Cars.com Reviews the 2013 Infiniti M35h

Soda drinkers typically judge a diet soda's quality based on one key factor: how close it tastes to the sugary version. Cars.com reviewer Kristin Varela applies a similar test to the hybrid driving experience, and the 2013 Infiniti M35h suits her palate fine. The quintessentially Infiniti-styled sedan suffers little acceleration lag while boasting horsepower comparable to gas-only versions. You might even forget you're driving a hybrid, if not for the nameplate's "h." If "smooth as butter" driving isn't enough, read Varela's review to see if she can sell you on the Infiniti's fuel diet.

2013 Infiniti M35h Review

Infiniti to Rename Entire Lineup Q or QX

Infiniti, one of the last luxury holdouts to have model numbers that actually indicate engine size — as opposed to BMW, Mercedes and Lexus — will rename its entire lineup using Q or QX monikers starting with the 2014 model year.

Luxury brands like Volvo, Audi and Lincoln have similar conventions; Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen headed up Audi of America until last spring. Citing the need for "a new identity and direction to promote consumer familiarity with our model range as we expand the portfolio," he laid out plans to begin the shift "in logical stages" starting with the 2014 model year.

Among Infiniti's SUVs, the EX35 becomes the QX50, the JX35 will be the QX60, the FX35/50 will be the QX70 and the QX56 will be the QX80.

Among the brand's cars, the G25/37 sedan becomes the Q50, which debuts in redesigned form at next month's Detroit auto show. It’s essentially the next G with a new name. The G37 coupe and convertible become the Q60, and the M37/56 becomes the Q70.

Year-End Deal Reality Check: Infiniti

Just because the Christmas shopping season is over, doesn't mean the deals are. The end of the year can be a great time to buy a new car. Infiniti's Limited Engagement sale is back this year, enticing new-car shoppers with low financing on new 2011 and 2012 vehicles.

Well-qualified buyers can purchase select 2012 Infiniti cars and SUVs and take advantage of 1.9% or 2.9% financing. The former is offered for between 36 and 60 months, and latter is offered for 72 months. Vehicles that qualify for the deal include 2012 versions of the Infiniti G25 sedan, G37 sedan, M sedan (including the M37, M Hybrid and M56), FX and QX56. The offer excludes the 2012 Infiniti G IPL.

In an effort to clear 2011 vehicles off the lots, Infiniti dealers are also offering the financing special on 2011 G37 coupes and convertibles and the EX35 SUV. For example, you can buy a 2011 G37 coupe starting at $37,150 (excluding destination charges) and get 1.9% financing for 60 months. These offers end Jan. 3.

Recall Alert: 14,718 2011-12 Nissan and Infiniti Vehicles

Nissan is recalling 14,718 model-year 2011 and 2012 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles due to faulty engine bolts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced. The recall affects the 2011 Infiniti FX, 2012 Infiniti M, 2011-12 Nissan Frontier, 2011-12 Nissan Xterra, 2011-12 Nissan Pathfinder and 2012 Nissan NV.

The affected bolts connecting the engine oil cooler and the engine oil filter to the engine and may have been manufactured below specification strength. Weak bolts could break and lead to an engine oil leak. If there is a leak, the engine oil warning lamp will illuminate, and the engine may become noisy. If the driver ignores the condition, the engine could seize, increasing the risk of a crash.

Nissan will begin notifying owners on Jan. 19. Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect and replace relevant parts free of charge. For more info, owners can call Nissan at 800-647-7261 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

Infiniti Targets Family, Entry Segments

Infiniti, Nissan's luxury division, sees an opportunity for growth in two segments — one addressed by the three-row JX crossover, the other by a future model that slots below the brand's popular G25/G37.

Ben Poore, vice president of Infiniti's U.S. business unit, sat down with us at the recent L.A. Auto Show to talk about the brand's potential. With inventories outpacing the industry average — unusual for a luxury brand — sales improved 3 percent in November, but they remain down nearly 4 percent this year. Poore notes the year-over-year results compare to a huge sales year (2010) for Infiniti, but says better inventory should help the road ahead.

