Infiniti hybrid car on the way

Nissan’s luxury car brand, Infiniti, has announced that it is set to join the hybrid vehicle market.

The firm revealed that production of its first vehicles of this type could be available by 2011.

These will be the Infiniti M35 saloons, the first hybrid cars from the company in its 20-year history.

According to the firm, these will feature the luxury performance of its existing range, but will be the most economical cars that it has ever produced.

The new vehicle will come with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, rear-wheel drive handling and Infiniti’s own hybrid system, which features a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement. The car will run on a ‘laminated’ lithium ion battery pack, which provides twice the power of conventional battery packs.

Last month, Volvo revealed details for its plug-in diesel car.

The vehicle will be able to cover 31 miles on battery power alone, with drivers then able to switch to its engine to give them a range of 745 miles.