Hybrid cars may lose their frugal, non-sporty image before long. Autoblog reports, "We're expecting Infiniti to launch its first hybrid sometime in either 2010 or 2011, likely based on the M35 luxury sedan," but "reports out of Japan indicate that this new hybrid tech could filter on down the line to find itself under the shapely hood of Nissan's new 370Z."
Jalopnik adds, "The system would centered around an NEC-sourced lithium-ion battery and an electric drive motor in parallel with the internal combustion engine, each getting their own separate clutch. The car would get plug-in capability which would help push the fuel economy up to a projected, and darn-respectable 35 MPG in combined use."
We would caution, however that the U.S. and Japanese governments use very different testing cycles to calculate fuel economy - U.S. numbers are often much lower, so a Japanese report claiming a 35 mpg rating does not equate to a 35 mpg rating in the U.S.
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