2012 Infiniti M Hybrid Review

The 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid rear view.

In a break with (sometime) TireKicker tradition, we're showing you the rear view of the Infiniti M Hybrid first, because it is how you will most likely see one. You see, just yesterday (9/21/11), no less than an adjucator from the Guiness Book of World's Records and the UK's CAR Magazine certified the M Hybrid as the world's fastest full hybrid.

Now, its 0-60 time of 5.0 seconds is plenty impressive, but CAR decided real speed is best measured in quarter-miles, and there, the M Hybrid did it in an average of 13.9 seconds...tying the 1/4 mile performance of a 1982 Lamborghini Countach, coming within a tenth of a second of the 1998 BMW M3 and within three-tenths of a second of the 2007 Aston Martin Volante and the 2007 Porsche 911 Carerra.

That's gonna sell some cars.

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid. The World's Fastest Full Hybrid.

I'd been driving one for six days when the news broke, and I was already a fan. I could tell, just from the seat of my pants, that this was a phenomenally quick, smooth luxury sedan that just happened to be hybrid-powered.

Not exactly a surprise, really, since it was only five months ago that we got all excited over the gasoline-powered M37.

The surprise was this felt just as good and we knew we were saving gas, at a price only about $7,000 more than the gas version. Yeah, we know...seven grand is seven grand, but Infiniti could have charged more (there are hybrids out there running much closer to a $10K premium over the gasoline-powered equivalent).

The EPA says 27 city/32 highway for the M Hybrid...and we didn't quite get there. In our 500 miles of 70 percent city street/30 percent urban freeway driving, we only averaged 24.9. But then, there's something about that magnificent power package (30 horsepower more than the gas version) that tells you to go ahead and plant your foot in it. I wish I could claim will power, but I can't. Still, that tops the 18/26 EPA estimate for the gasoline M37.

And the fact that the M Hybrid allows you (under the right conditions) to run up to 62 miles per hour on electric power doesn't enforce light-footedness the way hybrids that dip into the fuel tank above 25 miles an hour do.

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid interior.

It all starts at $53,700 with an impressive list of standard features. Too long for me to re-type. Wanna know what they are? Infiniti's M Hybrid webpage has that covered. Our tester added the Delue Touring Package (Japanese White Ash wood trim with genuine silver powder accents, semi-aniline leather appointed seating, a Bose 5.1 channel 16-speaker Premium Audio system, Forest Air filtration, a suede-like headliner, soft double-stitched meter hood and power rear sunshade) for $3,800.

Next was the Premium Package (hard drive navigation system, 8-inch color touchscreen display, voice recognition, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, Zagat Survey restaurant review, climate controlled front seats and a heated steering wheel) for $3,350.

The little stuff? $650 for 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, $360 for illuminated kick plates and $200 for a trunk mat, trunk net and first aid kit. Toss in destination charges of $895 and the bottom line is $62,955.

And it feels like so much more.  Even if it weren't the fastest, we'd love it.

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

Base price: $53,700

As tested: $62,955

Likes: Styling, power, quality of materials, power, workmanship, power and...did we mention power? Oh, yeah...and better mileage, too.

Dislikes: A little hesitation off the line as the car wakes up and brings the engine back to life.

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2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe Review

The 2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe.

Just about three weeks ago, we sang the praises of the 2011 Infiniti G37 Sedan in a review here at TireKicker. Now it's the Infiniti G37 Coupe's turn.

The DNA is the same, there's just a level of style that the coupe brings (along with 2 more horsepower...a nice round 330).

Base price starts at $37,150, and as usual with Infiniti, you get a very complete car, should you wish to go no further: 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, Intelligent Key, pushbutton start, leather-appointed seating, a 7-inch color display, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/mp3/SiriusXM audio system, tilt/telescope steering column, a full complement of air bags, and a 7-speed automatic transmission, which helps reach the EPA mileage estimate of 19 city/27 highway.

