Tokyo green news: Infiniti M35 Hybrid

There's something unusually familiar about the car badged 'Nissan Fuga' in Tokyo... oh yes - we know it as the Infiniti M35 Hybrid. Infiniti, Nissan's luxury brand that has just launched in the UK - doesn't sell cars in Japan, yet it has still managed to get its forthcoming luxury hybrid on a Tokyo stand.

What's all the fuss about?

Infiniti now competes directly with Lexus and the three German luxury brands and it's been a long time coming. The M35 Hybrid saloon will go on sale in Europe next year, and in the UK early 2011, offering V6 performance but fuel economy more akin to a normal family hatchback. Sounds good to us.

What makes it so green?

The hybrid drivetrain powers the rear wheels and mates an electric motor to a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. The electric unit is capable of powering the car in CO₂-free splendour for a short distance (we don't know how short yet), and it also aids the engine for a boost when more frisky performance is required. Deceleration and regenerative braking feeds power back to the battery - a battery that, Infiniti claims, is twice as power dense as the lithium ion batteries found in current production hybrids.

When can I buy one?

From early 2011, though we know nothing yet of the price, performance or eco credentials - only that the latter two will be impressive. However, it will be sold alongside a diesel M saloon, so it will have to provide a compelling performance or fuel economy benefit to make sense. Time will tell.

Mark Nichol