Nissan clearly wants to get as much mileage as it can out of the "duel" it staged between its Infiniti M Hybrid and the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. You'll remember the spot, showing the M35h ripping through the quarter-mile in less than 14 seconds, ahead of the hybrid Porsche. Infiniti got Guinness World Records to proclaim it the fastest accelerating full hybrid last year, which served as the inspiration for filming the online ad.
Now, a new video has been posted to YouTube, showing some behind the scenes footage of the filming of the ad. It's not exactly earth-shattering stuff, as the parts we found most interesting were the shots of the camera chase car, which is neither an Infiniti nor a Porsche, but actually a Mercedes-Benz M-Class.
While we like the spot, this second go-round with it had us contemplating other things. We always wonder about the effectiveness of comparing your brand to another when it's clearly done to try and rub some of that competitive luster onto your own badge. And backing it up by throwing out a name that we most closely associate with overweight twins riding motorcycles? We like the M Hybrid, and we're happy to get more of a look at it, but if Infiniti really wants to impress, we'd like to see some more competitive comparisons, like how it performs on a road course or even how it matches up with non-hybrid models.
Click past the jump to watch the full video.
Continue reading Infiniti takes us behind the scenes in World's Fastest Hybrid vid
The rumor is back: Infiniti is considering a top-dog model based on the Nissan GT-R. The GT-R running gear is impressive with its 500-plus turbocharged horsepower and sophisticated all-wheel drive system, but anyone who's driven Nissan's supercar will tell you that it lacks the finesse you'd expect from an Infiniti.
"We have three or four proposals we are looking at right now." Infiniti Advanced Planning chief Francois Bancon told CAR. Of course, automakers create lots of internal proof-of-concept models that never see the light of day, so having proposals doesn't necessarily have any bearing on what might make production. "It would have to be softer than the GT-R," continued Bancon, acknowledging, "You can't easily tweak the GT-R to deliver the sophisticated, more refined performance we would need on an Infiniti." Whether an Infiniti version of the GT-R is mere rumor or eventual reality, there's going to be a wait. For now, Infiniti is focused on launching a smaller model for 2015, and a GT-R-based halo car would come after that program is successfully under way.
Infiniti has named its electric concept car headed for next month's Geneva Motor Show the EMERG-E. The company says that its showcar will be a coupe powered by a 1.2-liter gasoline engine with a range-extending electric motor. The powerplant will be mounted amidships for superior weight distribution, and the Japanese automaker promises the concept will offer impressive performance.
Infiniti has released very few details beyond saying the car's pure-electric range will be "respectable." The vehicle also promises zero-emission driving in most urban settings, so there's a good chance the concept will show off some advanced charging tech as well. The automaker is intent on making us wait until the vehicle's full unveil in Geneva before it drops any more clues, though a few more teaser images have surfaced to whet our appetite. Check them out in our gallery below.
Business was a-boomin' in the auto industry last year, and while a number of factors conspired to keep cars moving through dealerships, chief among them was discounts. How do we know that? This infographic contains part of the answer.
Compiled using data from car-shopping website CarWoo!, the infographic tells us which automakers gave the most discounts last year, where they were given, who got them, and more. Which automaker doled out the most discounts? Jeep, which CarWoo! says was selling its vehicles at a 17.7-percent discount in 2011. Which automaker also posted the largest percentage gain in sales last year? Jeep, whose sales jumped over 44 percent compared to 2010.
Mitsubishi and Kia, which posted the second and third largest percent increases in sales last year, also make CarWoo!'s list by having offered high discounts of 11.7 and 12.1 percent in 2011.
Big savings didn't always equal big sales, though. Infiniti, for instance, is on record offering discounts of 12.2 percent in 2011, but still saw its sales fall 4.8 percent.
Check out the rest of what CarWoo!'s infographic has to say about savings after the jump.
Continue reading Infographic: Which automakers gave the biggest discounts?
We don't imagine that many new-car buyers are cross-shopping their local Infiniti and Porsche dealerships, but there's at least one segment of the automotive industry where the two automakers both play ball: high-performance hybrid luxury sedans, which may be the single most conflicted niche of the automotive sphere in the known universe.
In any case, here we are with the Infiniti M35h and Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. Each one is marketed as both a somewhat greener luxury vehicle and a performance sedan. We'd guess it's the performance side of the equation that would be most interesting to the majority of buyers, leaving fuel efficiency a welcome bonus.
So, which one is faster? That's an interesting question. Usually, we equate that term with top speed, as "fast" connotes velocity. When acceleration is being contested, we generally ask which machine is quickest. And, if it's quickness you're after, Infiniti wants you to know that its M35h will out-accelerate its competitor from Germany. How quick is it? According to Motor Trend, the hybrid M goes from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, but that's not the stat Infiniti is claiming. According to the post-jump press release, the M35h is "faster" than the hybrid Panamera from 0-100 (11.54 seconds) and in the quarter mile (13.41 seconds).
