Infiniti M

Infobox Automobile
name = Infiniti M


manufacturer = Infiniti
parent_company = Nissan
production = 2003–present
assembly = Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan
predecessor = Infiniti I / Nissan Cefiro
Infiniti Q45 / Nissan Cima
transmission = 5-speed automatic
class = Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK)
body_style = 4-door sedan
platform = Nissan FM platform

The "M" moniker has been used on various vehicles sold under the Infiniti brand name.

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.

With info translated from the [http://ja.wikipedia.org Nissan products described in the Japanese Wikipedia] :

1990

Infobox Automobile generation
name=Infiniti M30


manufacturer=Nissan
production=1990–1992
class=Mid-size luxury car
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=3.0 L "VG30E" V6
transmission=4-speed "RE4R01A" automatic
platform=
layout=FR layout
successor=Infiniti J30
assembly=Oppama, Japan
weight=1511 kg (3333 lb) (coupe)
1622 kg (3576 lb) (convertible)
aka=Nissan Leopard
wheelbase= Auto in|103.0|0
length= Auto in|188.8|0
width= Auto in|66.5|0
height= Auto in|52.0|0

The original 1990 Infiniti M30 was the middle offering of Nissan's Infiniti brand, and was only sold as a coupe. It featured a Convert|162|hp|kW|0|abbr=on 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. Infiniti will return to the convertible market in 2009 with the folding-hardtop G37 Coupe, after a 17 year absence of a drop-top.

for the intended image of a sport coupe. Unsurprisingly, the M30 convertible weighed even more, due to massive amounts of body and chassis reinforcements. In addition, sports cars normally come with a manual transmission standard and have the option of an automatic. Instead, Infiniti didn't even give potential buyers the choice, as all M30s had the four-speed automatic.

2003

Infobox Automobile generation
name = First generation


production = 2003–2005
engine = 4.5L Convert|340|hp|kW|0|abbr=on V8
related = Infiniti FX
Infiniti G35
Nissan 350Z
aka = Nissan Gloria
wheelbase = Auto in|110.2|0
length = Auto in|197.2|0
layout = FR layout
width = Auto in|69.7|0
height = Auto in|57.6|0
fuel_capacity = Convert|21.1|usgal|L impgal|1

The 2003 M45 was based on the Y34-series Nissan Gloria, with styling almost identical to the Japanese-spec Gloria, and replaced the I30/I35 a.k.a in Japan as the Nissan Cefiro as Infiniti's mid-size car. The engine is Nissan's Convert|340|hp|kW|0|abbr=on VK45DE V8 which produces Auto ft.lbf|333|0 of torque.

A major distinction was that the only engine available on the USA-spec M45 was the V8. The Japanese-spec Gloria was never available with a V8, only V6 engines, including turbocharged versions.

The vehicle was something of a stop-gap solution for Infiniti. When introduced in North America it was using a Japanese design that was already several years old. Its styling was criticized for being generic and homely, and it sold poorly. On the other hand, it did allow Infiniti to expand the use of the 4.5L V8 that had been exclusive to the Q45, thus creating a better economy of scale to cope with that engine's development costs. The car also gave Infiniti a viable competitor for such cars as the Lexus GS, particular the V8 GS400/430.

2006

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Second generation


production = 2006–present
related = Infiniti FX
Infiniti G35
Nissan 350Z
Infiniti G37
Infiniti EX35
engine = 3.5L Convert|280|hp|kW|0|abbr=on V6
4.5L Convert|335|hp|kW|0|abbr=on V8
aka = Nissan Fuga
wheelbase = Auto in|114.2|0
layout = Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
length = 2006-07: Auto in|192.6|0
2008-present: Auto in|194.1|0
width = Auto in|70.8|0
height = Auto in|59.4|0 (M35 & M45)
Auto in|59.5|0 (M35 & M45 Sport)
M35x: Auto in|60.0|0
fuel_capacity = Convert|20|usgal|L impgal|1

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 this current version of 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 rear suspension with double wishbones in front, and much friendlier ergonomics, filling in the gap after the previous flagship Q45 was no longer imported from Japan after the 2006 model year.

All-wheel-drive models are called the M35x and M45x, which use 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.

2008

For the 2008 model year, minor changes are seen. The M45 gets optional all wheel drive (M45x), all models get new front and rear facias, and redesigned blue-and-white gauges (as opposed to the previous orange ones). Infiniti is also offering a S type version for the M45/M45x. Another new feature on the 2008 model is a new touch screen navigation.

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, Convert|390|hp|kW|0|abbr=on, Auto ftlbf|369|0 torque). The M is expected to take a design closer to that of the new G35 Sedan and G37 Coupe.

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. [http://www.cbc.ca/cp/business/070317/b031704A.html] 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.

Other links

* [http://www.infiniti.com/m/ Official American site]
* [http://www.infiniti.ca/en/models/m35_45/overview.html Official Canadian site]