The first hybrid-powered vehicles arrived over a century ago, but they only reached mainstream popularity in roughly the past three decades. In essence, hybrids utilize a mixture of electricity and conventional internal combustion. The result is often a combined improvement in output and fuel economy over just having an ICE.

The thing with hybrids, especially early models, is that they can be quite pokey. When thinking of popular hybrids such as the Toyota Prius or the Honda Civic Hybrid, you don't necessarily think "speed demons". However, just over a decade ago, Infiniti attempted to give people the opportunity to have their cake and eat it too. The result was the M35h, a hybridized version of the M35, and it boasted a version of the famous 3.5-liter Nissan VQ-Series V6.

Infiniti's M-Series mid-size luxury sedan can trace its roots back to 1989, when the first generation was introduced. The iteration was only produced for about three years before the automaker axed it. The "M" moniker returned in 2002, when Infiniti introduced a version of the 11th-gen Nissan Gloria to the US market. The second-gen model also wasn't a success. However, the third generation, introduced in 2005, sold better.

The Infiniti M35h arrived during the model's fourth generation, sharing underpinnings with the Japanese-market Nissan Fuga and Cima. The hybrid version arrived in time to fulfill the growing demand for electrified vehicles.

The idea of a hybridized version of the M sedan was a response to the growing interest in electrified vehicles at the end of the 2000s. However, instead of producing just another slow hybrid, Infiniti decided to inject a bit more pep into their luxury sedan's step.

In order to provide the Infiniti M35h hybrid with enough power, Nissan supplied a version of the famous VQ-Series V6, an engine that won a spot on Ward's 10 Best Engines a whopping 16 times, 14 of which were consecutive. According to Infiniti, the M35h nearly doubled its fuel economy over the M37 model, while producing more power. Plus, the M35h also boasted a slew of then-brand-new tech.

The Infiniti M Series was produced from 1989 to 2019, with a 13-year gap between 2002 and 2015. However, the M35h hybrid was only produced for two years, from 2012 to 2013. Because of the large amount of time between its introduction and axing, the Infiniti M35h carries a large difference in average pricing over the model years. If you've found yourself hankering for one, the table details the M35h's pricing for each of the model years:

*Pricing courtesy of Kelley Blue Book

The crux of the Infiniti M35h's penchant for power is the aforementioned 3.5-liter VQ-Series V6. Specifically, this is the VQ35HR, where HR stands for "High Revolution." The engine also appears in the 350Z, Skyline, and Infiniti G35.

Buried within the Infiniti M35h's bones was its hybrid system. The configuration took advantage of a 1.4kW battery pack and featured a dual-clutch automatic transmission. When separated, the hybrid system produces 67 horsepower from a single electric motor positioned between the M35h's engine and transmission. According to Infiniti, the small battery was expected to have an average service life of about 10 years before needing replacement.

When asked, many automotive publications and individual journalists considered the Infiniti M35h one of the best hybrid luxury sedans of its time, and some even put it on par with the 2011 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, a model that also received widespread praise upon its debut. In 2011, an Infiniti M35h broke the then-world record for hybrid vehicle acceleration, covering a quarter-mile in just 13.9 seconds on average over 10 runs.

We'll lay out the Infiniti M35h's detailed engine and performance specs in a table below:

*Specs courtesy of Infiniti

While having a hybrid brings some benefits, especially to your wallet, there are some drawbacks. With the Infiniti M35h, its batteries are installed behind the rear seats, meaning luggage space is compromised. However, this is made up for by a deeper trunk pan. As for tech, Infiniti packed the M35h's interior with features like standard leather seating and other trim, real wood trim, Bluetooth connectivity, and a moonroof. In other words, staple luxury sedan accouterments.

The Nissan VQ-Series V6 has an extremely rich history steeped in accolades and awards. The engine itself came about in 1994 and saw its first applications in models such as the Nissan Cefiro, the JDM equivalent of the Nissan Maxima. Initially, 2.0-liter, 2.5-liter, and 3.0-liter versions were introduced, with the latter remaining available for nearly a decade. By 2001, a 3.5-liter version was introduced, upon which the VQ35HR was directly related.

The VQ-Series V6's winning streak began just a year after its inception, in 1995. From then until 2002, the 3.0-liter iteration won every single year on Ward's 10 Best Engines. The 3.5-liter VQ35DE then replaced it with better-forged internals.

The VQ-Series V6's winning streak ended in 2008, when the 3.7-liter version won a spot on the 2008 list. This iteration's most famous application was in the Nissan 370Z and the Infiniti G37, among others. This marked the last time the VQ-Series V6 would win a spot on the list until 2012, when the hybridized version of the VQ35HR won yet another award for the engine family. With all of these victories, the VQ-Series V6 is the motor that has been on Ward's list more than any other.

Since then, the VQ-Series engine won one more spot on the list in 2016, when the VQ35DE made it onto the coveted list. With this victory, it marked the powerplant's final success out of a total of 16. However, because the mill is still in production, there's still hope for yet more wins.

Infiniti, Nissan, Kelley Blue Book