2012 Infiniti M35h vs Porsche Panamera S Hybrid: And the World's Fastest Full Hybrid Model is…

If not all, most makers of hybrid automobiles focus their advertising campaigns on their vehicles' fuel economy and CO2 emission ratings, but not Infiniti that has taken a different route with its new M35h.

Following a teaser clip last week, the Japanese carmaker released the full video today of its M35h taking on the also new 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid in a quarter mile drag race.

The 360-horsepower M35h completed the standing quarter mile in 13.4 seconds beating the 380-horsepower Porsche Panamera S Hybrid by about half-a-car's length, according to the video provided by Infiniti.

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Why You Shouldn't Play Wise Guy on the Highway

As the saying goes, there's a time and a place for everything. And stopping on the left lane of a busy highway with the intent of scolding the following vehicle's driver for supposedly approaching too close to your car is beyond doubt the wrong time and wrong place for such a move.

See what happens next from the footage recorded on the trailing vehicle's dashboard mounted camera.

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Is Infiniti getting Ready to Drag Race the M Hybrid Against the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid?

Just moments ago, Infiniti dropped an email into our inbox pointing us to a video on YouTube titled "What is the fastest accelerating full hybrid?" The short clip shows a driver dressed like The Stig entering a Porsche Panamera S Hybrid and getting ready to race the sports saloon in the desert.

Infiniti's email also notes, "Check out this teaser video and let us know where you think it’s going…. Don’t miss the results, coming January 23rd, 2012".

Since we find it hard to believe that the Japanese automaker would create a promotional campaign for Porsche and its new Panamera Hybrid we think it's all about showing the potential of the also new M Hybrid (called M35h in certain markets).

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Vilner Goes Over the Top with Infiniti EX37 Interior Tune

In its second take on the interior of an Infiniti EX37, Bulgarian design studio Vilner has rolled out tons of tan leather to create the automotive equivalent of a classic British sofa.

You'll find leather just about everywhere from the lower part and capping of the dashboard to the roof mounted handles and the door panels. On the seats, the leather is trimmed and stitched with various patterns.

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Carlos Ghosn Talks About Moving Production Overseas, Mercedes-Benz Alliance

When Carlos Ghosn, the man who has successfully turned around Nissan and is now trying to do the same with Renault, is discussing the auto industry, then you can be sure he knows what he’s talking about.

During an interview with Bloomberg News on the sidelines of the 2012 North American Auto Show, Ghosn said that 2011 was a record year for most manufacturers, and it would have been even better had the tsunami not crippled most carmaker’s production for many months.

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Mercedes-Benz and Nissan Join Forces to Build 4-Cylinder Engines in the USA

Back in April of 2010, Daimler, Mercedes-Benz's parent company, and the Renault-Nissan Alliance announced a broad strategic cooperation in which the two companies exchanged a 3.1 percent stake with each other and made plans to collaborate on several projects.

The partnership seems to be going well as the two automakers announced plans to produce Mercedes-Benz 4-cylinder gasoline engines together at Nissan's powertrain assembly plant in Decherd, Tennessee. Production of the four-bangers will commence in 2014 with an initial annual capacity of 250,000 units.

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Infiniti Drops New Teaser and Video on its Geneva Show-Bound Electric Sports Car Concept

While all eyes remain on the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Infiniti thought it would be a good idea to release the third teaser picture and a video of its yet-to-be named, range extended electric sports car concept ahead of its world premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March.

In its latest release, the luxury brand reveals that the concept's range-extender drivetrain will be mounted in a mid-ship package for optimal weight distribution to improve handling. Both the powertrain package and layout are all-new to Infiniti

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And the Best-Selling Premium Brand in the U.S. for 2011 is…

The one thing we knew for sure after the manufacturing disruptions in Japan caused by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami was that Lexus wasn’t going to top the premium segment in the U.S. market for the first time in a decade. In fact, we also knew something else, the two contenders to the throne: BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

What we didn’t know up until Thursday is which of two brands was going to win, since both were caught in a neck-to-neck sales race. Going into December the gap was so small - less than 1,600 cars- that the win could go either way.

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2011 U.S. Sales: Detroit's Big 3 and Koreans Report Strong Gains, Honda and Toyota Feel the Pinch

In the year that just ended, some automakers have a lot to be grateful for while others including Japan's biggest car brands would rather forget due to the Tsunami as well as the Thailand floods that significantly hurt their production lines during 2011.

Starting with the American carmakers, General Motors saw its U.S. sales rise 13.7 percent last year to 2,503,820 units. Chevrolet led the way with 1,775,812 units (+13.4%) followed by GMC at 397,986 (+18.8%), Buick at 177,633 (+14.3%) and Cadillac at 152,389 (+3.7%).

