THE Americans would call it chutzpah. We’d probably call it audacious. Either that, or outrageously stupid.

In 2006, when Nissan finally gave the go-ahead to launch its luxury sub-brand in Europe, it could not have known that the world was about to be plunged into the worst slump since the Great Depression.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s big cheese, unveiled the European range at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008 and promised they would be on sale by the end of the year.

In September, as Infiniti showrooms were preparing to open for business, Lehman Brothers investment bank filed for bankruptcy - a crash which sent shockwaves through world financial markets. Credit lines dried up, banks ran short of money and Western governments had to step in to prevent a systemic collapse of the world financial system. For awhile it looked as though capitalism itself was on the brink.

No one would have blamed Nissan for pulling back from a European Infiniti launch.

Although drivers in Japan and North America were familiar with the Infiniti badge, the brand was virtually unknown to Europeans.

Nevertheless, the launch went ahead as planned with four cars: the FX37 and FX50 SUVs, the G37 saloon, the G37 coupe and the EX37 crossover. Over a two year period the brand was rolled out across 21 European countries.

It’s fair to say that sales have been modest. An Infiniti is still a rare sight on UK roads and, judging by the number of double-takes the M35h got, folk in the North-East have no idea what they are.

But here’s the thing: last year Infiniti was one of the UK’s fastest growing car brands. Sales were up by almost 40 per cent.

With UK car sales powering out of recession, and demand for premium brands racing ahead of the general recovery, things are certainly looking up for Infiniti.

ON THE ROAD: One reason why it took so long for Infiniti to arrive in Europe was a lack of suitable powertrains. European drivers just don’t buy gas guzzlers anymore. They are more likely to be seduced by the charms of a big diesel or, in the past few years, a petrol-electric hybrid.

Until now Lexus has enjoyed a near monopoly on the luxo-hybrid market but the M35h is looking to give the GS450h a bloody nose.

And what better way to do that than by setting a new world record? According to the Guinness boffins the M35h is the fastest accelerating production hybrid in the world. The M35h reaches 62mph in 5.5 seconds, which is four-tenths quicker than a GS450h. It blitzes through the quarter mile in 13.8 seconds which, for the record, is faster than a Ferrari Testarossa.

The hybrid drivetrain uses a 3.5-litre V6 engine, an electric motor and two clutches (one wet, one dry) for a combined power output of 364 PS.

The clutches can de-couple the petrol engine from the drivetrain, turning the Infiniti into an electric-only car, or lock both powerplants in harness for maximum performance. I was surprised by how often the test car switched to EV mode, particularly in town when an electronic sound generator is required to warn pedestrians of your approach. According to Infiniti, in urban conditions the powertrain spends 50 per cent of its time running on the battery alone.

The switch between EV mode and the petrol engine isn’t seamless, there’s the slightest of thumps through the cabin when the V6 switches in, but you rarely notice. The M35h can run in all-electric mode up to 67 mph and, when it does, the smoothness and refinement is uncanny.

ON THE INSIDE: When you learnt how to drive your instructor probably had a set of dual controls - a duplicate set of pedals in the passenger footwell so he could take over if things went awry.

The M35h features something Infiniti calls an “eco Pedal”. This monitors your driving and, if it thinks you’re being a bit heavy with the right foot, it pushes back on the accelerator. It’s the car’s way of telling you lighten up a bit.

If this sounds a bit too authoritarian, don’t worry, the eco Pedal doesn’t get in the way when you’re pressing on because the car’s sensors are smart enough to know the difference between going fast and driving like a dumb ass.

The cabin is beautifully constructed from the finest materials (soft semi-aniline hides on the seats, wood veneers and alloys) with a very high level of standard equipment.

The 16-speaker Bose surround sound system includes personal surround speakers in the front seat headrests and delivers top-of-the-line audio quality. The disc player can read DVDs - and plays them back in full 5.1 surround - as well as CDs but, surprisingly, there’s no DAB digital tuner.

The Bose system uses active noise cancellation technology which works independently of the music system and compensates for annoying background noise. I haven’t the space to explain how it works, but if you want a practical demo seek out a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones and prepare to be amazed. Combined with double glazed windows and Infiniti’s fanatical attention to engine bay noise insulation, the M35h and the premium Bose system sets a new standard in cabin refinement.

WHAT DO YOU GET?

What don’t you get would be an easier answer to this question. Apart from the DAB tuner, I could think of anything I’d require that the M35h doesn’t already have. Active cruise control that slows down if you get too close to the car in front? Check. Blind spot warning system that looks for trouble on the motorway and uses the brakes to stop you pulling out into another car? Yep. A hard drive music jukebox with enough capacity for thousands of music tracks? You got it. Electrically adjustable front seats? Of course. Dual zone climate control with heating ducts for rear seat passengers? C’mon you do you really need to ask?

Being picky, I guess you could say some rivals are more connected than the M35h which doesn’t have a wireless link to an apps store or an internet portal but you shouldn’t be fiddling around with Google when you’re driving anyway. And there’s always the 2014 model year.

HOW PRACTICAL IS IT?

Well that depends. For a hybrid, the 350-litre boot space is reasonably good (although not as good as the GS450h). For a big premium sedan, however, it’s pretty poor.

The Li-Ion battery pack is sited behind the rear seats and it seriously impinges on the M35h’s carrying capacity. The seats can’t be folded forward because the battery is in the way so you’ve just got to make the best of it. In fairness, the boot is a practical size and I managed to stash a dozen supermarket carrier bags in there so for day-to-day use it’s fine.

RUNNING COSTS: Diesel running costs and petrol refinement? Almost. The test car returned 32 mpg during the week. An equivalent V6 petrol-engined car would have struggled to reach the mid-20s and it certainly wouldn’t have exhaust emissions of 162 g/km.

VERDICT: Despite the world record and the startling performance, the M35h is at its best when you take your time. It’s the perfect car to waft away hundreds of miles in complete comfort and arrive at your destination refreshed and ready to go. The badge might not yet have the brand awareness of a Lexus - let alone a BMW or a Jaguar - but Infiniti has big plans. If rumours of an engine deal with the championship-winning Red Bull F1 team are true, you’ll be hearing a lot more about Infiniti in the next few years.

 

Price: £45,990.

SPEC: Engine: 3498cc V6 24-valve petrol/electric motor wi lithium ion battery Total power: 259 bhp Total torque: 258 lb/ft 0-62 mph: 5.5 seconds Top speed: 155 mph Fuel consumption: 40.9 (official combined figure) Equipment: Alloys, cruise control, ABS, traction control, leather heated and cooled front seats, Bose premium surround sound with active noise cancellation, colour screen sat nav, heated steering wheel, eco Pedal fuel saver, trip computer, automatic gearbox with sport, eco and winter modes.