Introduction

Forget about the last Infiniti M45, it was a misfit. The all-new 2006 Infiniti M is modern sophisticated and stylish luxury sports sedan available with a V6 or V8 engine. Unlike the previous-generation model, the new Infiniti M is no wall flower. Its styling fits in with the more expensive Infiniti Q45 and the less expensive Infiniti G35. The new Infiniti M looks aggressive but sophisticated. Inside is a luxurious cabin trimmed in leather and rosewood or aluminum with comfortable seats. Optional Bose Studio Surround turns the car into a mobile concert hall. The M35 is fun to drive, particularly the M35 Sport with its sportier suspension tuning, and offers decent performance from its V6 engine. The M45 delivers exhilarating acceleration performance, benefiting from one of the most powerful V8s in its class. The all-wheel-drive Infiniti M35X is designed to offer more stable traction and handling in wintry conditions. The new M shows that Infiniti has truly arrived on the scene in this ultra competitive luxury segment. We recommend checking one out before spending $50,000 on a luxury sports sedan. The new Infiniti M should prove to be a tough competitor to the Acura RL, Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac STS, Jaguar S-Type, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS and others. All these cars use rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The new Infiniti M offers a choice of either along with a variety of features that make it a compelling choice in this class.

Walkaround

To be successful, luxury cars must present a strong family look over time. Witness BMW or Jaguar: their models are instantly recognizable worldwide and could not be mistaken for each other. That was not true of Infiniti (nor Lexus) models until recently. The last generation M45, for example, did not really look like any other Infiniti models. No more. The new M series looks like a bigger brother of the stylish Infiniti G35 sedan with its crispy lines. The M has the distinct Infiniti badge located in the center of the grille with horizontal bars and a chrome lip at the top. The edge of the hood cuts into the headlight cover with three jeweled lamps behind to give the front of the car a sophisticated yet fairly aggressive look. The back edge of the hood is high enough to hide the windshield wipers as well as help the top of the fenders flow back and up into the A-pillar. The wedge-like side profile is continued down the side of the car resulting in a high trunk and an almost hatchback look to the rear. A short overhang at both ends of the body helps give the M an aggressive look as well as improving its ride and handling. The rear of the car is perhaps the weakest from a style point of view although the LED rear combination light cluster and the quad tail pipes help make it look interesting. The five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels with a titanium-colored finish on the Sport models are particularly striking as each spoke is made from two thinner spokes, giving the Sport a truly sporty stance. The blacked out background to the headlights helps differentiate the Sport models from the front. Apart from these small differences it is not possible to tell any of the M models apart.

Interior Features

Infiniti likens the shape of the dashboard to an elongated and flattened letter M. It's certainly true that the shape and design is unusual, in a positive manner. The switches and knobs for operating the climate controls, sound system and other functions are all placed on an almost horizontal surface in the center of the dash, below a large seven-inch LCD screen and dual vents. The push button switches are easy to see and operate as is the big control knob in the center. This control knob is more intuitive than the systems in some of the other cars in this class, such as the BMW 5 Series, thanks to its clear layout and markings. Harking back to olden days, one has to push a starter button to fire up the engine. That's because the M comes with an intelligent key that does not have to be inserted in the ignition. The car senses its presence in your pocket or purse, and automatically unlocks the doors for you. The key can be programmed to deliver various functions such as pre-opening windows and setting seat and mirror positions. All Ms except the Sport models have subtle rosewood trim (real wood) with a subdued semi-gloss finish. Sport models have genuine aluminum trim in place of the wood although the wood is available as an option. Chrome trim rims are subtly used around buttons and gauges to enhance the luxury look. The driver's seat proved comfortable, especially in the Sport model with larger side bolsters. It's easy to find an ideal position with the 10-way power seat. Optional climate-controlled seats warm or cool the derriere with a fan. There's lots of technology available here and it works well. The optional Bose two-channel audio with Studio Surround sound is exceptionally good. Audiophiles should get it. The navigation system works well. We like using the birds-eye view, which presents the map in a 3D format giving an idea of distance and perspective. The voice activation system works well, if not quite as good as the system in the new Acura RL. Rear-seat passengers prefer the Premium Package with back seats that recline and are heated. The controls are located inside the rear-seat center armrest. The package also includes a full-on DVD system with an LCD that folds out of the ceiling and is controlled with a remote. Separate rear-seat climate control is included with this package. Even without the Premium Package rear-seat comfort proved good with plenty of leg and headroom. Although the exterior appearance makes the trunk look large, in reality its 15 cubic feet capacity is barely average for this size car and the opening is on the small side as well. Worse yet, when equipped with the optional full-size spare tire it only holds 11 cubic feet of cargo. At least it has scissor type hinges, which, unlike gooseneck hinges, don't intrude into the usable space. A pass-through opening is provided for carrying skis and other long items. Overall we found the living quarters in the M very pleasant. The design and choice of materials is more akin to a modern Euro-style luxury hotel instead of the heavy wood and deeply cushioned armchair type luxury one expects to find in more traditional hotels.