Tuesday 25th January 2011

Infiniti Reveals Spec For M35h Hybrid

First hybrid from Infiniti manages to combine impressive performance and economy

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This is the new Infiniti M35h, the first-ever hybrid from Infiniti and the range-topper for its new M-series saloon.

Okay, so Infiniti perhaps isn't the most exciting or glamorous of luxury car brands, and hybrids do (often quite rightly) tend to get rather a rocky reception here at PH, but this is Infiniti's most powerful saloon, so we feel it does just about merit mention on PH.

Conventional power comes from a 302bhp 3.5-litre V6, with up to 67bhp of electric assistance, which makes for a combined peak power output of 359bhp.

That's enough to get the slippery (Cd of 0.26) and comparatively featherweight (at 1830kg the M35h actually weighs less than its M30d diesel sibling) car to 62mph from rest in a respectable 5.5secs and on to a limited 155mph top speed.

Considering that's combined with CO2 emissions of just 162g/km and an official combined fuel consumption figure of 40.4mpg, that's not half bad - you'd need a BMW 535d to better the fuel consumption, and even then the Infiniti would be marginally quicker.

That sort of economy cuts the first-year road tax down to a distinctly reasonable £155, and makes company car tax significantly less of a sting, too.

The M35h can also hit speeds of up to 50mph on electric power alone, which is an amusing party trick.

If you simply must have that BMW, then the Infiniti badge is not going to tempt you, but we have to admit that the numbers look like they might stack up. Especially if you don't want to drive something German and diesel-powered.

The M35h will be rolled out across Europe in the spring, with pricing announced at the Geneva motor show in March.

[TommyBuoy]

I like that - looks a bit beefy and different to the standard German choices, althouhg I have always been a fan of the brand...

And is it me, or does it not have DRLs!!!

[anonymous-user]

The "figures" as always look lovely, but i suspect the real world may be less kind! The drive cycle fuel economy (and hence the low 162g/km CO2 figure) reflect very low load motoring, where the hybrids excel. However, start to use the performance and you are still left with a fairly large petrol engine in a car that will nearly weigh 2 tonnes by the time you've filled it with fuel and got into it. Unless you do a lot of town driving (in which case why are you buying a 300bhp car and not taking the bus ;-) i suspect that performance diesels will still be significantly better.

[Johnpidge]

[jimjim150]

You want economy and performance? Just have something cheap to run for going to work and a fast car for weekends - sorted. I see any middle ground as pointless.

[kambites]

doogz said:

302bhp IC engine, and up to 67bhp from the electric motor.

Making a max peak power of 359bhp?

So, the electric motor doesn't make it's maximum power at max IC engine power. What would be the reason for that? Is the electric motor just for trundling about town? Still doesn't make sense to me.

Why would they put peak power of both at the same revs if it compromised the overall output further down the rev range? It's not as if it's very far off, anyway.

[Adrian W]

Check out the Audi A5 FSI, someone showed me the brochure last week unless it's a misprint it does over 50 to the gallon, I think that moves the game on a bit when it comes to fuel economy.

[Riggers]

Max_Torque said:

The "figures" as always look lovely, but i suspect the real world may be less kind! The drive cycle fuel economy (and hence the low 162g/km CO2 figure) reflect very low load motoring, where the hybrids excel. However, start to use the performance and you are still left with a fairly large petrol engine in a car that will nearly weigh 2 tonnes by the time you've filled it with fuel and got into it. Unless you do a lot of town driving (in which case why are you buying a 300bhp car and not taking the bus ;-) i suspect that performance diesels will still be significantly better.

You make a good point. The other issue, I would imagine, would be mid-range torque - just where a big, fast diesel would excel.

A 535d might, therefore, feel rather faster (indeed be rather faster) in 'real-world' terms...

[Riggers]

doogz said:

Riggers said:

You make a good point. The other issue, I would imagine, would be mid-range torque - just where a big, fast diesel would excel.

A 535d might, therefore, feel rather faster (indeed be rather faster) in 'real-world' terms...

The electric motor adds 200lbft into the mix though. Quite a lot when you add it to the 250lbft the engine makes. Although the peak engine torque is at 5000rpm, but apparently "The 225 kW gasoline engine was chosen for torque characteristics that complement the electric motor’s output"

Arghh! Too many fair points!

[renrut]

Sounds like a good way of keeping big petrol engines a viable option for company cars and therefore still around for 2nd handers (or 4th handers like me).

40mpg isn't a bad figure although not as good as the diesels and a modern 3.5L petrol could get over 40mpg on cruise which would make it viable as an alternative if you don't like the diesel delivery.

It could be a lot smoother ride than a comparable diesel too, instant torque from the electric motor without any lag at all anywhere in the rev range giving it almost as much torque as the 535d mentioned and more power.

I'll be interested to see how it bears out in reality.

[kambites]

doogz said:

Well, my understanding of an electric motor of this sort, is that it makes it max power, at it's max revs, it has a flat torque "curve"

So when the engine is at full tilt, the electric motor is purposely slowed down?

I don't know about this particular system, but I suspect the engine and motor sit on the same side of the gearbox, decoupled by a clutch so if they're both engaged, they'll be spinning at the same speed (or rather proportionally fixed speeds). It's quite possible that the whole thing revs significantly above peak power of the petrol engine, and that's why the peak combined is less than the sum of the individual peaks; or that the electric motor starts to tail off before the petrol engine reaches peak power. You could design it either way; I suspect they did some fairly careful tests before deciding which to use.

[Riggers]

doogz said:

Riggers said:

doogz said:

Riggers said:

You make a good point. The other issue, I would imagine, would be mid-range torque - just where a big, fast diesel would excel.

A 535d might, therefore, feel rather faster (indeed be rather faster) in 'real-world' terms...

The electric motor adds 200lbft into the mix though. Quite a lot when you add it to the 250lbft the engine makes. Although the peak engine torque is at 5000rpm, but apparently "The 225 kW gasoline engine was chosen for torque characteristics that complement the electric motor’s output"

Arghh! Too many fair points!

The basic figures are useless, you'd need to sit and study power and torque curves...or just drive one. You work for PH, get one, and let us know how it drives

Sounds like a plan... watch this space (well, not this exact one, but you know what I mean...)

[anonymous-user]

Tell you what, when you do, do it properly! Get(Dear BMW Uk, can i borrow.....etc) a 535d, brim both tanks, run them together over a decent route and let us know what the answer is ;-)

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 25th January 16:47

[renrut]

Max_Torque said:

Tell you what, when you do, do it properly! Get(Dear BMW Uk, can i borrow.....etc) a 535d, brim both tanks, run them together over a decent route and let us know what the answer is ;-)

Edited by Max_Torque on Tuesday 25th January 16:47

+1
Good plan.

Whats the price difference between them?

[off_again]

Adrian W said:

Check out the Audi A5 FSI, someone showed me the brochure last week unless it's a misprint it does over 50 to the gallon, I think that moves the game on a bit when it comes to fuel economy.

Just checked online and the only A5 that does around 50MPG on the combined is the 170BHP 2.0TDI. I am sure the 2.0Turbo model does very well at a constant cruise, but the combined figure is a still impressive 44, but not 50.

[bobberz]

This is the most powerful Infiniti saloon? What about the M45 V8? I thought that had closer to 400hp. Or do you not get the V8 in the UK?