Infiniti brand boss Andy Palmer told Autocar that the new model will be “like the Tesla sports car option, but with more flexibility in terms of range.”

Infiniti plans to launch a top-of-the-line plug-in hybrid sports car in the next three years, according to Autocar. Infiniti brand boss Andy Palmer told the UK motoring mag that the new model will be “like the Tesla sports car option, but with more flexibility in terms of range,” and implied that it would use hybrid technology that the company explored with the Emerg-e and Essence concepts.

The Emerg-e two-seater, developed with help from Lotus Engineering, was unveiled at the 2012 Geneva show with a pair of electric motors and a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine that cranked out a total of 402 hp. The larger Essence, which made its appearance in 2009, featured a hybrid drivetrain with a 3.7-liter V6, for total power of 592 hp.

Whatever powertrain shows up in the high-end “halo” hybrid, it won’t be the one from the Nissan GT-R, which Palmer told Autocar was “not suitable for Infiniti.” He added, “There are all sorts of issues, especially around [noise, vibration and harshness]. Our target customers are not people who compromise, so we need to ensure we deliver the best of everything.”

Image: Nissan
Source: Autocar