Infiniti's
M sedan has finally come into its own with the current generation.
Previous versions drove pretty well and had decent interiors, but were
invisible on the street and in the marketplace. The current, curvaceous
design is a head-turning standout. And Infiniti's interior designers
have upped their game, creating a sumptuous new cabin. The car's chassis
-- provided one sidesteps a few overly intrusive electronic aids -- has
all the smoothness and poise a premium car should.
Beyond
all that, the other big change with the new M is the addition of a
hybrid model. Situated in between the expected six-cylinder (M37) and
V-8 (M56) versions, the hybrid claims to marry the power of an
eight-cylinder with the fuel economy of a four-banger. That's a pretty
big boast, but it's not necessarily trash talk.
Mechanically,
Infiniti's hybrid system is a little different than most. The electric
motor is sandwiched between the 3.7-liter V-6 engine and the
transmission. Infiniti uses a conventional seven-speed automatic rather
than a CVT -- less efficient maybe, but vastly more enjoyable to drive.
The location of the motor allows the engine to shut down when you lift
off the gas, even at highway speeds. A lithium-ion battery pack is
recharged via brake energy regeneration.
The
V-6 and the electric motor combine to produce 360 hp, which outmuscles
the M37's V-6 (333 hp) but doesn't equal the M56's V-8 (420 hp).
However, the hybrid has the advantage of the electric motor's 199
pound-feet of torque, which is available at a low 1770 rpm. Thus, the M
hybrid lunges off the line, chirping its tires as the traction control
system struggles to keep pace. It also rockets ahead during passing
maneuvers. The car feels almost as frantic as the V-8, and definitely
quicker than the V-6.
Even
so, it's EPA rated at 27 mpg city, 32 on the highway. Its most direct
competitor, the Lexus GS450h, is about to be replaced and maybe doesn't
make for a very fair comparison, but that fact that the Lexus hybrid
gets a comparably pathetic 22/25 mpg just shows how quickly hybrid
technology is advancing. Unfortunately, I was only able to achieve an
indicated 25 mpg in my week with the car, but that was almost all
in-town driving, and with our steep hills here, it's not uncommon for
cars to do worse than their EPA city estimates in my hands.
I
might have done better had I engaged the Infiniti's "eco pedal," which
is available in all versions of the M sedan, and is accessed via a drive
mode selector dial. But this technology, wherein the gas pedal pushes
back at you if the car decides you're driving too aggressively, is
almost as annoying as having a hyperventilating mother-in-law smacking
you with her purse whenever she thinks you're driving too fast. Better
to leave the dial in normal mode, even at the loss of a few MPGs.
Even
without a mother-in-law riding shotgun, the M hybrid does pack on an
additional 276 pounds compared to the M37. But, at 4129 pounds, the
total is still about the same as a non-hybrid BMW 535i. And the other
good news is that much of the additional weight is due to the battery
pack, whose location behind the rear seat at least puts the additional
burden on the rear wheels, rather than the front. The hybrid version of
the M sedan remains a very sweet-handling luxury car. In fact, I
preferred it to the M56 that I drove, which was equipped with the sport
package. That option (not offered here) includes rear-wheel steering,
which makes for less predictable cornering response, as it gives you
what feels like a second yaw moment after you turn the wheel. And
speaking of steering, even though the M hybrid uses electric power
steering instead of the hydraulic set-up in its siblings, the steering
feel and linearity is undiminished, as this electric system is
incredibly natural feeling.
So,
what are the downsides? There are a few. Like most hybrids, the
Infiniti suffers some non-linearity in its brake pedal modulation and in
its throttle tip-in. Additionally, once or twice the system got
momentarily tripped up, with delayed action and then an abrupt
downshift. Overall, though, the issues aren't severe enough to spoil the
driving experience.
Other
negatives include a sacrifice of 4 cubic feet of trunk space to the
battery pack, and the rear seatbacks no longer fold down. Also, there's
no all-wheel-drive option, as there is with the V-6 and the V-8 cars.
