Infiniti just announced a new V6 diesel engine for their European lineup and it’s the latest in a long line of fuel-saving powertrains that most North American customers will never experience.  Modern diesel engines are powerful and efficient and nearly as refined as their gasoline counterparts, but most manufacturers simply can’t justify the extra costs or risks of bringing them to the States.

Dry your eyes, green fans.  What Infiniti does have in store for the US is a brand new Direct Response Hybrid set to debut in the 2011 M35 Hybrid sedan.

There are several things to love about this new hybrid system.  It’s based around a 7-speed transmission, for instance, and can run through its gears and blip the throttle on downshifts like a high-performance sports car.  Try doing that in a Prius!

Infiniti engineers have also found a way to boost fuel economy on the highway, traditionally a problem for city-focused hybrids.  Months-long internal testing in New York showed that the M35 Hybrid could operate in fully electric mode for up to fifty percent of the time, saving fuel and reducing emissions.

Luxury cars are supposed to be indulgent and I love the idea of the M35 Hybrid because it doesn’t force any compromises (other than price, presumably).  It’s a leather-lined sports sedan with thrills that don’t have to come at the expense of the planet.

Maybe we shouldn’t miss those new diesel engines, after all.