Infiniti M

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
For the other Infiniti M coupe sold from 1990-92, see Infiniti M30.
Infiniti M
2006-2007 Infiniti M
Manufacturer Infiniti
Parent company Nissan
Production 2003–present
Assembly Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan
Predecessor Infiniti I
Class Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK)
Body style(s) 4-door sedan
Platform Nissan FM platform
Transmission(s) 5-speed automatic
First generation
2003 Infiniti M45
Also called Nissan Gloria
Nissan Cedric
Production 2003–2005
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 4.5L 340 hp (254 kW) V8
Wheelbase 110.2 in (2799 mm)
Length 197.2 in (5009 mm)
Width 69.7 in (1770 mm)
Height 57.6 in (1463 mm)
Fuel capacity 21.1 US gallons (79.9 L/17.6 imp gal)
Related Infiniti FX
Infiniti G35
Nissan 350Z
Second generation
2008 Infiniti M45X
Also called Nissan Fuga
Production 2006–present
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Engine(s) 3.5L 280 hp (209 kW) V6
4.5L 335 hp (250 kW) V8
Wheelbase 114.2 in (2901 mm)
Length 2006-07: 192.6 in (4892 mm)
2008-present: 194.1 in (4930 mm)
Width 70.8 in (1798 mm)
Height 59.4 in (1509 mm) (M35 & M45)
59.5 in (1511 mm) (M35 & M45 Sport)
M35x: 60.0 in (1524 mm)
Fuel capacity 20 US gallons (75.7 L/16.7 imp gal)
Related Infiniti FX
Infiniti G35
Nissan 350Z
Infiniti G37
Infiniti EX35

The M30, M45, and M35 are mid-size luxury cars from Nissan's Infiniti marque. The M35x has also won Consumer Reports top luxury car pick for 2006, taking the spot after the 2005 Lexus LS 430.

Contents

[edit] 1990

Main article: Infiniti M30

The original 1990 Infiniti M30 was the middle offering of Nissan's Infiniti brand, and was only sold as a coupe. It featured a 162 hp (121 kW) 3.0 L V6 shared, along with its rear wheel drive platform, with the 1987 Japanese Nissan Leopard. A convertible was added for 1991, and the M30 was replaced after 1992 by the more visually provocative Infiniti J30. Infiniti would not produce another coupe until the release of the Infiniti G35 coupe in 2003. To this day, it remains the only Infiniti convertible ever produced.

[edit] 2003

The 2003 M45 was based on the Y34-series Nissan Gloria/Nissan Cedric, with styling similar to the Gloria, and replaced the I30/I35 as Infiniti's mid-size car. The engine is Nissan's 340 hp (254 kW) VK45DE V8 which produces 333 lb·ft (451 N·m) of torque.

[edit] 2006

Infiniti released a completely redesigned M for the 2006 model year to compete directly in the mid-size sport luxury class, against such class stalwarts as the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It uses a much more rigid version of the G35/350Z/FX Nissan FM platform and is available with the common VQ-series 280 hp (208 kW) 3.5 L V6 in the M35, or the Q45's 335 hp (249 kW) 4.5 L V8 in the M45. In Japan the M is known as the Nissan Fuga.

The automotive press has awarded the M several best-in-class awards in direct comparisons against its competitors. Despite entering a very crowded, competitive segment in which almost every member has been recently redesigned, the M still managed to find many key distinctions: Both the M35 and M45 are fastest in their class (0-60 in 6.3 and 5.4 seconds, respectively). The M is near or at the top of every interior dimension, actually breaking into the EPA "large" category depending on which option packages are selected. In fact, while being smaller on the outside than the flagship Q45, the M45 boasts more room, greater performance, a superior multilink front suspension, and much friendlier ergonomics, threatening the position of the flagship Q45 (which ceased production after the 2006 model year; as such, the M became the current flagship itself).

All-wheel-drive models are called the M35x, which uses a sports car derived system (ATTESA-ETS) to send all power to the rear wheels until slip is detected.

The M line was released in February 2005 (at almost exactly the same time as the new 2006 Lexus GS) and its first several months of sales have been far beyond expectations. Prices in the US (USD) range from approximately $40,000 - 55,000.

[edit] 2008

For the 2008 model year, minor changes are seen. The M45 gets optional all wheel drive (M45x), and all models see new front and rear facias.

[edit] 2011 and later

Around 2011, Infiniti is expected to release an all new M, the M37 (3.7 liter 24 valve V-6, 330 hp) and the M50 (5.0 liter 32 valve V-8, 390 hp (291 kW), 369 lb·ft (500 N·m) torque). The M is expected to take a design closer to that of the new G35 Sedan and G37 Coupe.

[edit] Trademark lawsuit against BMW M series

In 2007, Canadian Federal Court Justice W. Andrew MacKay ruled that the use of the letter by Infiniti was in a form similar to that of the BMW's trademark M alone, and its use of M6 as a package for modifying one of its vehicles, cause confusion in Canada between the sources of the wares of the defendant and the wares of the plaintiffs.[1] The court granted injunction that prevents Nissan from directing public attention to its products in any way likely to cause confusion. BMW introduced its first M series vehicle, M6, in Canada in 1987, while Infiniti registered M45 in 2004 and M35 in 2005 as trademarks for sedans in the middle of its range, and in some advertising has used the letter M alone.

[edit] Other links

v • d • e
Infiniti, a marque of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., road car timeline, 1990s–present
Type 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Entry-level G20 G20 G35 G35
Mid-size I30 I30 / I35
J30 M45 M35 / M45
Full-size Q45 Q45 Q45
Coupe M30 G35C G37
Crossover EX35
FX35 / FX45 FX35 / FX50
SUV QX4 QX56