2.5 liters doesn't seem like a lot to move a large luxury crossover like the Infiniti QX60, but teamed with a supercharger and hybrid drive system, the 2014 QX60 Hybrid aims to offer both performance and efficiency.

The new car will debut at the impending New York Auto Show, and mark the third model in Infiniti's hybrid line-up--next to the Q70 Hybrid (previously M Hybrid) and upcoming Q50 Hybrid.

At 26 mpg combined, the new QX60 Hybrid isn't an outright gas-sipper, but that's an increase of 24 percent over non-hybrid QX60 models. It should also offer the best 7-seater fuel efficiency in the segment.

Under the hood you'll find a 2.5-liter, supercharged four cylinder gasoline engine. Paired with a 15 kW electric motor and driving through a continuously variable transmission, net system power is around 250 hp.

Before Infiniti's re-naming spree, we tried the drivetrain in Japan in its previous guise as the JX.

Our test noted that the Hybrid felt sportier than the V-6 version, albeit a little noisy. We also found it difficult to keep the car running in electric mode, the big, heavy vehicle preferring to run on gasoline.

In this respect, it operates more like a "mild hybrid"--the electric motor useful for its assistance and energy-harvesting capabilities, rather than all-electric running.

Still, the QX60's lithium-ion battery doesn't intrude into cabin space, and the car should still offer better economy than the non-hybrid 3.5-liter V-6 equivalent.

Infiniti hasn't yet announced pricing, though suggests a premium of around $3,000 over the non-hybrid. Those wanting the car's technology for a little less cash could wait for the upcoming Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, which will share the QX60 Hybrid's drivetrain.

The QX60 Hybrid will debut in New York on March 27, and goes on sale in the summer.

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