Despite our initial reservations, we grew to adore the Nissan Juke, even though it’s styling could politely be described as “interesting”. Whether the Infiniti Etherea concept will do the same is a question only time can answer, but so far we’re not quite as enthusiastic about the concept car’s looks than Infiniti might like us to be.

Without a compact luxury car, Infiniti will have a hard time competing in their new European stomping grounds, and let’s face it, a rebadged Nissan Versa ain’t exactly up to the task.

The 2012 Infiniti M35h Hybrid, the brand’s first hybrid vehicle, has been rated at 27 mpg in the city and 29 mpg highway, while returning 350 horsepower from its V6 engine.

Infiniti is preparing to debut an all-new entry-level model at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, exploiting its recent tie-up with Daimler to source a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as motivation.

Mitsubishi may look to introduce a new flagship model and is currently in talks with Nissan to base the car on the current Infiniti M chassis.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA); its has received 35 separate reports of severe corrosion on 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infiniti QX4 SUVs.

Typically, a product is reviewed and rated by a publication, whose staff, after testing and evaluating, will give their opinion on it. However, some might consider this opinion biased, either due to the writer’s personal taste or due to advertising dollars.

To win them over, Infiniti is offering a new special version of the EX30d (yup, a diesel Infiniti) called the Black Premium Edition. Based on its diesel powered variant, the Black Premium Edition gets metallic malbec paint with a graphite interior. In other words, it’s black on black. You also get shiny 19-inch alloy wheels and shiny roof rails. Plus the usual sunroof and Bose audio system.

While it doesn’t get a lot of press, Infiniti has climbed up the luxury ladder to become the fourth largest luxury brand in the U.S. And over the past two years, the company has expanded globally as well.

Nissan/ Infiniti tuner Impul chose the Tokyo Auto Salon to make the public debut of its new 651S tuning package for the new Infiniti M luxury sedan.

The recent tie-up between Mercedes parent company Daimler and Nissan/Renault has resulted in numerous proposed vehicle partnerships, with the latest being in the high-performance arena.

Infiniti is aiming to add several new products and revamp its volume-leading G lineup of vehicles over the next few years. The first car set to be unveiled is a new compact front-drive model, likely based on either the new Mercedes A-Class or B-Class architecture, and likely sharing the same engines with its German counterpart. The new model is rumored to bow as early as the Geneva Auto Show this March.

We’ve got to say that this winter, Infiniti is really going downhill… in a good way. How is that possible? By partnering with Volant to offer a limited edition ski pack.

Okay, maybe we’re reaching a bit with these “debuts” but that’s how Infiniti is billing the American auto show unveiling of the new G25 sedan at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today. Of course, we’ve seen this G25 before, but…it’s a perfectly fine looking sedan so we’ll humor them here a bit. As its name implies, the G25 is powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 that produces 218 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque. Pricing will start $30,950.

Infiniti brought out their new M35h, a hybrid version of the M sedan, packing a big V6 motor and the ability to hit 40 mpg on the highway. With 360 horsepower and a 7-speed automatic transmission, the M35h can get up to highway speed quickly, and can even cruise as fast as 62 mph on electric only power.

To celebrate the automaker’s 20th anniversary, Infiniti will offer just 300 versions of the Essence Sculpture, which will come with a Louis Vuitton carrying case . If you recall, the Esence Concept came with Louis Vuitton luggage designed specifically for the car.

The cost for the item is a rather reasonable $300 and buyers can opt for a personalized case.

To get your own, or pick one up as a present, visit infinitilifestyle.com

Official release after the jump:

Nissan has announced a recall of 2.14 million vehicles worldwide relating to an issue with the ignition system that could cause the cars and trucks to stall. Included in the recall are models sold outside the U.S., like the March, Micra and Note, while here at home vehicles affected include the Titan pickup, the Versa (sold as the Tiida overseas), the Cube and the Infiniti QX56. A total of 762,000 vehicles in the U.S. are affected.