Assuming
you can live with rear-wheel drive, the M hybrid makes an awfully
strong case. Compared to the M37, the hybrid costs $5000 more, but it
trounces the M37 in fuel economy, besting it by 9 mpg in the city and 6
mpg on the highway. Driving an average of 15,000 miles annually, you
save nearly $800 per year (with gas at $3.95/gallon) with the hybrid. So
the payoff time is just over six years -- less if you factor in the
hybrid's expected higher resale value. Oh, and the hybrid is way faster.
It's
against the M56, however, that the hybrid looks even better. It drives
with very near the alacrity of its V-8 sibling, but it's $5400 cheaper
(although the M56 has more standard equipment). Additionally, the hybrid
saves more than $1000 per year in fuel costs.
I'd
love to see Infiniti engineers perfect the hybrid driving experience
because, even as it is, the M hybrid seems very much like the
high-performance sedan of the future.
GREEN:
Driven: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid
Base price (with destination): $54,595
Price as tested: $65,395
Standard Equipment:
3.5-liter V-6 engine, electric motor, lithium-ion battery
7-speed automatic transmission
Infiniti drive mode selector
18-inch wheels
Leather-appointed seats
10-way power front seats
Heated front seats
Japanese ash wood trim
Entry & exit assist system for driver
Power sunroof
Power tilt & telescoping steering wheel
Memory system for driver's seat, steering wheel, mirrors, climate control, and audio system
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Intelligent key with push-button ignition
7-inch color display with multi-function controller
Rear-view monitor
Active noise control
6-speaker AM/FM/CD/XM audio system
Bluetooth
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
HID headlights
Power adjustable/folding outside mirrors
ABS with brake assist
Vehicle dynamics control and traction control
Options on this vehicle:
Technology Package - $3000
- Blind spot warning system and blind spot intervention
- Lane departure warning and lane departure prevention
- Intelligent cruise control
- Distance control assist
- Intelligent brake assist with forward collision warning
- Front pre-crash seatbelts
- Active trace control
- Eco pedal
- Adaptive front lighting system
Deluxe Touring Package - $3800
- Japanese white ash wood trim with silver powder accents
- Semi-aniline leather-appointed seating
- Bose digital 5.1-channel 16-speaker premium audio system
- Forest-Air system
- Suede-like headliner
- Soft double-stitched meter hood
- Power rear sunshade
Premium Package - $3350
- Infiniti hard drive navigation system
- 8-inch touch-screen display
- Voice recognition
- XM traffic and weather
- Zagat Survey restaurant reviews
- Bose 2-channel 10-speaker premium audio system
- 9.3GB Music Box hard drive
- Heated and cooled front seats
- Heated steering wheel
Key options not on vehicle:
None
Fuel economy:
(city/hwy/combined)
27 / 32 / 29 mpg
Engine:
3.5L V-6 hybrid
Horsepower: 360 hp @ 6800 rpm (engine + motor)
Torque: 258 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm (engine)
Torque: 199 lb-ft @ 1770 rpm (motor)
Transmission:
7-speed automatic
Wheels/tires: 18-inch wheels, 245/50 R18 tires
Competitors: Lexus GS540h, Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec
1. Chevrolet Volt
With
the Chevy Volt, the future is electrifying. The car's revolutionary
propulsion system takes the world beyond the power of battery. The Volt
uses a lithium-ion battery along with a range extending gasoline engine
that drives a generator to offer electric power when the car's journey
exceeds its 40-mile battery range. The Volt is apparently the most
energy-efficient Chevy ever.
The
four-seat NXR Intercity (NeXt Reva) is motivated by an electric motor
and an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. REVA claims, the NXR has a
range of up to 160 km and a top speed of 104 km/h. While the battery
gets fully charged in 8 hours, a rapid charger completes the task in 90
minutes. The NXR Intercity has keyless entry, a push button ignition,
and an intelligent digital display. The car also features an advanced
telematics system with SMS alerts and commands such as distance-to-empty
and time-to-full charge, remote cabin heat/cool, a monthly eco-drive
check by email, service and insurance alerts, remote diagnostics and
healing and REVive remote emergency charge.