Yep, the automatic is standard. If you want the six-speed stick, you need to specify the Sport 6MT trim level, which starts at $43,350, but throws in slicker wheels and standard satellite navigation. There's also an all-wheel-drive level, the G37x, which begins at $40,250.

Slick, sleek and shapely from the rear: The 2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe.

Our tester was the second level up, the Journey. It starts at $38,600 and adds a rear-view monitor, heated front seats and outside mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a USB connection to the audio system. All worthwhile things for a road-trip car, hence (I guess) the name Journey. Though how they manage that (or why they would want to) when Dodge has a model called Journey I'm not at all clear on.

Doesn't matter. The car drives like a dream. Five minutes at the wheel and you'll want one. And that's just the base coupe. As we said, the Journey adds things that make driving safer and more comfortable. And the Infiniti press fleet people added to that.

The 2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe interior.

Not just a little....no, we're talking $8,450 worth of option packages.

There was the Technology Package ($1,200). Intelligent Cruise Control (maintains a set distance between you and the car in front of you...worked well...the first ones on the market 10 years ago didn't), rain-sensing windshield wipers, front pre-crash seat belts, advanced climate control system and brake assist with preview braking.

The Premium Package ($2,900). Power sliding tinted glass moonroof, rear parking sonar system, the Infiniti Studio on Wheels Premium Audio System by Bose, including a 2.0GB Music Box with 800MB storage, memory system for the driver's seat, which also gets power lumbar support, and the tilt/telescoping steering column gets powered. The audio system does sound great. The rest? $2,900 is a lot of money...and it was the most expensive option package.

The Sport Package ($1,900). Upgrade to the 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with summer performance tires, add solid magnesium paddle shifters, a viscuous limited-slip differential, sport brakes with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, sport-tuned suspension and steering, a sport front fascia, 12-way driver and 8-way passenger sport seats with manual thigh extenders and aluminum pedals. Since most if not all of that actually goes into the driving experience of a very good sport coupe, I'd have no hesitation saying yes.

The Navigation Package ($1,850). A hard drive navigation system with DVD video playback, 3-D building graphics, Birdview, lane guidance, speed limit advisory, the Zagat Survey restaurant guide, voic recognition and an upgrade of the Music Box from 2.0GB to 9.3 gigs.

As we say when confronted with almost 2 grand for a nav system, "your phone does that".  Okay, maybe not the 3-D graphics and Birdview (which is just an effect that tips the map a bit so it looks like you're looking down on the city or wherever you are)...and not lane guidance or speed limit advisory (watch what lane you're in and read the street signs), but certainly maps and directions...and if you're even one generation behind the current iPhone and Android, there's a $9.99 app for Zagat and your phone probably can hold close to the 9.3 GB of music (the iPhone 4 comes in 16GB and 32GB models). Do you really need to drop $1,850?

And the final option: The Interior Accents Package ($600). High gloss maple interior accents. Looks nice. Purely a matter of taste and whether you think it's worth it.

With $875 for destination charges, our 2011 Infiniti G37 Coupe rang in at $46,975.  Lose the nav package and it's $45,125. Pass on the moonroof, sonar, Bose audio, memory driver's seat with lumbar and the electrified tilt/telescope steering column and it becomes $42,225.  And at that level, it's a wonderful car at a very fair price.

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2011 Infiniti G37 Sedan Review

The 2011 Infiniti G37. Sleek styling, strong performance.

It's always nice to visit an old friend after a long absence and find that the things you liked the most aren't gone, haven't changed.

The Infiniti G37 sedan doesn't come around often enough in the press fleet...2006 (when it was the G35), 2009 and now. Two and a half years between visits. Not only does it never disappoint, it delights.

The '06 was a six-speed manual, but only 280 horsepower. The '09 had 328 horsepower, but there was an automatic (admittedly, a very good, very smooth seven-speed).

This latest visit put the good stuff together...the 328 horsepower 3.7 liter DOHC 24-valve V6, with a six-speed manual. Not only did I get to shift it myself and find the sweet spots in an engine full of them, but the Nissan press fleet people kept the options to exactly one...and a functional one at that: R-Spec high friction brake pads, a bargain at $370.

