2011 Infiniti M sedan
Can an automobile have too much technology?
The simple answer is no, says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada's director of corporate and product planning.
"Even if we did have a Luddite version of this car, we couldn't sell it," he said at the launch of the new made-in-Japan Infiniti M sedan in southern California. "Technology is what these cars are all about. Our customers want it."
And they're going to get it, with a vengeance. The latest Infiniti M sedan, which is scheduled to hit showrooms in a few weeks, is absolutely saturated with engineering features and modcons. There isn't one area of this car that doesn't have an electronic enhancement of one kind or another.
But first, a few basics. Completely restyled and re-engineered for 2011, the M sedan will be offered as the M37 or M56 and will be available with either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive.
There are two engine choices: a 3.7-litre V-6 and 5.6-litre V-8. The latter powerplant belts out a hefty 420 horsepower, which is up 95 hp from last year's model, and makes the M56 a very quick car. "This is a serious engine," adds Forsyth, and even the V-6 is good for an impressive 330 horses.
Both engines are mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode and, in the case of the M37, Nissan/Infiniti's downshift rev-matching feature. This automatically matches engine and transmission speeds when downshifting and can also be found in the latest version of the 370Z Roadster.
But that's not all. Not by a long shot. Both rear-drive models will be available with Nissan's four-wheel active steering feature, which angles or "steers" the rear wheels up to one per cent during hard cornering. It's part of the Sport Package, which also includes upgraded brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires.
And you can also alter performance through the Infiniti Drive system, which lets the driver, via a console-mounted rotary knob, choose from four performance modes, including an Eco setting, which changes the throttle pedal response and makes it "push back" slightly when you want to overtake another vehicle or speed up. It's quite a strange sensation: you floor it, but the pedal gently resists. Infiniti is calling this its "Eco Pedal" and performance is directly affected when it's in play.
And so is fuel consumption. Thanks to this and other engineering features, the M sedan will now pay the same "gas-guzzler" tax in Ontario as everyone else: down to $75 from a whopping $1,200.
But arguably what sets cars like this apart from the herd are its "user-focused technologies. Things that pamper the driver and occupants, in other words. And the M sedan has plenty.
For example, as well as providing an impressive 16-speaker aural experience, the Bose sound system also helps to reduce NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). If, for example, the engine is revving at 5,000 rpm in one of the lower gears, the sound system will sense this and dampen the noise accordingly.
But perhaps my favourite goodie is a ventilation system option that automatically switches to re-circulating mode when it senses certain smells outside the car - diesel fumes, for example (it doesn't work for smells inside the car, alas). It's part of the Technology Package and the standard-issue Forest Air ventilation system will, according to Infiniti, impart the "sensation of a fresh breeze from the forest."
The interior itself has been on the receiving end of a complete redesign and features a "tiered" centre stack that's angled toward the driver and has all-new switchgear. Infiniti products these days feature some of the most interesting and thoughtfully designed layouts in the industry, and the new M sedan is no exception.
And a quick word about the exterior. Taking inspiration from Infiniti's Essence hybrid electric concept car, the body style is, according to Forsyth, "a body glove" and is lower and wider than its predecessor. Visually, it conveys a muscularity and upscale athleticism that's hard to ignore. Presence, in other words.
Under way, the M sedan has impressive road-holding abilities. During a spirited day's drive around the hills behind San Diego, it handled tight corners and switchbacks with ease. The V-8, in particular, is a scorcher, with neck-snapping acceleration.
The M has a full complement of safety features, including a lane-departure warning system that will alert the driver if he/she strays from the straight and narrow, and a blind-spot warning system that will, via a small flashing light on the exterior mirror, alert the driver if another vehicle is in their blind spot. This latter feature will also help steer the car back to its proper lane if it is straying towards the vehicle beside it.
The lane-departure warning system is actually kind of annoying, as it seems to beep all the time. Thankfully, it can be easily disabled by pressing a dash-mounted button.
None of this comes cheap. Prices for the new M sedan will range from just over $52,000 for a base M37, going up to over $73,000 for the M56 with all the goodies. If you want technology, you gotta pay for it.
globedrive@globeandmail.com
2011 INFINITI M SEDAN
Type: Full-size luxury four-door sedan
Price Range: $52,400-$73,400
Engine: 3.7-litre V-6/5.6-litre V-8
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic with manual shift
Drive: Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive
Horsepower/Torque: 330 hp/270 lb-ft for V-6; 420 hp/417 lb-ft for V-8
Fuel Economy (litres/100 km): 11.4 city/7.6 highway (M37); regular gas
Alternatives: BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS, Mercedes E-Class, Cadillac STS, Acura RL