http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...cleId=130726#9

here's a little blib:

"All Nissan would tell us at this stage is that the system is more powerful than a standard 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, but not as powerful as Nissan's 390-hp 5.0-liter V8.

The standard G35 scoots to 60 mph in about 5.6 seconds; we're guessing 5.4 seconds or less for the hybrid.

As for fuel economy, one engineer whispered something that sounded like Nissan thinks that the new hybrid could get 40 percent better mileage than a standard G35 sedan. This would lead us to expect about 24 mpg in the city and almost 34 mpg on the highway in a G35 sedan-size vehicle."

 

wow, I always thought hybrids were slower, like Prius'. How much more expensive will it be? (ballpark)

 

^^^ much more than the cost in fuel savings (always is)

 

This news just made my day! Thank you!

 

Hybrids usually save gas in the city, so I would not expect a saving on the highway unless it has cylinder deactivation (I saw one V6 with up to 3 cylinder shutoff somewhere else).

 

The Accord Hybrid was an example of a hybrid that was faster than the car it was based on. More power than the 6 cylinder (the hybrid had 6 cylinders too), a little better fuel economy even on the highway (cylinder deactivation).

Didn't sell well. Most people buying a hybrid wanted noticebly better fuel economy. If you wanted a more powerful car than the Accord, there were a lot of choices. (i.e. G35). Better fuel economy, you could go smaller or go Camry Hybrid.

There is also a Lexus LS hybrid that is very expensive.

It is likely very difficult for Infiniti to decide how to market a potential G hybrid. Some people would like one that gets significantly better fuel economy, even at the cost of some performance. Put in a 2.5 liter V6, deactivation, and hybrid and maybe target 200-230 horsepower. Make it a well handling and agile car, and many people won't car that it doesn't get > 300 hp. This is the market I would be interested in if it could average > 30mpg.

Others might be willing to settle for fewer fuel economy savings, as long as the horsepower is still approximately the same as the base model.

Others might want the power of a V8 (V6 engine and hybrid combo). This might result in only an improvement of mpg in city driving.

Obviously, in a G car, you want the car to remain nimble. But you have to be going after a new customer since any one of the above would disappoint the fans of the others. And the G isn't a large enough platform to provide more than one choice. You probably couldn't even support the MT, and maybe even limit it to the X.

 

I think there's a big market for drivers that crave power but complain about gas mileage. That describes about 75% of the members on this forum.

It also doesn't surprise me that the Honda's performance oriented Accord Hybrid failed. Accord owners aren't looking for performance; G37 owners are.

 

The Accord failed, not because Accord buyers aren't looking for performance, but because it didn't do anything well enough to justify the premium. It increased mileage by ~2mpg and increased acceleration by maybe a tenth of a second. Plus it only came fully loaded, making it cost over $30k. It made zero financial sense.

As for Nissan, we'll see what they come up with. I'd love to see any type of RWD performance/economy car.

 

I've seen reports that the TSX will be coming out in a diesel model in a year with possibly over 40mpg.

It IS a smaller car, and doesn't look as nice as the G. And, of course, FWD. But at that mileage, they may take some buyers from the G.

 

prior to the new lexus isf (drool), i believe that the fastest car ON the lexus line was a hybrid... in any case, similar to the accord, the lexus hybrids make very little of a difference in gas mileage. i think the difference is that people who can afford a lexus really arent looking for better mileage, they're looking for better parking in LA, carpool lane access, and of course, the right to say they're driving a hybrid... just my humble opinion.

 

The VQ25DD 2.5 litre direct injection engine in my Skyline already makes 215-220 hp. With a 60hp hybrid drivetrain it would likely run with a VQ35DE G35 and get 30 plus mpg easy

 

Here in the states it seems that the only 2.5 liter engines in Nissans are 4 cyl.

I hadn't realized that the 2.5 6 was already getting in the minimum acceptable range for a G.