Infiniti Working on Hybrid Drivetrain & New Premium Models

As the gears for Infiniti’s global introduction begin to turn, Nissan’s luxury brand is beginning to develop new plans for drivetrains and models. One of the initial problems that Infiniti has begun to solve is a need for diesel engines for its vehicles. Working with Renault, Nissan-Infiniti will be introducing a new clean-diesel engine, which will in-turn find its way into the next generation Nissan Maxima’s engine bay by the end of the decade.

But Infiniti’s engine diversification will not be on a single track. Nissan’s luxury brand will also gain an all-new hybrid drivetrain system courtesy of the parent company. This isn’t to be confused with the gasoline-electric system in use with the Nissan Altima Hybrid, the technology of which is under license from Toyota. Nissan’s proprietary hybrid system will also be a full hybrid unit, but it will be designed for use in larger vehicles in order to help the brand recuperate development costs, not to mention larger vehicles typically show a better rate of improvement in terms of fuel economy and emissions reductions.


As Infiniti prepares to launch the next generation FX sport utility vehicle in Geneva, rumors have also begun to form regarding a new halo model. The luxury marque has been without a range-topping model since the Q45 disappeared in 2006, and since this time Infiniti retailers have been requesting a range-topper, particularly in emerging markets, to bolster the brand’s presence. Currently, the top of the line model is the M45, which competes against the likes of the Lexus GS, BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and others, but not the Lexus LS, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

One alternative that has arisen is a new model based off of the Nissan PM platform, which underpins the Nissan GT-R. Such a car would be more sport oriented than only luxury biased, in tune with Infiniti’s image and the original Q-ship, as it would retain much of the GT-R’s running gear (but detuned slightly), and therefore would reinforce Infiniti’s sporting image. It might sound like an odd idea, but it has the potential to work, and by doing so position the brand in a distinctive manner, separating it further from Acura and Lexus.