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NHTSA Probes '03-'04 Infiniti M45 Sedans over Inaccurate Fuel Gauge Reading

For various reasons, it's not uncommon for drivers to run their cars on empty before filling up at a gas station - which isn't usually a problem if the fuel gauge reading is accurate.

However, for a number of owners of the short-lived Infiniti M45 sedan from the 2003 and 2004 model years, waiting for the low fuel warning light to go up before visiting a service station, can prove to be troublesome.

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Wald International Takes on the JDM Nissan Skyline Sedan / Infiniti G37

The Japanese domestic market [JDM] Nissan Skyline, which the rest of the world knows as the Infiniti G37 sedan, is the latest car to capture the attention of Wald International.

The renowned Takatsuki-based tuning firm has presented a Sports Line Black Bison Edition package for the saloon model consisting almost entirely of cosmetic upgrades.

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Infiniti’s Mercedes A-Class-based Compact Model to be Built by Magna Steyr

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Japan’s second biggest automaker, wants Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, to have a 10 percent share in the premium segment, which amounts to 500,000 units.

The “Power 88” plan that Ghosn revealed last June calls for the rapid expansion of Infiniti, which is an established player in the U.S. market but almost non-existent in Europe: in 2010 it sold 4,500 units, a tenth of BMW’s January 45,000 sales…

Back in August, we revealed that Infiniti was preparing a small, entry-level premium model to compete with the likes of Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series, and that it would use another premium carmaker’s help: Mercedes Benz and its newly developed MFA platform employed by the 2012 A-Class.

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Ward's Auto Announces the 10 Best Engines of the Year

The annual list of Ward's 10 Best Engines of the year has been released. The magazine's editors chose the winners after spending October and November driving 36 vehicles with 34 of those featuring new or significantly upgraded powerplants.

To be eligible to participate in the competition, Ward's states that "each engine must be available in a regular-production U.S.-specification model on sale no later than first-quarter 2012, in a vehicle with a base price below $55,000".

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Infiniti Offers Select FX European Buyers a Chance to See the Inner Workings of Red Bull F1 Team

The FX “concept” that was unwrapped at the Frankfurt Motor Show was supposed to be a one-off model designed with input from 2010 (and, subsequently, 2011) Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

However, Infiniti did what everyone expected, and less than a month later confirmed that the tweaked, 420HP luxury crossover would indeed enter production, albeit in limited numbers.

Now, as part of the celebrations for Sebastian Vettel's 2011 championship, Infiniti is offering European buyers of the FX the chance to get a unique insight of the inner workings of the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team.

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New Audi A6 Ties with Infiniti M37 in Consumer Reports’ Premium Sedan Test, Saab 9-5 Flunks

Up until now, Consumer Reports' [CR] number one choice in the mid-size luxury sedan segment was the Infiniti M37. Not anymore as after evaluating the redesigned 2012 Audi A6, the M37 has to share the top spot with Ingolstadt's premium saloon.

The new Audi A6 received an “Excellent” rating with an overall score of 93 points. This is a huge improvement over the previous model's 79 points.

“The redesigned Audi A6 is an impressive car and a joy to drive”, said senior director of CR’s Auto Test Center. Consumer reports says that the significant improvement is attributed to the revamped model’s combination of strong acceleration, agile handling and comfortable ride as well its high-quality and quiet interior.

Other models included in CR’s mid-size luxury test were the Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTec, the Infiniti M35h hybrid and the new Saab 9-5.

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New Infiniti JX Crossover gets its Video Debut

Visitors to the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show that runs for the public from November 18 to 27, will have the chance to see first-hand the brand-new Infiniti JX, but for those of you that don't plan to make the trip to California, we have a new set of videos showing the ins and outs of the crossover model. Read more »

Infiniti Teases New Range-Extending Electric Sports Car Concept Ahead of 2012 Geneva Show Debut [Video]

We're more than four months away from the next Geneva Motor Show in 2012, but Infiniti cannot contain its excitement about a new sports car concept that it is currently working on and which could give birth to a production model in the very near future.

The as-of-yet unnamed concept model is a range-extending electric sports car, and according to the company, it is being created to "to extend the potential for high performance, low emission electric cars."

The Japanese automaker published two teaser photos of the study as well as a video featuring Nissan vice president, Andy Palmer, who explains the strategy behind the concept car.

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Infiniti Introduces New IPL G Convertible at 2011 LA Auto Show

Being a luxury carmaker is all fine and dandy but if don’t have your own performance division, you haven’t really made it to the major league. BMW has the M Division, Mercedes-Benz has AMG, Audi its RS and S lines while even luxury-oriented Lexus has the “F Sport” range to show for itself.

