less than a comparable Toyota setup.

Currently the new Infiniti M37 is rated at 18/26-mpg (city/highway).

[Source: Reuters]

The next generation of Nissan‘s iconic Z car could include both diesel and hybrid offerings in an attempt to meet increasingly strict emissions regulations and grow the car’s appeal in certain markets. According to a report by AutoCar, Nissan is reportedly considering several options for alternative powerplants that would be provided by Mercedes parent company Daimler as a result of the recent collaboration between the two automakers.

In terms of hybrid technology, the suggested option would be the current 3.5-liter V6 hybrid setup currently in use in the Mercedes S400 – although Nissan currently has its own V6 hybrid setup that will be used in the M35 Hybrid when it debuts later this year. The use of a hybrid engine would also help the Z in its home market of Japan, where hybrid cars are becoming increasingly popular.

As for diesel engines, if Nissan does decide to go this route then Daimler will most likely play a role. Suggested options for the Z include the Mercedes E350 CDI’s V6 engine or even the diesel hybrid planned for the upcoming E300 Bluetec. Using the E250CDI’s 2.2-liter diesel with 204-hp, it gets an additional 15 kW (20-hp) electric motor and lithium-ion battery that assist in powering the car. As a full-hybrid, the E300 Bluetec Hybrid can also operate on just electric power  for short distances at speeds of up to 35 km/h (22 mph). The diesel engine also shuts off when slowing down at speeds below 80 km/h (50 mph) to reduce consumption. Total output for the hybrid powertrain is rated at 224-hp and 428 ft-lbs of torque and average fuel economy is rated at an incredible 56 mpg on the European test cycle.

Nissan has yet to confirm these reports and with the next-generation Z still a few years off, planning is likely still in the early stages. Still, reports of gasoline and diesel 4 and 6-cylinder engines being used in the next generation Infiniti G have become prevalent – suggesting a hybrid or diesel Z is a possibility.

[Source: AutoCar]

With Infiniti having just joined the European marketplace in recent years, the luxury arm of Nissan is looking to make a big impression by introducing fuel efficient diesel models, as well as the brand’s first ever hybrid.

The M35 Hybrid is based on the new M platform and uses the previous generation’s 3.5-liter V6. This engine is then paired with an electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and Infiniti’s 7-speed automatic transmission to deliver rear-drive performance, with improved fuel economy. While no engine or fuel economy numbers are available, the 3.5-liter V6 likely makes about 300-hp, while the electric motor adds 67-hp and 199 ft-lbs of torque.

As mentioned, no fuel economy numbers are available, but we should see a marked improvement over the new M37′s 18/26 (city/highway) rating.

Infiniti will bring the M35 Hybrid to market by the Spring of 2011.

GALLERY: Infiniti M35 Hybrid

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