As for the rest of the relevant statistics, the EPA estimates that the M35h will manage 27 miles per gallon in the city and 32 on the highway, for a combined rating of 29. The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 22 city, 30 highway and 25 combined. Seems the M hybrid takes both the acceleration and economy awards. Check out a video released by Infiniti after the break, where you'll also find the press release, if you're into that kind of thing.
Continue reading Followup: Infiniti M35h is world's "fastest" hybrid
Infiniti has started throwing stones at the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid. The Japanese luxury brand aims to pit its M Hybrid against the electrified German five-door in a fight for the title of the world's fastest-accelerating production full hybrid. How's that for a mouthful? The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid dishes out 380 horsepower and is good for a 0-60 mph time of around 5.7 seconds, all while returning up to 30 mpg highway. Of course, you'll be asked to pay for the privilege of ownership. The Panamera S Hybrid commands an MSRP of $95,000.
The Infiniti M Hybrid, meanwhile, is good for 360 horsepower from a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a potent electric motor. Infiniti hasn't outright said how quickly the M Hybrid can do the 0-60 mph dash, but we can say from experience that the vehicle is no pushover. All told, the M Hybrid can deliver up to 32 mpg highway, but is it quicker than the Porsche?
We'll find out tomorrow. Hit the jump to see the teaser for yourself.
Continue reading Infiniti teases M hybrid drag race against Porsche Panamera S Hybrid
Mercedes-Benz and Nissan plan on working together in the future, sharing the Mercedes A-Class platform and engines in an effort save cash on engineering and manufacturing resources. A big part of that collaboration is now official with a joint engine announcement.
Nissan will produce high-end four-cylinder engines at its Decherd, Tennessee facility. The engine will find its way under the hood of Mercedes and Infiniti models beginning in 2014, with a max capacity of 250,000 units per year.
Both automakers are understandably excited about the strategic announcement. Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn called the tie-up "our most significant project outside of Europe so far." Daimler Chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche added that the co-op will help Mercedes achieve its expansion goals, adding that the engine agreement will "make optimum use of synergies arising from the cooperation."
Hit the jump to read over the Nissan press release. Daimler also issued the exact same release, except the German automaker swapped names so that Daimler appeared before Nissan.
Continue reading Nissan agrees to make engines for Mercedes in Tennessee
Over the summer, we posted on a project being undertaken by students at the Tennessee Technical Center-Nashville and Nashville State Community College: prepare a 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 from an Infiniti QX56 for seafaring duty in a 20-foot Chris-Craft.
The engine's transformation is nearly complete, but it seems the boat needs a great deal more work. The pleasure craft, which dates from 1962, has already has three other marinized engines from car manufacturers, a Lincoln and two Chrysler Hemi powerplants. The gents at Freeport Boat Outlet in Freeport, Maine are overseeing the wooden hull restoration and have said that 85 percent of the mahogany will need replacing.
When it's finally finished, the QX lump with water-cooled manifolds and a closed cooling system will be mated with a ZF/Hurth marine transmission and tested back at Infiniti HQ. Assuming all goes well, the hull will get an SUV's worth of Infiniti luxuries and be married to its engine. In the meantime, the name of the boat is being put to the public, so have a read of the press release after the jump for all the details. Then, come summer, keep an eye out for a very slick watercraft plying Tennessee's lakes.
Continue reading Infiniti QX-powered boat continues construction
AOL Car and Truck of the Year, new GM pickups, Dodge Caliber all done
Episode #262 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, and Zach this week. Topics include the first-ever AOL Autos Car and Truck of the Year, speculation about what the next generation of General Motors pickup trucks will have in store for us, and the end of the Dodge Caliber. Your questions and comments power the end of the 'cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We've embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!
Autoblog Podcast #262:
AOL Autos Car and Truck of the Year
Rumormongering about the new GM pickups
Dodge Caliber taken out back and shot
In the Autoblog Garage
2011 Toyota 4Runner Trail
2012 Toyota Yaris
2012 Chrysler 200
2012 Infiniti QX56
2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman
Runtime: 01:28:45
Get the podcast
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation concerning Infiniti M45 sedans from the 2003 and 2004 model year. The government organization has reportedly received 43 complaints about inaccurate fuel gauge readings, and in 26 of these cases, the improperly calibrated fuel gauges have led to instances of engine stalling.
According to the NHTSA report, "The complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most received within the past year." This investigation will encompass approximately 8,100 M45 models.
Speaking to Inside Line, an Infiniti spokesperson says that the automaker is aware of the NHTSA investigation and will "work to address any issues that arise from it." Hit the jump to read the official NHTSA statement.
