Electric Infinities

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Infiniti announces electric sportscar - Car and Car-Buying News - What Car?
[/LIST]

Boxster competition, yes
Possible range extender, no

 

[TEG]

L.A. Auto Show: Infiniti Says Luxury LEAF Coming in 2014

...Infiniti JX SUV, VP of Infiniti mentioned that come 2014, Infiniti would begin selling its first 100% EV…
...this would be a “luxury LEAF” with performance and driving experience being a key factor.
...also said that it would debut at next year’s New York Auto Show...

About Infiniti | Future Vehicles | Infiniti USA

 

[Robert.Boston]

If they leave the "luxury LEAF" in that same ugly chassis, Tesla has nothing to worry about.

 

[TEG]

I think it has been well established that they have a new, better looking, body just about ready.
(Some have seen it in prototype form already.)

 

[TEG]

Maybe they will offer a hatchback instead of sedan:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/motorshows/tokyo-motor-show/275803/nissan_leaf_price_to_drop.html

...Nissan's luxury arm, Infiniti, will launch an electric compact hatchback using technology from the LEAF and with a design inspired by the Etherea concept car...

Not the first time I heard someone say it will have a hatchback.
Perhaps similar to the way Model S does the sloping hatchback.

 

[dpeilow]

There's a lot of chatter recently about Infiniti launching a range extender sports car. Maybe there are two vehicles in the works?

Infiniti teases 2012 hybrid concept - Latest car stories - MSN Cars UK

The new car from Nissan’s luxury performance brand will be a range extender hybrid, similar to the Chevrolet Volt/Vauxhall Ampera, and will feature a 1.2-litre combustion engine acting as an onboard generator to power the battery pack and electric motor, rather than drive the wheels.

 

[JRP3]

Sigh, are we stuck with the "range extender hybrid" term now. How exactly do you extend the range of a hybrid? At least they aren't calling it an EV.

 

[Robert.Boston]

While I personally strongly prefer the BEV approach, this "range extender hybrid" (serial) approach makes far more sense to me than the parallel approach used in most cars. An ICE that has a single, simple purpose--to charge a battery--should be able to be simpler, and tuned more precisely to cause less pollution, than having an entirely separate ICE drivetrain. The REH also focuses development dollars on improvements to the electric motor, regenerative technologies, etc., and familiarizes people with plug-in vehicles. Think of it as (very expensive) training wheels on the road to BEV.

 

[EVNow]

There's a lot of chatter recently about Infiniti launching a range extender sports car. Maybe there are two vehicles in the works?

Yes - two separate cars. BEV will be a normal sedan - and this hybrid will be a sports car like the BMW i-8 or the Fisker (is that a sports car?).

 

[EVNow]

While I personally strongly prefer the BEV approach, this "range extender hybrid" (serial) approach makes far more sense to me than the parallel approach used in most cars. An ICE that has a single, simple purpose--to charge a battery--should be able to be simpler, and tuned more precisely to cause less pollution, than having an entirely separate ICE drivetrain. The REH also focuses development dollars on improvements to the electric motor, regenerative technologies, etc., and familiarizes people with plug-in vehicles. Think of it as (very expensive) training wheels on the road to BEV.

Only BMW i-3 is thinking about this.

The basic problem is one of battery capacity. To be able to drive exclusively on a battery you need a large battery (in terms of power, if not energy capacity) - and that costs a lot. Then you add the genset etc - it is getting to be too costly for the mainstream.

The other approach to this - like the PIP or the Energi - is to think how best to make a plugin that has the maximum impact on gas usage for a small amount of extra $. A small battery with low power that can drive in EV mode in the city may be the answer. We will know if this works in reality when Ford prices Energi.

 

[JRP3]

An ICE that has a single, simple purpose--to charge a battery--should be able to be simpler, and tuned more precisely to cause less pollution, than having an entirely separate ICE drivetrain.

Except that GM found using the ICE to drive the wheels directly at times to be a more efficient setup. I agree that the simplicity in having the ICE a generator only would seem better, probably using a different type of engine though.

 

[TEG]

Infiniti Range-Extended Electric Sports Car Due At Geneva

 

[TEG]

 

[TEG]

Carscoop: Infiniti Geneva Motor Show Sports Car Concept

Carscoop: Infinitis Emerge-E Pure Electric Supercar Concept Uncovered in Patent Designs

 

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Fisker RIP?

 

[Doug_G]

"Pure Electric" in the link... click the link and see "Range Extender" ???

 

[Robert.Boston]

There's a stark contrast between this Nissan "reveal" (hey, the marketing guys came up with a name, and we have some primitive graphics that kinda sorta look like something we probably won't build ever) and the Tesla Model X "reveal" (come along for a ride! That was fun. What color would you like?).

 

[AnOutsider]

There's a stark contrast between this Nissan "reveal" (hey, the marketing guys came up with a name, and we have some primitive graphics that kinda sorta look like something we probably won't build ever) and the Tesla Model X "reveal" (come along for a ride! That was fun. What color would you like?).

Titanium please.

 

[doug]

Infiniti Names its Geneva Motor Show Sports Car Concept - Carscoop

I read this to mean they named the car "Carscoop".

So which is it pure EV or PHEV? One article mentions a mid-engine setup for the range extender.

 

[JRP3]

Everything I've seen about it says hybrid. My guess is that whoever said "EV" is just confused, or bought into the nonsense that a plug in hybrid is an EV.