INFINITI will launch a new small car to challenge the Audi A3 and BMW 1-Series - and it's going to be electric! The Nissan luxury brand, which recently opened its first UK dealership in Reading, is planning a new compact hatchback model to act as the entry point to its range.
And the firm is hoping to appeal to buyers keen on downsizing and eco-friendliness by powering its first small car with a development of the lithium-ion battery pack and electric motor drivetrain used by the Nissan Leaf. "A small electric Infiniti compact car will arrive in the near future," Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn confirmed at the Tokyo Motor Show.
With rival brand Lexus set to launch the production version of its LF-Ch compact hatchback concept towards the end of 2010, a similar model from Infiniti is a logical step. Expect to see the new model, which will only be available in electric form, to arrive in 2012.
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In fact, just a few weeks ago, researchers at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology developed the first
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