And then, there is the M45 that the well-heeled enthusiast will lust after, and the model that we drove, the Sport, at $71,800.
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| The M45 Sport comes equipped with 19 inch wheels, with 245/40 performance tires. (Photo: Gerry Frechette, Canadian Auto Press) |
The unique chrome wheels are up one inch to 19, with 245/40 performance tires. The suspension is sport-tuned, including electrically-powered Rear Active Steer that deflects the rear wheels about one degree of toe angle in either direction depending on speed, to optimize handing response. The seats are firmer with bigger bolsters, and the pedals and dashboard are trimmed in aluminum. Thrown in are Navigation, ICC and LDW. Rear-seat passengers, however, will have to make do with the basic furnishings. For such a substantial car, the M45 Sport accelerates and changes directions with great authority, and indeed, the Infiniti product planner present at the introduction admitted as to how its zero-to-100 km/h time of 5.4 seconds is, ahem, quicker than that of the Nissan 350Z. Steering and cornering feel direct and connected thanks to some specific suspension tuning, and one has to think that the Sport should be able to compete, objectively and subjectively, with the V8 performance versions of
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| For such a substantial car, the M45 Sport accelerates and changes directions with great authority. (Photo: Gerry Frechette, Canadian Auto Press) |
any other luxury sedan, including the mass-produced German ones. As Infiniti's newest car, and what most will probably consider the flagship until the not-that-appreciated prestige Q45 is revised, the M sedans benefit from all the design and engineering technology that Nissan can muster.
All Ms are equipped with a five-speed automatic featuring adaptive shift control and sport-style manual shift that matches revs on downshifts like a perfectly-performed manual transmission's downshift. Too bad that the M35 can't be had with a manual tranny that would allow such enjoyment; it would also free up some power from the V6.