The Nissan Leaf
employs a front-mounted electric motor driving the wheels, powered by a
120 bhp lithium-ion battery pack. The pack contains air-cooled, stacked
laminar battery cells with lithium manganate cathodes. The expected
all-electric range is 160 km on the EPA city driving cycle and remains
the same as the EV-11 prototype. The compact 5-door hatchback's name is
believed to be indicating that it is a Leading, Environmentally
friendly, Affordable, Family car.
Just
like a linebacker poised for the blitz, the Aptera 2e takes a wide,
three-point stance that makes the car extremely stable, yet very agile.
The electric car looks more like an aircraft or a small plane. Push on
the throttle, turn the wheel and the Aptera's neutral chassis carves
through corners like it is on rails. With an aerodynamic design for
optimum efficiency, the 2e is revolutionary from ground up. It seats two
and has a top speed of 136 kmph and can do a 0-100 in just around 9
seconds. It can travel a distance of 100 miles on a single charge.
The Toyota Prius
is a full hybrid electric mid-size car that first went on sale in Japan
in 1997. It is also noted to have kick started the hybrid and green
revolution in the automotive industry. The Prius hybrid realises a very
high level of fuel efficiency and performance. In India, the Prius is
available as two variants, Z3 and Z4. The 1.8L petrol engine throws away
98 bhp and the power is boosted when this motor unifies with the
electric motor. A maximum power of 134 bhp is churned out. The detail
and ample cabin space add a warm feeling of comfort and luxury. The
Prius can be driven in three driving modes, Power mode, Eco Mode and EV
(Electric Vehicle) mode.
The
Tesla Roadster offers nearly 350 km per charge. The car is just perfect
for those looking for an electric car full of power, style and speed.
It liberates you from the petroleum-car paradigm, where your car swings
from full to empty. The Tesla Roadster sports car can display an
impressive 0-100 kmph in merely 3.7 seconds! It has a 288 bhp comparable
electric engine that can make the car run to speeds up to 120 miles per
hour.
The
Model S is being designed as a high performance electric sedan,
competing with cars such as the BMW 5-series. The car was codenamed
WhiteStar during research and preliminary development. Acceleration of
the 1,800 kg vehicle is anticipated to be 0-97 kmph in 5.6 seconds aided
by a drag coefficient of 0.28. When compared to the Tesla Roadster, the
Tesla Model S has a slightly slower acceleration, but it has a much
higher range of 482 km on a single charge. It is set to be produced in
2011 with deliveries to begin in 2012. The electric sedan can seat seven
people.
Karma
by Fisker takes hybrid car technology to new heights. This plug-in
hybrid sedan is powered by an electric motor and internal combustion
engine at the same time. The Karma is powered by Quantum Technologies'
Q-Drive technology, an innovative petrol engine/electric motor
combination. It can put on show a top speed of 145 kilometre per hour
when running only on batteries and can run a 0-100 in just 7.9 seconds. A
single charge lasts up to around 64 km after which, the internal
combustion engine answers the car's SOS call. As a factory option the Fisker Karma
can be fitted with a solar-panelled roof not only to aid in the
recharging of its lithium-ion batteries but also to aid the cabin
climate control system.
THINK
City, a modern urban car, with zero local emissions and energy
efficiency three times that of a traditional combustion engine car, is a
car for the environment. THINK City comes with a choice of sodium or
lithium batteries to accommodate your car to your driving style. It can
travel up to 160 kilometre on a single charge and possesses a top speed
of 110km/h. Driving a silent car like this one certainly offers a
totally new experience. The combination of a smart choice of materials,
clever details, and clean lines and surfaces has made the THINK City a
prize-winning Norwegian design. It seats two and has a slow start though
with an acceleration of 0-80 km per hour in 16 seconds.
We just cannot complete our list of awesome green cars one would love to own without including the Honda Civic Hybrid
in it. Under the hood, the Hybrid version sports a power-packed 1.3
litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which forks out 94 bhp @ 6000 rpm
and peak torque of 122 Nm @ 4,600 rpm. This hybrid power is coupled with
a Continuous variable transmission. With an overall fuel efficiency of
20.7 kmpl, the 1339 cc car gives you all the comforts of a family car
and a full fledged sedan.
