Lisle, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/16/2011 -- Infiniti of Lisle, a leading dealer for Chicago Infiniti dealers, is excited about the recent debut of the Infiniti ETHEREA concept car. This vehicle is offering a new twist for younger car buyers, presenting a vehicle that is smaller than a traditional luxury vehicle but offers the same features and options of the great Infiniti luxury vehicles.

“ETHEREA is about a new type of luxury for younger buyers,” said Toru Saito, Corporate Vice President and Leader of the Global Infiniti Business Unit. “It is not just a smaller version of a typically conservative and traditional luxury car.”

Designed under the direction of Senior Vice President of Design Shiro Nakamura, ETHEREA, an exciting vehicle for Chicago Infiniti shoppers, blends elements of coupé, sedan, hatchback and even crossover in one highly sculptural, near-mono volume form. At 4.4m it is highly compact but at the same time it is space efficient and practical thanks to a new mechanical layout and innovative access arrangements.

Among its surprises are high-tech new interpretations of traditional Japanese materials and finishes, and several design cues set to make their mark on future production models – including the highly distinctive crescent-shaped C-pillar first seen on the Essence concept.

Chicago Infiniti Excited for ETHEREA

ETHEREA’s appeal to Chicago Infiniti shoppers is based on the coming together of several vehicles styles. It is part elegant coupé, part spacious sedan, part practical hatchback and even part tall crossover. And being an Infiniti, there is also a large helping of sports car in the way it drives. The concept car has been designed for a potent yet highly efficient hybrid drivetrain based around an in-house platform and the innovative one electric motor/twin clutch system used in the Infiniti M35h, the marque’s first hybrid currently going on sale around Europe.

A supercharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine developing 245 PS provides quick response and strong acceleration throughout the performance range. The transmission is a continuously variable (CVT) type and, in an Infiniti first, drive is to the front wheels.

Like the M35h, the hybrid powertrain is designed to use clean electric power more often, for longer periods and at higher speeds than hybrids generally manage, endowing ETHEREA with a hybrid’s advantages out on the open road as well as in busy city streets.

This maximizes efficiency and cuts CO2 emissions even further while imposing no compromises on the driving front.

Independent suspension, regenerative braking and advanced drive-by-wire electric/hydraulic steering further enhance the balance between performance and greenness. The spacious four-seat cabin offers all the luxury that Infiniti owners expect plus unrivalled ease of access and egress, boosted by an H-point which is higher than that of the average compact luxury car. Four wide opening doors, rear-hinged at the back, and an absence of B-pillar offer an unprecedented feeling of openness.

For more information about Infiniti of Lisle, please call (630) 621-9779 or visit http://www.infinitioflisle.com.

About Infiniti of Lisle
Infiniti of Lisle is proud to serve Chicago with quality Infiniti vehicles. With models like the new G37X, G25x, G37, M45X, EX35, FX35 and QX56, they have something for every taste and need. They will help get you into the luxury car, sports car, or exotic car you've been dreaming of.

Contact:
Infiniti of Lisle
4325 Lincoln Avenue
Lisle, IL 60532
630-621-9779