The result is 563HP of combined power (41 percent more power than the Q60) with a 0-62MPH time of less than four seconds. Infiniti isn't more specific about its performance claims at the moment, but that's certainly more oomph than you usually get from a hybrid. You'll also find drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire systems that promise faster acceleration, faster gear shifts and more consistent, fade-resistant braking. It's not just about eye-watering acceleration and top speeds, according to Infiniti -- it's about "sustainable" power that won't decline quite so sharply on the track.

The company even characterizes Project Black S as a practical real-world car. While there are dedicated qualification and race modes that respectively emphasize raw capability and endurance, there's also a road mode for the street. This mode promises less aggressive energy recovery that's meant more for overtaking on the highway than setting lap records. It even improves the efficiency of acceleration. To put it another way, you wouldn't have to thrash this car to benefit from what it can do.

Project Black S is still an early prototype, and Infiniti plans to spend much of 2019 transitioning from dynamometer and virtual tests to more realistic driving in a wide range of conditions. You probably won't see this exact car in your garage any time soon. It's not just a one-off experiment, though, and it might show how many automakers will use hybrids going forward. It won't help the environment much, but it could lead to more exciting sports cars that can realize more of their potential in everyday conditions.

Follow all the latest news from Paris Auto Show 2018 here!