Infiniti LE Concept

AUTO SHOWS: Nissan paved the way for mass-market electric cars with the Leaf hatchback, and now luxury division Infiniti will launch a more powerful and more refined electric sedan based on the Leaf. Shown in concept form at the 2012 New York auto show, the Infiniti LE closely foreshadows a production electric car.

The heart of the LE concept is a 100-kW electric motor rated for 134 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. It's a stronger motor than in the Nissan Leaf (107 hp and 207 lb-ft) to give the Infiniti electric stronger acceleration. A 24-kWh lithium-ion battery mounted below the passenger compartment is said to provide a driving range of about 100 miles per charge.

Though its wheelbase is identical to that of the Nissan Leaf, the LE's overall length of 186.4 inches is 9.4 inches greater than that of the Leaf. In fact, the LE is only 1.5 inches shorter than an Infiniti G37 sedan. The bodywork befits a concept car, as it's covered in sinewy and rippling creases. Aerodynamic 19-inch wheels, a sloping roofline, LED lights, and a stubby trunk all add up to a slippery drag coefficient of 0.25, which beats the 0.29 Cd of the Leaf. The charging port is hidden beneath the Infiniti logo in the front grille, and there is blue LED illumination for the car's underbody.

"Rather than taking an electric vehicle and adding an Infiniti badge, we are taking an Infiniti and removing the tailpipe," says Infiniti Americas vice president Ben Poore.

Beneath the rear diffuser is an inductive wireless charge unit, which allows the LE concept to be recharged simply by parking it over a wireless charge point that can be installed in a garage floor. To make the process even simpler, the concept car has a self-park system that automatically positions the car above the charge point. Using the electric power steering and 360-degree Around View camera, Intelligent Park Assist can drive itself toward the charger as soon as the car enters a parking garage.

"On top of no longer having to pump gas, you will no longer have to connect charging cables," says Poore.

The interior blends luxury touches with futuristic touches; blue LEDs illuminate the cabin, and the dashboard has a pair of large touch-screen interfaces that allow occupants to find charging stations, calculate driving range, and more. The seats and door trim were inspired by the collars of Japanese kimonos, while the center console has a ripple surface. The seat fabric is a mix of mesh and leather, with a combination of purple and white. As in the Nissan Leaf, the transmission selector is a palm-shaped sculpted knob.

Despite the electric drivetrain, Infiniti asserts that the LE concept will be as quiet as a luxury car, and will provide entertaining handling. Moreover, the instant torque of an electric motor and single-speed transmission are said to provide smooth and instant acceleration.

The LE is not merely a fanciful concept, as Infiniti plans to put the car into production within the next one or two years; the company said in September 2011 that it would launch an electric car by 2014.

  

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Infiniti Emerg-E Concept

AUTO SHOWS: The latest car to be leaked ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut is the Infiniti Emerg-E concept. The electric sports car was previously revealed by leaked renderings (shown in the gallery below) released online two weeks ago.

The leaked photos of the Emerg-E concept show a low and wide sports car that bears a resemblance to supercars like the new McLaren MP4-12C and the Acura NSX concept. The front fascia wears the same polygonal grille that graces other new Infiniti products, the rear has a subtle spoiler and a large lower diffuser, while the roof has a large panoramic glass sunroof. Interior photos reveal a driver-focused cabin with a tall center console and sporty three-spoke steering wheel.

The crux of the Infiniti Emerg-E concept will be a mid-mounted, extended-range electric drivetrain. As in cars like the Chevrolet Volt, drivers will use electric power until the battery is depleted, then a gasoline engine kicks in to help provide extra juice so the Emerg-E can drive farther. We believe the electric drivetrain will be cribbed from the Nissan Leaf, comprising a lithium-ion battery pack and an 80-kW electric motor. The range extender will likely be a 1.2-liter gas engine, and is mid-mounted so the Infiniti Emerg-E is balanced for better handling.

In the past, Nissan executives have called the Emerg-E concept, "our vision for a totally new kind of inspired premium performance car... The natural next step was to push the boundaries where performance and the environment intersect." If the eco-friendly sports car is green-lit for production, it probably won't debut until 2014 at the earliest

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2013 Infiniti EX, FX Get 3.7-liter V6

Here's a change that's about four years in the making: The Infiniti EX and FX will upgrade to the corporate 3.7-liter V6 for the 2013 model year, becoming the 2013 EX37 and 2013 FX37.

The change shouldn't affect performance much, especially in the FX, which already had a version of the 3.5-liter V6 rated at 303 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. (The EX35's V6 was listed at 297 hp and 253 lb-ft).

The 3.7-liter engine will carry a 325-hp rating; Infiniti hasn't released a peak torque figure yet, but it's likely to be in the high 260s, low 270s if the G37/M37 are any indication.

Both crossovers already had the company's seven-speed automatic transmission, so there won't be any changes there, save for possible (minor) adjustments to the gearing.

The FX37 goes on sale in July. The EX35 will show up in August.

Other changes for 2013 include the addition of Infiniti's Moving Object Detection (MOD) system for the FX37/FX50 -- a feature you've no doubt become acquainted with in commercial for the new JX35. It's included if you order the Around View Monitor parking camera.

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