Infiniti M35hInfiniti’s latest model is a new version of the M-series saloons, and that ‘h’ suffix leads you swiftly and accurately to the fact that this one is a hybrid. The hybrid park is now a rapidly expanding one, with most manufacturers either having had a go, or just about to. Fuel consumption of the early hybrids was not generally all the manufacturers claimed, for it seems that the official test does favour them, so when measured in the real world against normal cars, especially diesels, they didn’t look so good.Times move on, and the latest examples have real consumptions that are more impressive; they even run on battery alone for more than a few yards. That’s always been a particular gripe of mine; a manufacturer will claim that their new hybrid ‘will run for considerable distances on battery alone’, when in actual fact they do about 50 yards and then fire up the fossil fuel. So with Infiniti’s claim that their new hybrid’s powerful lithium-ion battery “enables drivers to cruise on electric power alone at a constant 80kph on a level highway”, and also that the car “can use the electric motor as the sole source of propulsion for low-acceleration driving”, I was keen to see whether the facts would match the claims.The first thing you notice when driving the M35h is the power. Hybrids are not normally known for white-knuckle riding; indeed that sort of driving really contradicts what the hybrid owner is seeking to achieve. But there are times when you simply want, or need, to get a move on. The 0-62 time of 5.5 seconds illustrates that the Infiniti is quick, and at the moment it’s the fastest accelerating hybrid in the world. Top speed incidentally is 155mph.So this is no slouch. More impressive to me however, was the considerable length of time that the car spent under battery power alone. Starting off from the new Birmingham Infiniti centre (one of six across Britain, with five more due to open during 2011 and a projected 40 within five years) I noted that with careful ‘low-acceleration’ driving the car did indeed remain on battery alone; the power source display confirms the fact if ones ears are uncertain. Unbelievably to me, mile after mile passed before the system thought some petrol power would be wise. Not until the battery had reached just below 50%, did the engine fire up for recharging purposes. Not long after that, the battery again did all the work.Opponents of the hybrid system make the valid point that converting the energy source from petrol to electric inevitably introduces inefficiencies, so you’d be better off running the car on the petrol. The hybrid’s main benefit however is that braking regeneration does regain energy that in a normal car is lost to heat generated by the brakes.M cars are at the top of Infiniti’s saloon range, and they’re equipped to a level that should give the marketing people at BMW and Mercedes the odd sleepless night. Standard on the hybrid are a range of safety and convenience systems that include Intelligent Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning system, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention Systems, and Intelligent Brake Assist. On a more prosaic level you get a huge list of features which includes 10-way powered driver and passenger seats, keyless entry, reversing camera, Bose sound system, satellite navigation with voice recognition, vented and heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.With all the electronic gizmos the M35h is certainly an easy car to drive, once you’ve learnt what everything does. Unusually the driver’s view is good, with a large rear window to ease the chore of parking. The engine, and of course motor, are very quiet, but floor the throttle and you’ll hear a satisfying sporty growl from under the bonnet. Ride however is at times a little uncertain, and not as refined as the best of the opposition, with noticeable thumps as Birmingham’s wobbly surfaces were traversed.Passenger room is impressive in both front and rear, and luggage space reasonable, though at 350 litres it’s 100 less than the other M models due to space occupied by the battery. With an increase in the number of ‘Infiniti Centres’ as they’re called, total UK sales will be rapidly increasing from the tiny 232 of 2010. The M35h is well placed to take advantage of that, for as a luxury sports saloon it comes across well, and with the current demand for hybrids I can see it being one of the brand’s top sellers.Size: 4.95m x 2.06m inc mirrorsEngine: 3.5 litre petrol + electric – 364PSGearbox: 7-speed auto RWDConsumption: 40.4mpgPrice at Sept ’11: £46,840Full details of the M35h are available on the manufacturer’s website: www.infiniti.co.ukPeter Cracknell – Sept 2011
Infiniti M35h
Infiniti’s latest model is a new version of the M-series
saloons, and that ‘h’ suffix leads you swiftly and
accurately to the fact that this one is a hybrid. The
hybrid park is now a rapidly expanding one, with most
manufacturers either having had a go, or just about
to. Fuel consumption of the early hybrids was not
generally all the manufacturers claimed, for it seems
that the official test does favour them, so when
measured in the real world against normal cars,
especially diesels, they didn’t look so good.
