I’m a sucker for a sleek sports car with lots of power. Word has surfaced that Infiniti is set to launch a new Halo sports car by 2016. The vehicle will reportedly use hybrid technology along the lines of what Infiniti has shown with its Emerg-e and Essence concept vehicles. The vehicle is expected to be either a range extended hybrid or to use plug-in hybrid technology.
The vehicle certainly won’t be the first sports car to feature hybrid technology, many automakers are going that direction today. Not all sports cars use hybrid technology merely for increased efficiency either, some, such as Ferrari, use hybrid type technologies to actually increase performance. Infiniti will reportedly aim the new sports car customers in their late 20s according to reports and the majority of buyers are expected to come from Asia.
One Infiniti executive, brand boss Andy Palmer, hinted that the car would be “like the Tesla sports car option, but with more flexibility in terms of range.” Presumably, he is talking about the Tesla Roadster, but the vehicle wouldn’t rely on electricity alone. Infiniti’s Emerg-e concept car was a rear wheel drive vehicle that used a Lotus 1.2-liter gasoline engine paired with two electric motors. That drivetrain produce a total of 420 hp. If the car was lightweight and handled well, 420 hp would be able to provide an impressive level of performance.
via autocar
Filed Under: Auto News