2012 infiniti m35h Review
2012 infiniti m35h
Competes with: Lexus GS 450h, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Drivetrain: 302-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 plus 50-kW electric motor for 360 net horsepower; 376-volt lithium-ion battery; seven-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive
Due at dealerships in spring 2011, the 2012 M35h is Infiniti's first hybrid and parent company Nissan's first homegrown hybrid technology after many years of selling a Toyota-derived system in the Nissan Altima Hybrid, which is available in limited markets. Competitor Lexus' hybrids get better city mileage.
Infiniti says the car can drive on electric power alone up to 62 mph and as far as 1.2 miles.
There's no doubt about it, in response to environmental concerns and new fuel economy regulations, hybrids are slowly taking over as the mainstream vehicle of choice. Although the luxury hybrid market is only starting to come alive—with the venerable Lexus offerings now standing alongside newer contestants like the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid—the entrance of the Infiniti M35h marks something special: it's the world's first car to offer good fuel economy, incredible performance and decadent luxury in one package. Up to this point all luxury hybrids have been full of compromises—with fuel economy taking a back seat to performance.
Is the M35h perfect? I recently had a chance to test drive the Infiniti M35h ahead of its market availability in April 2011. The M35h is the only car that gets better than 30 mpg on the highway and has 350 horsepower. The U.S. EPA estimates that the M35h will get 27 mpg in the city and 32 mpg highway—resulting in a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg. In addition to coaching tools, many hybrids have an "Eco Mode"—or similarly named option—that will adjust the way the vehicle operates to prevent you from pushing too hard on the gas pedal or alter when the car shifts gears to help conserve fuel. The M35h is no exception, proudly sporting an Eco Mode as a main feature.
After driving the "Infiniti M35h" for the better part of two hours in Eco Mode my right foot hurt from having to exert extra pressure on the gas pedal. To an "Infiniti M35h "driver, the hybrid powertrain provides more power than the lesser-priced M37's V6 engine and is a better performing car. Ignoring the complexities of the argument, most new electric vehicle manufacturers have addressed this issue by including the option for drivers to turn on warning sounds. The M35h can drive in EV mode at speeds up to 60 mph for distances as far as one mile at a time. As the luxury brand of Nissan, Infiniti took the sounds that were developed for the Leaf and incorporated them into the M35h—resulting in what Infiniti says is the first hybrid with built-in pedestrian alert sounds.
Perhaps something like a Honda Fit. The turbocharged Nissan Juke has a bunch more power, so maybe that teensy compact crossover is on the shopping list, too.
It has performance, fuel economy, and a premium sticker. And, like all of the other cars listed, it gets around 30 mpg in the EPA combined testing.
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF POWER
The Infiniti M35h also has lots of things those little cars don't: 360 horsepower, for one. The M35's gasoline engine is a 3.5-liter VQ-series V-6 producing 302 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
