2003 Infiniti M45 - Sit Up and Take Notice
Dusting off an old moniker, Infiniti reinvents the M badge that began life back in 1990 as the M30. As it seems the only similarity between the old and the new is the alpha half of the name itself. The numeric portion speaks volumes about the new model.
Where the previous M30 developed 162-hp from a 3.0-L V6 driving the front wheels, the new M45 stirs up 340-hp out of a 4.5-L V8 driving the rear wheels. The new car is a 4-door sedan while the old model came in both 2-door coupe and convertible iterations. This comparison, of course, is a bit moot.
A more significant consideration is how it fits into its own line-up and stacks up beside its midsize competitors. The new M45 is angular in when shown next to the hot new G35 and sleek Q45. If you think it doesn't look quite as aerodynamic as either you'd be right. With a coefficient of drag (Cd) equaling 0.31 compared to the Q45's 0.30 or G35's 0.27, or even lower 0.26 Cd in Aero trim, the M45 will probably create more wind noise inside the cabin. That said the increase in sound deadening materials compared to its little sibling should make up for this shortcoming.
Part of its greater drag is directly related to its greater mass, at least when it comes to the G35. The 'midsize' M45 stretches to 5,009 mm (197.2 in) in length, only 61 mm (2.4 in) shorter than the 5,070 mm (199.6 in) long Q45. Comparatively the BMW 540 is only 4,775 mm (188.0 in) in length, while the Lexus GS 430 is 4,805 mm (189.2 in), the E 430 is 4,810 mm (189.4) and the Audi A6 4.2 is 4,913 mm (193.4 in) long. At 1,463 mm (57.6 in) tall the M is also only 28 mm (1.1 in) shorter than the 1,491 mm (58.7 in) Q, 74 mm (2.9 in) narrower at 1,770 mm (69.7 in) and incorporates a 2,799 mm (110.2 in) wheelbase, just 71 mm (2.8 in) shorter than the Q45's 2,870 mm (113.0 in).