In response to environmental concerns and tighter regulations on carbon emissions and fuel economy, it comes as no surprise that hybrids are slowly, but surely, taking over mainstream gasoline. As a result, perhaps, it was a good time for Infinity, Nissan's luxury division, to bring out its first performance hybrid you see here.

The closest rivals for the M35h are the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid as well as the Lexus GS450h (which is no longer for sale in Singapore). Unlike other conformist hybrids such as the Prius and the Insight which are commonly used as a benchmark for greener vehicles, the Infiniti would probably have a number of cynical souls giving very different opinions.

To put things into a clearer perspective, the M35h's fuel economy of 7L/100km is superior to the M37's 10.2L/100km, and it's almost as fast as the range topper M56. It is the luxury marque's first foray into the hybrid haystack and while Infiniti may be fashionably late for the hybrid creation in its line-up, it's clear that the brand wants to do things a little differently with the car - inside and out.

Exterior

The exterior design of the car may not be revolutionary on first glance but once you get the hang of it, you'll realise that Infiniti worked its sheet metal with the right amount of curves. While the bonnet resembles the rest of the models in its stable - curved and swelled up - the car exudes a sense of allure and luxury, thanks to the long bonnet with high rear deck.

The hybrid's wide stance also gives it a rather stunning styling. It's arguably more attractive than many sedans out there in the market, with more bulk and masculinity to present to onlookers, yet remaining very streamlined. It does, though, lack the 'beastly' looks from the bigger and fiercer FX model.

Simply put, the angles of the sheet metal are more functional than form. It is obvious that thoughts have been put into the design of the M35h to make the sedan. From the wave-like trunk that works like a spoiler and the double-arch upright low grille to the deeply sculpted fenders and front and rear tyre deflectors, the sedan of a hybrid has been made not just to look the part but drive the very same way too.

Interior

Similarly to the other models in its stable, the cabin of the M35h is an exceptional work of art. It is heavenly blended with wood, leather and chrome and are finely and flawlessly pieced together, blowing away some if not most of the sterile Germans away.

It isn't just about the sensual curves of the dashboard or the high quality materials used. The 'concert on wheels' Bose sound system uplifts the entire cabin by a couple of notches. Other than the usual positioning of the speakers (there are 16 in total), two personal speakers are located on the shoulders of each seat, giving front occupants the depth and presence of their favourite tunes while on the go.


Apart from that, myriad of features fill the car. Just like many other luxury cars, the M35h is packed with amenities such as cruise control, dual-zone air-conditioning, 10-way adjustable electric benches and infotainment system which includes a USB connection port for iPod interface and other compatible devices.

But the two in-house features that give Infiniti the 'cut' are the air-conditioning seats that cool your butt down on a hot sweaty day and the Forest Air System that offers humidity and pollution control. Select this option from the 8-inch touch screen display and a subtle smell of forest can be detected in the cabin.

Space wise, the car offers a generous amount of space for five occupants, thanks to the decent wheelbase of 2,900mm. Boot space, however, has been compromise due to the lithium-ion battery pack located under the boot floor. Still, according to Infiniti, the boot can fit up to four golf bags.


The only complain we have is the difficulty of adjusting the seats when the door is closed. The door fits so tightly against the driver's seat that operating the power seat controls can be a tad difficult. It's a small quibble though, considering that drivers will probably face this problem only once (seating position can be stored on memory). Aesthetically, nonetheless, the cabin of the M35h remains to be spot-on gorgeous.

The Drive

On the road, the sizeable M35h works its magic to be lightning fast, thanks to the 302bhp powerplant that is supported by the electric motor that generates a total of 67bhp. This electric motor replaces the torque converter and incorporates both the gearbox and engine by means of a clutch. As a result, the engine can be disconnected when cruising on EV mode. According to Infiniti, the hybrid can glide up to speeds of 100km/h for 2km in EV mode but the engine kicks in quicker than that in real life driving.

Where the car excels though is the way it switches between electric power and petrol. It's remarkably seamless and mechanical magic at its best, giving no signs of changes between power outputs whatsoever.

Infiniti also doesn't hide the fact that it clocks a mere 5.5 seconds for its century sprint - the fastest acceleration in its segment, thanks to the maximum torque output of 350Nm and 270Nm from the engine and electric motor respectively. Accelerate with some fervour and the M35h will surge forward with gusto and before you know it, you would have been catapulted ahead of the pack to the next traffic light, accompanied by a vocal soundtrack that could give the GS driver on the next lane palpitations.

Four modes are available for the driver to toggle - Snow, Eco, Standard and Sport. Both Eco and Standard varies in terms of its fuel consumption with acceleration sensitivity and the weight of the steering wheel feeling somewhat similar. Switch it over to Sport mode and the suspension stiffens a tad, with the right foot pedal taking in every input from your calling.

It doesn't, however, perform as well around bends. No doubt that the car holds its ground relatively well, mild oversteer is inherently experienced, but it still manages to offer the driver a strong sense of security and predictability at the wheel.

Funny thing is regardless of the modes selected, overtaking on the highways is not just ridiculously easy, it is also fun as it allows you to give your inputs via huge leather-clad paddle shifts. With such powerful forces at play, one will always be glad to know that the brakes take its effect promptly to bring the 1.8 tonne to a complete halt in a safe and fuss-free manner.

Conclusion

This sporty hybrid sedan has the capabilities of being an all-rounder green machine that's worth keeping on the "To Buy" list. Not only does it offer you space and efficient fuel consumption figures, the Infiniti M35h also gives you the option of embarrassing the slower non-hybrid vehicles on the road.

Come on now, you know you prefer the latter.

