By the end of 2010, Nissan had sold around 500 M sedans. This new Infiniti is only responsible for 0.03% of all car and light truck sales in the country. You can’t get more exclusive than that!
And yet, in its niche, the M sedan is considered an “average” seller. In Canada last year, two as many people bought an Infiniti M than a Lexus GS or Volvo S80. On the other hand, as many buyers opted for the Audi A6, while twice as many drove a brand new Lincoln MKS home.
Most of the sales in this niche populated by premium sedans fetching more or less 75,000 big ones go to two German brands, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. They’ve indeed been rolling in dough for the past few years thanks to their E-Class and 5-Series. Last year, they sold 3,600 and 2,000 units, respectively.
Fleshed out range
This brief market description will help you understand the context surrounding the new M sedan. It also allows you to grasp the significance of the lineup. After all, it includes no less than four variants: two M37s and two M56s, each offered in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats.
The number tagged onto the M refers to the displacement of the engine nestled under the hood of this nearly 5 metre long car. The 37 refers to the 3.7-litre, 330-hp V6 engine the M shares with the Nissan 370Z. As for the 56, it announces the 5.6-litre, 420-hp V8 shared with the QX56 SUV as well as Nissan’s Titan and Armada.
In both Infiniti cases, power is dispatched to the drive wheels via a 7-speed autobox. No, this Infiniti has no cause to be jealous of the two leading German models.
Four-wheel drive, when necessary
The AWD versions are identified by a small “X” appended on the moniker, like the M56x we tested. The responsive system drives the rear wheels under normal circumstances and can dispatch up to 50% of torque to the front wheels when necessary.
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| By the end of 2010, Nissan had sold around 500 M sedans. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
And yet, in its niche, the M sedan is considered an “average” seller. In Canada last year, two as many people bought an Infiniti M than a Lexus GS or Volvo S80. On the other hand, as many buyers opted for the Audi A6, while twice as many drove a brand new Lincoln MKS home.
Most of the sales in this niche populated by premium sedans fetching more or less 75,000 big ones go to two German brands, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. They’ve indeed been rolling in dough for the past few years thanks to their E-Class and 5-Series. Last year, they sold 3,600 and 2,000 units, respectively.
Fleshed out range
This brief market description will help you understand the context surrounding the new M sedan. It also allows you to grasp the significance of the lineup. After all, it includes no less than four variants: two M37s and two M56s, each offered in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive formats.
The number tagged onto the M refers to the displacement of the engine nestled under the hood of this nearly 5 metre long car. The 37 refers to the 3.7-litre, 330-hp V6 engine the M shares with the Nissan 370Z. As for the 56, it announces the 5.6-litre, 420-hp V8 shared with the QX56 SUV as well as Nissan’s Titan and Armada.
In both Infiniti cases, power is dispatched to the drive wheels via a 7-speed autobox. No, this Infiniti has no cause to be jealous of the two leading German models.
Four-wheel drive, when necessary
The AWD versions are identified by a small “X” appended on the moniker, like the M56x we tested. The responsive system drives the rear wheels under normal circumstances and can dispatch up to 50% of torque to the front wheels when necessary.
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| As for the 56, it announces the 5.6-litre, 420-hp V8. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |