CES: Lenovo to showcase Ivy Bridge ThinkPads at CES 2012

Lenovo is to introduce new ThinkPad laptops at next week's CES show, including an ultrabook for business professionals and a hybrid version of its X1 high-end laptop, featuring both Intel and ARM-based processors.

The new ThinkPad models are set to offer a choice of Intel's current Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, or third-generation Core chips based on the upcoming Ivy Bridge architecture, expected later in 2012.

Ivy Bridge is a 22nm die-shrink of Intel's current Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, which will also feature improved on-chip graphics capabilities.

Lenovo, which is now claimed to be the second largest global PC vendor, said it is focussing on innovative, progressive and lifestyle-focused models for its ThinkPad line-up for 2012.

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid is the follow-up to last year's X1 model and is claimed to be even thinner at about 20mm thick and weighing about 1.8Kg.

Not only will the X1 Hybrid be based on Intel's latest Core chips, but it will also feature a second processor running a separate, low-power environment called Instant Media Mode.

This is designed to offer a longer battery life for tasks such as watching video, listening to music or surfing the web, according to Lenovo, where full-blown Windows 7 is not required.

In Instant Media Mode, battery life is doubled up to ten hours, Lenovo claimed.

"The way we enable Instant Media Mode is through a Qualcomm dual-core processor that has up to 16GB of memory and a custom operating system that is based on open-source technology," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president of the ThinkPad Business Unit.

Despite this feature, the X1 Hybrid is still first and foremost a business system, Bhatia added, with Intel vPro technology, encrypted hard drive and fingerprint reader. However, it also has Dolby Home Theater technology and an HDMI output.

The ThinkPad X1 Hybrid is set to ship sometime in the second quarter of 2012 and is expected to be priced from £1,025.