The fluid lines of the 2011 Infiniti G37 Sedan.

As with so many cars, not selecting options doesn't result in a low-ball version. The $39,450 asking price for the G37 Sedan 6MT (that's the official name for the six-speed manual version) has a huge list of standard equipment, including viscous limited-slip differential, sport-tuned suspension and steering, independent front and rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, Dual Flow Path shock absorbers, sport brakes with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers and speed-sensitive power steering.

You're also treated to a rear sonar system, high-intensity discharge bi-functional Xenon healdights, fog lights, LED taillights, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, performance tires, sport headlights, a power moonroof, leather seats (12-way adjustable and heated for the driver, 8-way adjustable and heated for the front passenger), power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, memory seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel, push button start, an AM/FM/SiriusXM Satellite/CD premium Bose audio system with 10-sepakers, a 9.3 gigabyte Music Box hard drive and a USB connection for your portable device.

The 2011 Infiniti G37 Sedan Interior. It looks great even when you're in the seat, instead of looking down through the open sunroof.

The nav system comes standard, too...and includes XM NavTraffic (good) and XM NavWeather (better...a long summer drive with real-time radar in your dashboard can be a life-saver), plus the Zagat Survey restaurant guide. It's also got voice recognition, a rear-view camera, and a 7-inch color display. There's Bluetooth, HomeLink, controls for most of those things on the steering wheel, dual zone climate control and a bunch more (if you really want the full list, click here).

What matters most is this: The bones of this car are so completely and totally right. It is a fast, confident, balanced sport sedan...right on the heels of BMW (a gap it's been narrowing for years) at a lower price. So much of the equipment on the G37 Sedan 6MT enhances that...and (this is not always a given) none of it detracts from it.

A truly great car that breaks the $40,000 barrier only because of the destination charges. That's something to be applauded, bought and driven often.

EPA estimates: 17 city/25 highway.

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2011 Infiniti M35h Hybrid car wallpaper gallery and prices

2011 Infiniti M35h Hybrid car wallpaper gallery and prices
http://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2010-nissan-leaf-cars-pictures-gallery.html

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2011 Infiniti Announced FX30ds price for UK Market cprices and specification

2011 Infiniti Announced FX30ds price for UK Market cprices and specification
http://masti-jokes.blogspot.com/2011/05/2011-ford-taurus-pictures-gallery-and.html

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2011 Infiniti G37 car Prices and features expertise

2011 Infiniti G37 car Prices and features expertise
The Infiniti G version models was also called as Nissan Skyline and the first generation models were built based on the Nissan Primera.

Infiniti G20 was the first luxury car released in the states of America. The first G-series model produced was launched on 10th of July, 1990.

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2011 Infiniti M56 Road Test wallpapers and reviews

2011 Infiniti M56 Road Test wallpapers and reviews with specification

Sleek and curvaceous, the 2011 Infiniti M56 is an exciting and luxurious ride. Infiniti has lengthened this year’s models dimensions, increasing the length, height and width overall. Its new powerful engine and flowing redesign are all intact from the 2010 model as well. RoadflyTV and host Ross Rapoport took

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Infiniti M37 Review

It's all about the curves.

No, you haven't logged on to Playboy's home page by mistake. But words like "sexy" and "voluptuous" just might get used in the next few paragraphs. Infiniti, the near-luxury division of Nissan that originally tried to sell us cars by showing us pictures of trees and running water in its TV commercials (just no cars), has finally realized that cars, at their best, are tactile, emotional, exciting...and sent the stylists to the drawing board with just that in mind.

A great leap forward? Well, yeah. Click here for a reminder of what last year's Infiniti M looked like. We've gone from mildly upscale vanilla Japanese design to "somebody has a Maserati poster on their bedroom wall" in one model year.

What's great about it is that the beauty isn't only skin deep. If you read the review of last year's M35 linked above, you know we liked it a lot. But the M37 in its gorgeous new wrapper turns up the heat when in motion. Last year's 303 horsepower becomes 330. 262 pound-feet of torque becomes 270.

