FOR a new brand, Infiniti Australia sure has some ambition. The Nissan-owned luxury car-maker has returned to local shores armed with a pair of models aimed squarely at the best the established German and premium Japanese brands can muster.

While the FX luxury SUV is expected to account for the majority of sales, it is the M sedan – particularly in flagship M35h hybrid guise – that is arguably the more interesting proposition, targeted as it is against the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS.

The petrol-electric M35h tested here can be yours for just under $100k plus on-road costs – no small piece of change – but in return offers a well-specified and left-of-centre alternative to the regular crowd, with a fiery powertrain that until recently made it the world’s fastest hybrid.

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