He has high hopes for the JX crossover, a car he says targets "a very different market" from the QX SUV despite both having three rows of seats. While the $58,700 QX56 boasts V-8 towing capacity and a flashier clientele, Poore says the $40,450 JX35 hits the jackpot segment of luxury crossovers: the "luxury family."

2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid Sedan: First Look

• Competes with: Lexus GS 450h, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
• Looks like: An Infiniti M sedan with a couple of extra gauges
• Drivetrain: 302-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 plus 50-kW electric motor for 360 net horsepower; 376-volt lithium-ion battery; seven-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2011

Due at dealerships in spring 2011, the 2012 M35h is Infiniti's first hybrid and parent company Nissan's first homegrown hybrid technology after many years of selling a Toyota-derived system in the Nissan Altima Hybrid, which is available in limited markets. According to Infiniti, the as-yet-unpriced sedan will achieve 25/30 mpg city/highway, though official EPA ratings aren't available yet.

More L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Using a single electric motor and two clutches, the Direct Response Hybrid system's mileage characteristics are closer to those of Honda and Hyundai. Their hybrids' higher mileage comes in highway driving. Competitor Lexus' hybrids get better city mileage. Infiniti points out that the combination of 360 net horsepower and 30 mpg is unmatched in the market.

Recall Alert: 143,223 Nissan and Infiniti Vehicles

Nissan has issued a recall for 143,223 vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The vehicles include the 2009 Nissan Cube and Murano, the 2008 Nissan Rogue, the 2008-2010 Infiniti M35, and 2008-2010 Infiniti M45.

The recall is focused on certain vehicles from the 2008-2010 model years originally sold or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin.

These vehicles have a nut securing the sensor-transmitter of the tire pressure monitoring system that may corrode and possibly crack when exposed to road salt. The nut may fall out of the sensor-transmitter, which will cause the monitoring light to illuminate.

If the driver ignores the light and continues to drive the car in this condition, the tire could lose air pressure, resulting in a flat that could potentially cause an accident.

Nissan dealers will replace the TPMS nut with a “new, more robust nut” free of charge. Owners may contact Nissan at 800-647-7261, Infiniti at 800-662-6200 or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.

2012 Infiniti M35 Hybrid On The Way

Today, Infiniti confirmed that it will sell a hybrid version of its redesigned M sedan in 2011. The 2012 M35 Hybrid — that’s the official name — will feature a V-6 engine, twin-clutch transmission, electric motor and rear-wheel drive. The M35 Hybrid will also run solely on electric power “in certain driving conditions,” which most likely means at low speeds and under light acceleration.

Besides the fact that it will pack a lithium-ion battery, there isn’t any more available information — including the expected mileage gains — about the car. A few more images are below.

2011 Infiniti M: First Look

Infiniti’s next flagship sedan will be called the M56 and will go on sale in the spring of 2010. This top-of-the-line M will feature a 5.6-liter V-8 good for more than 400 hp, though Infiniti isn’t getting specific right now. While the new M37 will feature the same 3.7-liter V-6 found in the G37 lineup, which produces 328 hp, Infiniti says the new Ms with the bigger engines will get better fuel economy than the outgoing models.

Besides the engines, it’s evident in the images above and below that the car has been completely redesigned. The lines are curvaceous — actually, they’re beyond curvaceous. This is perhaps the least-streamlined large sedan we’ve seen in some time. Automakers continue to push the boundaries in a design war to make sure their models stand out. The new M should do at least that.

The 2011 M will also pack high-tech features like a blind spot warning system, but beyond that there isn’t much more information on the new M. The company says it will release more information later this year.  

2009 Infiniti M35 Video

Is the Infiniti M old hat? In the wake of new introductions from Mercedes-Benz and Audi, some are saying yes, but Kelsey Mays points out the fact that the M has been a perennial Cars.com favorite since its introduction. How does the 2009 M35 stack up? Mays decides whether the M35 still impresses him in this video review.