Wanna know the really hot part?

It's cheaper.

The fabulous curves, the big boost in power...is accompanied by a base price that's $1,700 lower than the last model.

And it gets better mileage. 16 city/22 highway is now 18/26.

Wanna talk more about curves? Fine. It handles them like a slot car. Like it's on rails. Find a twisting, turning road and you'll be grinning like an idiot.

You'll steal glances over your shoulder when you park it and walk away.

Your wife, girlfriend or both will be jealous of this car.

Yes, it's that good.

Wherever Infiniti found the $1700 to cut, it wasn't the interior. Better than ever, with virtually everything standard at $46,250. Our tester had exactly four options: The trunk mat, trunk net and first aid kit ($195), illuminated kick plates ($350), the Sport package (which swaps the standard 18 inch alloys for 20-inchers, and adds sport suspension, sport brakes, paddle shifters, 4-wheel active steer, plus sport seats, steering wheel and shift knob) for $3,650, and the Premium Package (hard drive Nav sysstem, color touch-screen, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, Zagat Survey restaurant reviews, voice recognition, an upgraded Bose 10-speaker audio system, with Bluetooth streaming audio and a 9.3 GB hard drive to store your music, climate controlled fron seats and a heated steering wheel) for $3,350. Add $865 for destination charges and the total is $54,660....$255 less than the similarly loaded (but less powerful and less beautiful) 2010 model.

Sure, the bottom line is a bargain only in relative terms. But drive it. Then tell me you don't want one.

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2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Cars Wallpapers and Reviews specification

2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Cars Wallpapers and Reviews specification

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Infiniti G37 To Get Mercedes Engine

TireKicker regulars know we love us some Infiniti G37. Now , the Renault-Nissan-Daimler alliance may mean Mercedes-Benz power under the hood...an inline four to help with economy and emissions. 

Full story at Automotive News. 

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Nissan Investigating Driveshaft Problems In Its Nissan and Infiniti Trucks And SUVs

Just days after Toyota announced a recall of its Tacoma pickups for a driveshaft component flaw, Nissan is investigating a similar flaw and what to do about it.

TheDetroitBureau.com reports that both automakers use the same supplier, Dana...and that appears to be the source of the problem, which Toyota said could cause the driveshaft to crack, separate and fall...resulting in a loss of control of the truck....but Nissan says won't.

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Infiniti M35 Review

Picture Paul Newman and Robert Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Fast-forward to the pursuit scene, where they're looking over their shoulders at the posse on their tail and wondering aloud:



That's the mental image I get every time Infiniti ups the ante with one of its sport sedans. Infiniti's the posse. BMW is Butch and/or Sundance.

For a car company that looked like odd man out 20 years ago as Lexus conquered luxury and Acura virtually invented near-luxury, these guys have put together one impressive mission statement:

Aim for the blue-and white propeller.

As with the G37 and its target, the 3-series, the M35 isn't quite a match for the 5-series...but the gap closes each time around. And if you're not obsessing about BMW the way Infiniti does, you may find this one wins your car-buying dollar (okay, 47,950 of them before options) on its own.

303 horsepower, 262 pounds per foot of torque. A 5-speed automatic with Drive Sport mode. 18-inch alloys. Dual exhausts with quad chrome finishers.

And while it's fairly dripping in tech (two different packages as options...the Technology Package and the Advanced Technology Package...were on this car, adding surround sound, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, intelligent cruise control, navigation with XM NavTraffic, voice recognition, rear view camera and a 9.3 gig hard drive for your music), it's nowhere near as obtrusive and overwhelming as the same pieces were in the FX 35 crossover. Perhaps its because the M35 has such a strong presence as a car before all the tech gets laid on.

Even with the as-tested sticker reading $54,915 and the EPA estimates far from stellar at 16 city/22 highway, I'd have a hard time talking myself out of recommending this to drivers looking for a strong, capable midsize sport sedan.

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