This new engine got preference over "playthings" such as rear-seat coolers, says Richard Pendrill, general manager of Infiniti's operations in Canada, so the V8 boasts titanium valves, modular cylinder heads, lightweight pistons, torque demand powertrain control, continuous variable valve timing control, variable air intakes, a super-silent single-stage cam drive chain, a microfinished crankshaft, and a dual-mode variable capacity muffler.
But you will not need to be behind the wheel to appreciate the new Q, since it has an exterior shape that is considerably more exciting than the model now sold. It is also wider and taller and sits on a wheelbase that's stretched two inches, yet maintains the same overall length.
It will also be recognizable by its new headlights, which are high intensity discharge with seven individual lenses and a free-surface reflector that Pendrill says are a first in the industry. They produce a "broad, brilliant beam that is believed to be the most powerful ever designed for a production automobile," he adds, and they broaden the beams so that additional fog-lights are unnecessary.
Inside, Pendrill says, the 2002 Q45 "continues the Infiniti tradition of combining a true driver-oriented cockpit with a seemingly endless list of luxury amenities in a design that is both boldly original yet classically elegant."
With its greater width, height and wheelbase, the 2002 Q offers more total interior and trunk space than its predecessor. "Special attention was paid to ensuring additional rear knee room," Forsyth explains. "There are also power adjustable rear seats, rear audio controls and an oversize rear center console."