Infiniti makes a lot of excellent cars, and the G37 Convertible is one of them. It will hold its own in price, performance, handling, appearance, and luxury, when going against the European competition ranging from the Audi TT, to the BMW 335i Convertible or the Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet.

For 2011 Infiniti has released a round of updates to its entry-level EX35 crossover, with one of the biggest changes being the addition of a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 7-speed box is used across the rest of Infiniti’s lineup and while we’re surprised the EX hasn’t been upgraded to the 3.7-liter V6 (from the current 3.5L) the new transmission will most certainly improve fuel economy by a few ticks, and is also likely to result in slightly improve acceleration. (No official EPA fuel economy numbers are yet available).

Infiniti hasn’t written-off a halo-model luxury sports car and is still hoping to bring such a vehicle to market. In a recent interview with AutoCar, Infiniti boss Toru Saito admitted as much, but made no confirmation that the Essence Concept could see production. Currently Infiniti has put its branding focus on electric and hybrid vehicles, with the introduction of the M35h at the Paris Auto Show and an announcement that it would build a premium compact electric car based on the Nissan Leaf.

With all the focus on small cars in the auto industry as of late, you might be surprised to learn that the truck and SUV segment is growing at a far more rapid pace. Sure it’s the result of a comparison with last year’s incredibly depressed sales numbers, but it’s also a return to normal.

After debuting the IPL ( Infiniti Performance Line) G Coupe at Pebble Beach, Nissan’s luxury arm has unveiled the IPL G Convertible at the Paris Auto Show. Those eager to get their hands on this more attractive G Coupe will have to wait, however, as it’s technically a concept car. But don’t let the name fool you, Infiniti will most certainly bring this car to market – likely with an announcement just before orders can be placed for the Spring.

Infiniti still doesn’t have much of a presence in Europe, but the brand it looking to continue to grow thanks to a strong lineup of sport-oriented luxury models on one side, and an expanding hybrid and EV initiative on the other. The latest addition to the Infiniti lineup, the M35h, has plenty of potential with a strong combination of luxury, performance and fuel economy.

Additional modifications include a retuned suspension, 19-inch wheels with sport brakes, a performance exhaust and a limited slip differential. Plus there’s a unique aero kit, special IPL badging, an IPL engine cover and unique interior treatments including red leather.

AutoGuide will be on hand for the car’s unveiling at the Paris Auto Show with live coverage starting September 30th.

Official release after the jump:

Infiniti has just released a teaser design sketch of what it’s upcoming luxury electric car will look like. Believed to be based on the same platform as Nissan Leaf EV, the Infiniti model is set to hit dealers in North America in 2013.

Little info is available yet, but Infiniti promises the EV will deliver “Inspired Performance” and will be a, “stylish, high performance five-seat luxury vehicle with zero emissions technology.”

Previous rumors have suggested the Infiniti model could use a more powerful battery to deliver more Infiniti-like performance.

Infiniti will use the car to promote a greener image for the Japanese luxury brand, putting an increased focus on hybrid and electric vehicles. Infiniti will launch its first hybrid, the M35h, at the LA Auto Show in November.

Official release after the jump:

Infiniti‘s FX crossover is getting a price cut for the upcoming model year, in light of a sales drop of 12.4% year-to-year. The FX35 gets a $1,250 reduction while the FX50 gets a $2,600 discount.

A rear-drive FX35 will start at$41,600 while the all-wheel-drive model will cost $43,050. The V8 powered FX50 tops out at $56,400.

The FX’s downturn is highlighted by its drop from 2009 sales, which were poor by normal standards. While Infiniti is up significantly this year, the FX appears to be lagging behind the rest of the lineup, and the brand is looking for ways to help move more units.