In response to environmental concerns and tighter regulations on carbon emissions and fuel economy, it comes as no surprise that hybrids are slowly, but surely, taking over mainstream gasoline. As a result, perhaps, it was a good time for Infinity, Nissan's luxury division, to bring out its first performance hybrid you see here.

The closest rivals for the M35h are the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid as well as the Lexus GS450h (which is no longer for sale in Singapore). Unlike other conformist hybrids such as the Prius and the Insight which are commonly used as a benchmark for greener vehicles, the Infiniti would probably have a number of cynical souls giving very different opinions.

To put things into a clearer perspective, the M35h's fuel economy of 7L/100km is superior to the M37's 10.2L/100km, and it's almost as fast as the range topper M56. It is the luxury marque's first foray into the hybrid haystack and while Infiniti may be fashionably late for the hybrid creation in its line-up, it's clear that the brand wants to do things a little differently with the car - inside and out.

Exterior

The exterior design of the car may not be revolutionary on first glance but once you get the hang of it, you'll realise that Infiniti worked its sheet metal with the right amount of curves. While the bonnet resembles the rest of the models in its stable - curved and swelled up - the car exudes a sense of allure and luxury, thanks to the long bonnet with high rear deck.

The hybrid's wide stance also gives it a rather stunning styling. It's arguably more attractive than many sedans out there in the market, with more bulk and masculinity to present to onlookers, yet remaining very streamlined. It does, though, lack the 'beastly' looks from the bigger and fiercer FX model.

Simply put, the angles of the sheet metal are more functional than form. It is obvious that thoughts have been put into the design of the M35h to make the sedan. From the wave-like trunk that works like a spoiler and the double-arch upright low grille to the deeply sculpted fenders and front and rear tyre deflectors, the sedan of a hybrid has been made not just to look the part but drive the very same way too.

Interior

Similarly to the other models in its stable, the cabin of the M35h is an exceptional work of art. It is heavenly blended with wood, leather and chrome and are finely and flawlessly pieced together, blowing away some if not most of the sterile Germans away.

It isn't just about the sensual curves of the dashboard or the high quality materials used. The 'concert on wheels' Bose sound system uplifts the entire cabin by a couple of notches. Other than the usual positioning of the speakers (there are 16 in total), two personal speakers are located on the shoulders of each seat, giving front occupants the depth and presence of their favourite tunes while on the go.


Apart from that, myriad of features fill the car. Just like many other luxury cars, the M35h is packed with amenities such as cruise control, dual-zone air-conditioning, 10-way adjustable electric benches and infotainment system which includes a USB connection port for iPod interface and other compatible devices.

But the two in-house features that give Infiniti the 'cut' are the air-conditioning seats that cool your butt down on a hot sweaty day and the Forest Air System that offers humidity and pollution control. Select this option from the 8-inch touch screen display and a subtle smell of forest can be detected in the cabin.

Space wise, the car offers a generous amount of space for five occupants, thanks to the decent wheelbase of 2,900mm. Boot space, however, has been compromise due to the lithium-ion battery pack located under the boot floor. Still, according to Infiniti, the boot can fit up to four golf bags.


The only complain we have is the difficulty of adjusting the seats when the door is closed. The door fits so tightly against the driver's seat that operating the power seat controls can be a tad difficult. It's a small quibble though, considering that drivers will probably face this problem only once (seating position can be stored on memory). Aesthetically, nonetheless, the cabin of the M35h remains to be spot-on gorgeous.

The Drive

On the road, the sizeable M35h works its magic to be lightning fast, thanks to the 302bhp powerplant that is supported by the electric motor that generates a total of 67bhp. This electric motor replaces the torque converter and incorporates both the gearbox and engine by means of a clutch. As a result, the engine can be disconnected when cruising on EV mode. According to Infiniti, the hybrid can glide up to speeds of 100km/h for 2km in EV mode but the engine kicks in quicker than that in real life driving.

Where the car excels though is the way it switches between electric power and petrol. It's remarkably seamless and mechanical magic at its best, giving no signs of changes between power outputs whatsoever.

Infiniti also doesn't hide the fact that it clocks a mere 5.5 seconds for its century sprint - the fastest acceleration in its segment, thanks to the maximum torque output of 350Nm and 270Nm from the engine and electric motor respectively. Accelerate with some fervour and the M35h will surge forward with gusto and before you know it, you would have been catapulted ahead of the pack to the next traffic light, accompanied by a vocal soundtrack that could give the GS driver on the next lane palpitations.

Four modes are available for the driver to toggle - Snow, Eco, Standard and Sport. Both Eco and Standard varies in terms of its fuel consumption with acceleration sensitivity and the weight of the steering wheel feeling somewhat similar. Switch it over to Sport mode and the suspension stiffens a tad, with the right foot pedal taking in every input from your calling.

It doesn't, however, perform as well around bends. No doubt that the car holds its ground relatively well, mild oversteer is inherently experienced, but it still manages to offer the driver a strong sense of security and predictability at the wheel.

Funny thing is regardless of the modes selected, overtaking on the highways is not just ridiculously easy, it is also fun as it allows you to give your inputs via huge leather-clad paddle shifts. With such powerful forces at play, one will always be glad to know that the brakes take its effect promptly to bring the 1.8 tonne to a complete halt in a safe and fuss-free manner.

Conclusion

This sporty hybrid sedan has the capabilities of being an all-rounder green machine that's worth keeping on the "To Buy" list. Not only does it offer you space and efficient fuel consumption figures, the Infiniti M35h also gives you the option of embarrassing the slower non-hybrid vehicles on the road.

Come on now, you know you prefer the latter.