Infiniti, and their parent company Nissan, were conspicuously absent from last week's Los Angeles Auto Show. Rather than hold a press conference, Infiniti gathered a bunch of journalists at a hotel in Beverly Hills and gave us a chance to check out the upcoming 2011 M-series in person.
The M is Infiniti's flagship, and while the current version of the M is a wonderful car to drive, it's a bit of a wallflower from a styling perspective -- especially compared to the gorgeous G37 sedan. Well, all that's going to change when the 2011 model arrives. The M has been restyled with the same curvy, muscular theme that adorns the G, and it also gets two new engines: A 330 hp 3.7 liter V6 for the M37 and a 420 (!!) horsepower 5.6 liter V8 for the M56. (A hybrid version will follow in a year or so.) The new M's interior appointments and space are every bit as nice as the current M, though the trunk is cast in the same vein as the G's -- lumpy and oddly shaped.
Analysis: This is totally the right move for this car. As great as the current M is, it's just too dull looking. The new M fixes that problem nicely, and the new engines -- especially that 420 hp V8 -- are just icing on an already-delicious cake. Frankly, I don't see how Infiniti can go wrong with this car. That said, I didn't see how they could go wrong with the G37 convertible, and they did (although the drop-top G does show that even when Infiniti gets it wrong, they still get it right).
The new Infiniti M37 and M56 will go on sale in spring 2010. Take a closer look in my 2011 Infiniti M37/M56 photo gallery. -- Aaron Gold
Related:
- 2008 Infiniti M45 test drive
- 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible test drive
- 2009 Infiniti G37 sedan test drive
Photo © Aaron Gold
OK, so it looks like an Acura now, only with a nicer front facia. Just another entry into the current four-door coupe trend, and another “our version of theirs.”
This too, shall pass.
Wow, definite upgrade in styling over the current generation, although I have to admit I’m a huge fan of the ‘03-’05 M45 styling. Now it fits a lot more inline with Infinite’s designer lineup. I wonder if the styling being similar to the Maxima makes the M45 look like a Nissan, or makes the Maxima look like an Infiniti?
The 3.7L ought to give it some sporting character, but the M56 sounds like it’ll be an outright muscle car. Outstanding!…except for the price.
The styling of this car, along with just about everything coming out of the Japanese market the last several years, is very uninspiring. And the 240Z-Grand Am dash board is very low rent for a car in this class.
It’s a bold luxury design to top some of the current German and Japanese models and I bet its a hell of a lot more fun to drive then them too.
Infiniti should bring back out the “Q” series…..the “M” should focus on sport, and the Q should focus on luxury. Then the G’s should focus on entry level affordable sport/luxury