The M35 is hybrid is not only the first hybrid car in 20 years, Inifiniti’s business history, but also the greenest and most economical car Infiniti has ever brought to market. The M35 Hybrid combines the luxury of a high-class sedan with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of much smaller cars. At the same time the high-torque V6 engine combined with rear-wheel drive provides the Infiniti typical driving experience that makes even the most demanding automotive enthusiast satisfied.

The motivation behind pursuing this technology is fundamental and basic, avoiding waste. In simple terms, the energy from braking on a car with a conventional drivetrain is lost by being converted into energy that disappears into the atmosphere as heat and noise. The task Honda’s R&D engineers set themselves was to harness this energy to the benefit of the customer and the environment.

That experience and technical knowledge has enabled Honda to develop the components and parts in our IMA system so they can be produced at a lower cost without compromising on performance, safety or durability. The aim was to make hybrid technology available to more people by developing a family hybrid car that was more affordable.

Honda has concentrated on developing a car that will deliver better fuel economy in the ‘real world’, taking into account the actual conditions in which the car will be driven by their customers. The fuel economy (combined) is 4.4 l/100km, while CO2 emissions are as low as 101g/km

Honda has produced an affordable, efficient, exceptionally frugal and low emission car but there are styles and techniques of driving that can be employed to take even greater advantage of the hybrid technology. The Eco Assist system developed for the Insight, trains drivers, helping them achieve the best possible fuel economy.

Check out the review here.

The Global Green Challenge ran North-South from Darwin to Adelaide and placed conventional and alternative fuel cars against each other in a 1,900 mile real world test. The winner of the challenge was the vehicle judged to have recorded the biggest improvement over its official fuel consumption figure.

Alto won the “Light” and “Small” car categories; “best urban cycle” category and an overall CO2 emission of 89.9g/km, using just 123 litres of fuel for the seven day trip. Watch these two videos from day 6 when the Suzuki Alto reaches Adelaide safe and sound and from the final day of the Global Green Challenge:

Despite some extremely trying conditions for drivers and cars alike, with most teams opting to turn off the air conditioning to save fuel even in temperatures soaring to 43 degrees centigrade, the 1.0-litre petrol engined Alto continued to defy expectations by showing some of the much more expensive diesel cars the true meaning of fuel economy.

Using a simple combination of lightweight design, aerodynamic efficiency and a small and efficient 1.0-litre petrol engine the Alto managed to outrank similar size diesel cars including the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic Turbo Diesel and MINI Cooper D which recorded an overall improvement in mpg of 15.4 per cent and 12.2 per cent respectively.

The Alto is one of the lowest emission vehicles on sale in the UK at 103g/km with an annual VED charge of just £35. Alto is priced from £7,495 for the SZ2 grade and is available under the Government Scrappage scheme from just £5,495.

For more information on the Suzuki product range visit www.suzuki4.co.uk

Watch all videos on Alto Green Challenge’s YouTube Channel

Read More: Honda CR-Z Confirmed for Launch Next year in Japan, Europe & U.S. [Video]

For more information read the full article “First Drive: Nissan LEAF EV” at KbbGreen.