Infiniti’s answer to all these acronyms is IPL, which stands for Infiniti Performance Line. With just one model though, the IPL G Coupe, it’s not really a line, is it? Therefore, the Japanese carmaker chose the 2011 LA Auto Show to unveil its second production IPL model based on the G37 Convertible.

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2013 Infiniti JX: New Luxury Crossover gets 7-Seats, 265HP V6 and a Starting Price of $41,400*

We had the chance to see Infiniti's new 7-seater crossover model in showcar trim at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California this past August, but now it's time for the final production version of the JX to make its world premiere at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

To answer your first question, we didn't find any styling changes whatsoever from concept to production, but that shouldn't come as a surprise as there was nothing really conceptual about the JX study in the first place.

There are some interesting styling cues to be found on the JX such as the crescent-cut D-pillar and the swoopy belt line, but it's hardly a looker in our books.

Hop inside and you'll find the familiar Infiniti styling sprinkled with plenty of wood accents and leather trim as well as a variety of gizmos such as a 15-speaker Bose Cabin Surround sound system with Acoustic Waveguide bass technology and the Infiniti Connection telematics system.

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2012 Infiniti IPL G Coupe Base Specs And Features

Pricing Information
MSRP: $51,250
Invoice: Not Available

Technical Specs
Engine
Standard Engine: 3.7L V6
Standard Transmission: 7 Speed Automatic
Cylinders: 6
Horsepower @RPM: 348@7400
Fuel Economy Cty/Hwy: 19/27
Combined Fuel Economy: 22
EPA Class: Sub-Compact
Number of Valves: 24
Torque @RPM: N/A
Fuel Type System: Gas Engine / Sequential Electronic Fuel Injected, Sequential Port Fuel Injected Sequential, Multi-Port Fuel Injected
Turbo (Yes/No): No
Overdrive Transmission: Yes
Battery Output: N/A
Compression: 11.0:1
Displacement: 3696/226
Bore X Stroke: 3.76×3.39
Cruising Range: 440 miles
Final Drive Gear Ratio Opt: N/A
Power to Weight Ratio: 10.8
Final Drive Ratio: No
Valves Configuration: Dual Overhead Cam/Twin Overhead Cam
Supercharged: No
Electric HorsePower RPM: N/A
Electric Torque Feet Per Pound: N/A
Electric Torque RPM: N/A
Electric HorsePower BHP: N/A

Standard Features

Anti-Theft & Locks
Selective Unlocking Via Card Key
Valet Lockout
Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Alarm and Engine Immobilizer
Power Door Locks Operated Via Remote, Card Key and Internal Switch With Automatic Locking
Locking Fuel Filler Door

Braking & Traction
4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
Traction Control
Front Power 356-mm X 33-mm Vented Disc and Rear Power 351-mm X 20-mm Vented Disc Brakes
Viscous Rear Limited Slip Differential
Brake Assistance
Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) Vehicle Stability Control System
Electronic Brake Force Distribution

Electrical
Battery
Drive-By-Wire Control For Shifting
Battery Saver
Delayed Power Retention Operates Moonroof and Windows
Front Power Outlet

Engines & Emissions
IPL Tuned High-Flow Dual Exhaust
3.7-Liter, V6, CVTCS VVEL(R) 24-Valve, DOHC, SEFI Engine; Front/Longitudinal Mounted With Horsepower Of 348@7400, Torque Of 276@5200, Alloy Block and Alloy Cylinder Heads
Roadside Assistance Warranty For Unlimited-Miles, 48-Months

Entertainment, Communication & Navigation
XM NAVTraffic(R) Real-Time Traffic Information (Subscription Required)
Premium AM/FM Radio With Speed Sensitive Volume, Bose(R) Studio On Wheels(TM) Sound System and 11 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3/WMA Player; XM(R) Satellite Radio(Subscription Required)
Music Box(TM) Hard Drive With 9.3GB Total
USB Port
XM NAVWeather(TM) (Subscription Required) and Zagat Survey(R) Restaurant Guide
Front iPod(R) Auxiliary Audio Input Jack Includes Portable Audio Connectivity
DVD Player Located In Front Row With 7-In. LCD Screen Located In Front Dash
Radio Data System
Diversity In-Glass Radio Antenna
Subwoofer
GPS and Hard Drive Navigation Aid With Real-Time Traffic, 7-In. Touch Screen and Voice Activation
Wireless Communication Access For Bluetooth(R) Enabled Devices With Bluetooth(R) Streaming Audio

Exterior Lighting
Low Beam and High Beam Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge Headlights
Automatic Headlights With Automatic On/Off
Front Foglights

