October 2009, Nissan announced that its Infiniti luxury division would offer a gasoline-electric hybrid version of its M35 V6 powered luxury performance sedan in two years. The automaker made good on its promise when the 2012 Infiniti M35h arrived at dealerships in the fall of 2011. The M hybrid represents Nissan’s first in-house hybrid, and provides one more example of the curious relationship between luxury and hybrid vehicles.
For a number of years, Nissan’s leadership repeatedly made the argument that hybrids are not the answer to the environmental challenges facing the automobile industry – and that only pure all-electric cars represent the necessary shift to oil- and emissions-free motoring. The company’s small all-electric Nissan Leaf arrived in late 2010.
However, the use of gas plus electric power is apparently Nissan’s solution for luxury buyers unwilling to sacrifice horsepower and high-end features, but no longer wanting to guzzle gas. As Infiniti’s press release states, “The M35h has been designed and engineered to add to, not take away from, the driving experience, a key part of any Infiniti’s appeal.” Does this sound like Infiniti is hinting that most hybrids take away from the driving experience?
In any event, this upscale hybrid won’t make such sacrifices, the company says. Available in one trim level with four option packages, the 2012 Infiniti M35h has a base starting at $53,700. Considering its performance capabilities, it has an astonishing EPA fuel economy rating of 27/32 mpg city/highway, with a combined rating of 29 mpg. That’s a huge leap beyond the new M37’s (the 2011 replacement for the M35) numbers of 18 city/26 highway.
The all-new proprietary hybrid system, which the automaker calls the “Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid,” is an innovative, yet elegantly simple full-parallel design. The full-hybrid architecture allows the M35h to operate on the electric motor only, the gasoline engine only, or a combination of the two depending on driving conditions and driver demands. It also saves gas by automatically shutting off the gas engine when the car is stopped. Infiniti says that in mixed driving the M is able to drive in electric only mode for as much as 50 percent of the time.
The powertrain embodies a 3.5-liter Atkinson-cycle V6 engine that works with a single electric motor and two clutches, similar to Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche hybrids. A 1.4-kwh lithium-ion battery pack is positioned under the trunk’s floorboard.
As well as its fast charge/discharge response, the battery pack is laminated to enhance cooling performance, and as a result, provides exceptional battery reliability.
Power output for the V6 is 302 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The 346-volt motor is rated at 67 horsepower (50 kw) at 2,000 rpm and 199 pound-feet of torque. Combined output of the V6 and electric motor is 360 horsepower. Whether powered by the engine, electric motor or both, the energy is directed to the rear wheels and controlled by a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The first of the two clutches is a dry clutch positioned between the engine and the AC motor, which is in-line with the front of the transmission. This eliminates the need for a torque converter and allows the full decoupling of the V6 when running in electric modes – in order to eliminate mechanical drag from the engine and boost the efficiency of the electric motor. The second clutch is a wet clutch at the rear of the transmission that allows the engine to turn the motor/generator to charge the batteries with the vehicle stationary. It also smoothes the drive train during shifts and when the V6 is turned on and off.
0 comments:
Post a Comment