At the rear, says Forsyth, shocks and springs have been separated to help cut friction by almost 40 per cent. "Major improvements in camber and steering stiffness and a 40 per cent increase in body torsional rigidity help create handling, stability and steering feel that inspires driver confidence."
The new Q also has Vehicle Dynamic Control, which improves vehicle stability by controlling brake pressure and engine torque automatically in understeer, oversteer or slippery road surface situations.
Each 2002 Q45 will also have standard traction control, 4-wheel power-assisted vented anti-lock disc brakes that are power-assisted and vented, and vehicle speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering.
Along with those traditional features, Forsyth says, the next Q45 also has some new toys, including:
- a Brake Assist System that provides natural pedal feel in normal usage and reduces pedal effort in hard or panic braking situations
- Electrical Brakeforce Distribution to deliver better braking effectiveness by controlling front and rear brake distribution depending on the load condition (passengers and cargo) of the vehicle, and
- a new Adaptive Cruise Control system that uses a radar sensor to measure distance to a vehicle ahead and then uses this information to control throttle and brake actuators to maintain a safe, preset following distance.
"This Q is a quantum leap forward for Infiniti," Pendrill concludes, "but it is only the first of many new performance-oriented luxury vehicles we plan to launch in the years ahead."