Exterior, Design, Paint & Finish
Front Air Dam
IPL Integrated Front and Rear Fascias and Side Sills
Front and Rear Body Color Bumpers
IPL Integrated Rear Spoiler
IPL Badge

Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Rear Heating Ducts
Interior Air Filter
Separate Driver/Front Passenger Climate Controls
Automatic Climate Control

Instrumentation
Tire Pressure Monitor
Electroluminescent Instrumentation
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls For Audio, Cruise Control and Transmission
Cruise Control
2-Memory Adjustments For Driver Side Include Exterior Mirrors, Seat and Steering Wheel
Infiniti Controller Centralized Control Instrumentation For Climate, Audio and Navigation Includes 7-In. Screen
Compass
Tachometer
Voice Activated Controls For Audio, Navigation System and Bluetooth(R) Wireless Enabled Devices
Exterior Temperature Gauge
Analog Clock
Trip Computer With Trip Odometer
Engine Start/Stop Button

Interior Lighting
Delayed Courtesy Light
Front Map Lights
Trunk Light
Illuminated Entry Includes Side Stepwell

Interior, Design, Decor & Floor Covering
Carpet Located In Passenger Cabin and Trunk
Front Carpeted Floor Mats
Leather Steering Wheel With Red Sport Stitching
Rear Carpeted Floor Mats
Alloy Located On Center Floor Console, Doors, Instrument Panel, Shift Knob, Sill Plates and Sport Foot Pedals

Remote Controls & Remote Releases
Multi-Function Remote Operates Anti-Theft, Door Lock/Unlock, Memory Functions and Power Windows
HomeLink(R) Universal Garage Door Opener
Intelligent Key(TM) Card Key
Remote Fuel Door Release Located Inside Vehicle
Remote Decklid Release Located Inside Vehicle
Keyless Entry Operated Via Card Key

Safety
Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags Located In Roof
L A T C H
Front and Rear Automatic Locking Retractors
Trunk Anti-Trap Device
Crumple Zones
Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts
Side Guard Door Beams
Driver Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment
Front Pretensioners With Force Limiters
Rearview Monitor(TM) Rear Electronic Parking Aid With Camera and Ultrasonic Sensors
Passenger Airbag With Dual Stage Deployment
Front Active Head Restraints
Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor Activated By Seatbelt Engagement and Weight
Front Seatbelt Height Adjusters
Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags

Seats
Leather Seats
Driver Power Seat Adjusts 12 Ways Total
Front Passenger Power Seat Adjusts 8 Ways Total
Driver Power Lumbar Support
Easy Entry Seat
Rear Folding Bench Seat With Headrests
Front Dual Reclining Heated Sport Bucket Seats, Driver Side Manually Adjusts 2 Ways Total With Adjustable Seat Height, 2-Position Driver Power Memory and Adjustable Headrests

Steering
Automatic Tilt Away Steering Column
2-Position Memory Steering Column
Power Telescopic Steering Column
Power Speed Sensing Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering
Power Tilt Steering Column With Adjustable Gauge Cluster
Sport-Tuned Steering

Storage
Front Covered Lower Console Storage Located On Floor
Front Dual Seatback Storage Pockets
Front Dual Door Mounted Storage
Overhead Console Storage
4 Front and 2 Rear; 6 Cupholders Total
Lockable and Illuminated Glovebox

Sunroof/Moonroof & Removable/Convertible Top
Power Glass Tilt and Slide Moonroof

Suspension
Independent Double Wishbone Front Suspension With Coil Springs, Dual Flow Path(R) Shock Absorbers and Performance Ride Type
Independent Multi-Link Rear Suspension With Coil Springs, Dual Flow Path(R) Shock Absorbers and Performance Ride Type
Front Stabilizer Bar
Rear Stabilizer Bar

Transmission
Manually Interactive Automatic Transmission
7-Speed Electronically Controlled Manually Interactive Adaptive Automatic Transmission With Overdrive and Floor Mounted Shifter
Adaptive Automatic Transmission

Wheels & Tires
Front SBRP225/45R19 92W and Rear SBRP245/40R19 94W Bridgestone(R) Potenza RE050A Summer Performance Tires
Compact Spare Tire
Alloy Wheels, Front 19-In. X 8.5-In. and Rear 19-In. X 9-In.

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
Sunshade Located On Moonroof
Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
Vehicle Speed Sensitive Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Front Dual Illuminated Vanity Mirrors
Power Window Lockout/Override
Front Dual Sunvisors
Front Power Windows With One-Touch Up, One-Touch Down and Pinch Protection
Rear Window Defroster
Dual Body Color Folding Power Adjustable Heated Exterior Rearview Mirrors With Driver Side 2-Position Memory