Nissan to join luxury green market with the Infiniti M35 hybrid

In Brief: Nissan has announced its entrance into the slim but growing luxury hybrid market with the 2012 Infiniti M35 hybrid, based on the forthcoming 2011 Infiniti M.

Vehicle in the news

Make/Model: Infiniti M35 Hybrid
Manufacturer: Nissan

The Word

Nissan's Infiniti brand is taking its first leap into the green vehicle market, according to a recent company press release.

The 2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid will be a full hybrid (gas-electric), featuring an electric motor powered by a lithium ion battery pack, and a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The hybrid will be based on the 2011 Infiniti M (pictured above and below, courtesy Infiniti), a vehicle that had its virtual launch over the summer at the 2009 59th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Nissan's decision to make such a hybrid has turned up a few eyebrows since the company has rarely had nice words to say about hybrids. Maybe they see room in the luxury hybrid market, which beyond Mercedes and Lexus has scant few participants. The competition is growing, however, thanks—arguably—in some small part to image: luxury car makers are aware of the fact that luxury car buyers want their luxuriousness, but don't want to be seen as environmentally indifferent.

And so …

Performance specs, unknown—don't expect much. MSRP also unknown—expect about $50,000.

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