[Source: Infiniti]

Infiniti‘s entry-level G25 sedan will go on sale this in October with a starting price of $31,825, $1325 less than a BMW 328i. An all-wheel drive G25x will start at $34,825. In between the two will be a G25 Journey, priced at $33,225.

Infiniti‘s M37 and M56 sedans, the largest of Infiniti’s 4-door offerings, get a minor price bump for 2011, with the MSRPs rising $250 and $350 respectively.

Along with three new Nissan models, the Japanese automaker is also planning to showcase another trio of debuts for its premium Infiniti brand at the LA Auto Show later this year. Included in the list are the Infiniti M Hybrid, the G25 Sedan and the IPL G Coupe.

Infiniti will officially debut the production version of the M35 hybrid at the LA Auto Show later this year and it’s likely to be followed by more hybrid models from the Japanese luxury automaker. According to an Automotive News interview with Ben Poore, VP of Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury arm is currently studying what other models could use the hybrid setup.

It’s good to be good – especially when you’re singled out for it. And that’s what the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just did with the 2011 Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M37/M56, which earned Top Pick Safety Awards in the large luxury class and earned the top rating of good in recent roof strength tests.

We’ll be honest, we thought this whole matte black car craze would die out sooner than it has. We’re getting tired of seeing yet another poorly-done flat black car, but damn if this Infiniti G37 sedan doesn’t just look incredible. With the facelift on the new G37 sedan, we’ve been anticipating what the aftermarket would do with its new, more aggressive lines and this entry is everything we’ve been dreaming of.

Infiniti is adding an entry level G25 model to its G Sedan range. Virtually identical to the G37, the G25 gets a 2.5L V6 putting out 218 horsepower, versus the G37’s 328 horsepower.

Luxury isn’t just about amenities, high-grade materials, workmanship and bountiful amounts of power. It’s also about style.

Infiniti‘s long-awaited G Coupe IPL was unveiled today at the  2010 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance. Despite rumors of the car being a competitor to the BMW M3 and Lexus IS-F, the numbers are rather underwhelming; just 348-horsepower was extracted from the cars VQ37HR and just 276 lb-ft of torque, bumps of just 18 horsepower and 6 lb-ft.

While cosmetic features like 19″ wheels and an optional red leather interior are abound, there are also slightly stiffer springs, a limited slip differential and 4-piston front brake calipers. We still can’t help feel that this is a blown opportunity that could have been used to create a world class sports coupe.

Hit the jump for the official press release

Gallery: Infiniti Performance Line G Coupe IPL

[Source: Infiniti]

Ahead of it’s official debut this Friday, several spy photos of a what appears to be a new high-performance version of the Infiniti G37 have appeared online. Taken by photographer Mark Margulies, the photos clearly show a significantly more aggressive aero kit, new wheels and a lowered suspension.

Infiniti appears ready to launch a line of compact luxury crossovers that will wear the JX badge. While not confirmed, the luxury division of Nissan Motor Co. has filed for trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for four separate cars names: JX20, JX25, JX25h and JX30.

Porsche was the big winner for July 2010 sales, moving 75% more cars than in July 2009, with Hyundai/ Kia, Jaguar/ Land Rover and the Big Three all making solid gains. Japanese auto makers bore the brunt of the market, with Toyota and Honda losing a bit of market share, while Suzuki took the dubious title of “Biggest Loser” as sales fell by 43%.

While Infiniti has debuted both a new M sedan and QX SUV for the upcoming model year, their core products, the EX crossover and G sedan and coupe, have received some minor tweaks for 2011.

The G lineup gets two new variants set to debut at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in August. Titled the Limited Edition and the Sport Appearance Package respectively, no information has been given on the models, aside from the promise of “special exterior and interior content features.”  The G Coupe will get a sport package for the all-wheel drive models while the convertible gets a revised front end and a Limited Edition model.

The EX’s big announcement is a seven speed transmission similar to the G and M models, as well as 17″ wheels.

Hit the jump to read the official press release