Infiniti Planning Hybrid Supercar For 2016?

Nissan’s luxury brand, Infiniti, has come a long way since its founding a couple of decades ago. But unlike many other luxury car makers, Infiniti lacks a range-topping “halo car” to get enthusiasts excited. A new report suggests that that car could be coming as soon as 2016. But which direction will Infiniti go?

While Infiniti does have a presence in Formula 1, right now its lineup of actual vehicles is kind of bland. While Nissan has the GT-R, there is no Infiniti supercar, though there have been concepts. The Infiniti Emerg-e used a Lotus gas generator to power two electric motors good for over 400 horsepower, while the Infiniti Essence was powered by a 3.7 liter V6 mated to an electric motor making 592 horsepower.

Either concept could be used for the upcoming halo car, though one Infiniti exec denied reports that their car would utilize the GT-R engine. But what about a next-gen GT-R, which is rumored to become a hybrid itself? Nissan also introduced a supercharged 2.5 liter engine/hybrid drivetrain that could perhaps be upgraded for some real performance car power.

Whatever path Infiniti chooses, they’ll have to distinguish their supercar from competitors like the Lexus LFA or Mercedes SLS AMG. A performance hybrid would certainly be something different, as long as they do it right.

Source: AutoCar