Times move on, and
the latest examples
have real consumptions
that are more
impressive; they even
run on battery alone for
more than a few yards.
That’s always been a
particular gripe of mine;
a manufacturer will
claim that their new
hybrid ‘will run for
considerable distances
on battery alone’, when
in actual fact they do
about 50 yards and
then fire up the fossil
fuel. So with Infiniti’s
claim that their new hybrid’s powerful lithium-ion
battery “enables drivers to cruise on electric power
alone at a constant 80kph on a level highway”, and
also that the car “can use the electric motor as the
sole source of propulsion for low-acceleration driving”,
I was keen to see whether the facts would match the
claims.
The first thing you notice when driving the M35h is the
power. Hybrids are not normally known for white-
knuckle riding; indeed that sort of driving really
contradicts what the hybrid owner is seeking to
achieve. But there are times when you simply want, or
need, to get a move on. The 0-62 time of 5.5 seconds
illustrates that the Infiniti is quick, and at the moment
it’s the fastest accelerating hybrid in the world. Top
speed incidentally is 155mph.
So this is no slouch. More impressive to me however,
was the considerable length of time that the car spent
under battery power alone. Starting off from the new
Birmingham Infiniti centre (one of six across Britain,
with five more due to open during 2011 and a
projected 40 within five years) I noted that with careful
‘low-acceleration’ driving the car did indeed remain on
battery alone; the power source display confirms the
fact if ones ears are uncertain. Unbelievably to me,
mile after mile passed before the system thought
some petrol power would be wise. Not until the
battery had reached just below 50%, did the engine
fire up for recharging purposes. Not long after that,
the battery again did all the work.
Opponents of the hybrid system make the valid point
that converting the energy source from petrol to
electric inevitably introduces inefficiencies, so you’d
be better off running the car on the petrol. The
hybrid’s main benefit however is that braking
regeneration does regain energy that in a normal car
is lost to heat generated by the brakes.
M cars are at the top of Infiniti’s saloon range, and
they’re equipped to a level that should give the
marketing people at BMW and Mercedes the odd
sleepless night. Standard on the hybrid are a range of
safety and convenience systems that include
Intelligent Cruise Control, Blind Spot Warning system,
Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning
and Prevention Systems, and Intelligent Brake Assist.
On a more prosaic level you get a huge list of features
which includes 10-way powered driver and passenger
seats, keyless entry, reversing camera, Bose sound
system, satellite
navigation with voice
recognition, vented and
heated front seats, and a
heated steering wheel.
With all the electronic
gizmos the M35h is
certainly an easy car to
drive, once you’ve learnt
what everything does.
Unusually the driver’s view
is good, with a large rear
window to ease the chore
of parking. The engine,
and of course motor, are
very quiet, but floor the
throttle and you’ll hear a
satisfying sporty growl
from under the bonnet. Ride however is at times a little
uncertain, and not as refined as the best of the
opposition, with noticeable thumps as Birmingham’s
wobbly surfaces were traversed.
Passenger room is impressive in both front and rear,
and luggage space reasonable, though at 350 litres it’s
100 less than the other M models due to space
occupied by the battery.
With an increase in the number of ‘Infiniti Centres’ as
they’re called, total UK sales will be rapidly increasing
from the tiny 232 of 2010. The M35h is well placed to
take advantage of that, for as a luxury sports saloon it
comes across well, and with the current demand for
hybrids I can see it being one of the brand’s top
sellers.
Size:
4.95m x 2.06m inc mirrors
Engine:
3.5 litre petrol + electric – 364PS
Gearbox:
7-speed auto RWD
Consumption:
40.4mpg
Price at Sept ’11:
£46,840
Full details of the M35h are available on the manufacturer’s
website: www.infiniti.co.uk
Peter Cracknell – Sept 2011
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