nfiniti Hybrid Sports Car Concept Teased

 Just the Facts:

• Infiniti's new sports-car concept will preview the brand's future design language.
• The concept also will showcase Infiniti's first application of a range-extending hybrid powertrain.
• Infiniti says its intent is to "extend the potential for high-performance, low-emissions electric cars."

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Infiniti, Nissan's upscale brand, has released two teaser images of a new hybrid sports-car concept that it will unveil next March at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show. Infiniti says its intent is to "extend the potential for high-performance, low-emissions electric cars."

Infiniti's new sports-car concept will preview the brand's future design language, beyond the Essence and the Etherea. The concept also will showcase Infiniti's first application of a range-extending hybrid powertrain, "to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect," according to the company.

Infiniti already sells a standard hybrid model, the M35h, and is readying a pure electric car based on the Nissan Leaf for the 2012 New York Auto Show.

The range-extended Infiniti hybrid sports-car concept showcases a third "green" application, one that, similar to the Chevrolet Volt, uses the gasoline engine primarily to extend the range of the electric motor and battery pack.

Inside Line says: Look for Nissan and alliance partner Renault to begin showing new range-extended hybrid models of their own.

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