Inspired Performance: The Infiniti M
INSPIRED by design
"Eighteen months ago I was in Japan, and I walked into a design studio just outside of Tokyo. There, in the middle of the floor, was this car and it was gorgeous. It was as if there was a halo over it. And I remember going up to it, opening the door, sitting inside, and thinking to myself: this is the most beautiful sedan I’ve ever seen.”
The speaker is Jeff Parent, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Nissan Canada. The car is the all-new, 2011 Infiniti M. For Parent, the third generation M sedan is the ultimate embodiment of Infiniti’s brand promise: Inspired Performance. “It’s spectacularly designed. It’s got an incredible powertrain. And it’s loaded with industry-leading technology. The Infiniti M is the best of what we’re able to accomplish—a vehicle that not only moves you physically but emotionally as well. That’s what inspired performance is all about.”
Inspired Inspiration
Infiniti’s ability to deliver on its promise rests in the unique wellspring from which its designers and engineers draw their inspiration—the power of nature in combination with Japanese artistic traditions and craftsmanship. At a recent press conference, Shiro Nakamura, Nissan’s Chief Creative Officer, spoke about the specific inspirations for the new Infiniti M.
“Waves are one of the most profound ways that nature reveals its power. We wanted to emulate that dynamism with this new redesign,” he said. “We were also influenced by the emotional expressiveness of traditional Kabuki and the bold, elegant strokes of Japanese calligraphy.” Those evocative cues are evident across the M’s vibrant new exterior—in the liquid flow of its character lines, the waveform of the hood, doors, and trunk, and signature double-arch grille and crystalline headlamps. Coupled with more substantial and aggressive dimensions—the new Infiniti M is longer, lower, and wider than the previous generation—the vehicle looks as if it’s moving even when standing still. “It looks like a sports car,” adds Parent, “even though it’s a four-door sedan.”
Inside, the same influences are at play, most visible in the double wave design that creates a serene, personal space for driver and passengers alike; and readily sensed in the careful selection of materials for different areas of the car based on how occupants interact with various features and functionality—like the natural texture of the leather cloaking the seats or the electroluminescent gauges finished to resemble the finest of watches.
Performance Personified
Inspired performance not only requires looks that move you but a powertrain that can carry you away. The 2011 Infiniti M delivers with two new engines. “Most people buy horsepower, but they really drive torque,” says Hugh Wickham, Senior Manager of Product Planning for Nissan Canada. “That’s because torque is what gives you the sense of swell you experience under acceleration in a car that’s perfectly balanced and intimately responsive.”
When it comes to ‘swell’, both engines excel. The new V6 that graces the M37 goes from a 3.5-litre to a 3.7-litre raising horsepower from 303 to 330 and torque from 262 lb-ft to 270 lb-ft. Under the hood of the M56, the new V8 goes from a 4.5-litre to a 5.6-litre taking horsepower from 325 to 420 and torque from 336 lb-ft to 417 lb-ft. At the same time, Infiniti is projecting a 5-10 percent increase in fuel economy for both engines.
“We call it paradoxical fuel efficiency”, says Wickham. It’s the result of the new 7-speed transmission in combination with some very advanced engine technology, including Infiniti’s VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) system. VVEL allows you precise control over the time a valve stays open. At low RPMs, that results in improved fuel efficiency. At high RPMs, better performance and response times.”
Technology Showcase
Of course, advanced technology has been a hallmark of Infiniti since the brand launched in 1989. “It’s not technology for technology’s sake,” says Parent. “It’s technology that works to improve the driving experience. That’s something else that sets Infiniti apart.”
To an already lengthy list of industry-leading systems, the third generation adds a number of standard and available innovations—several of them world-firsts—that work to create a more intimate connection between car and driver, elevate the driving experience, make occupants more at home, and the road a safer place to be.
Highlights include:
Infiniti Drive
Allows the driver to ‘tune’ the transmission to match their mood and road conditions, including: Normal’ mode for everyday driving, ‘Economy’ for greater fuel efficiency, ‘Sport’ for enhanced performance, and ‘Snow’ tailor-made for Canadian winters.
Eco Pedal
Encourages more fuel conscious driving habits. The system senses if the accelerator is being pressed too hard and offers feedback through the pedal—a slight pressure—as a signal to ease off.
Active Noise Control
Noise canceling technology that uses sound to reduce undesirable engine harmonics. Microphones in the ceiling liner monitor noise levels. Speakers in the door generate sound waves to cancel out unwanted noises.
Forest Air™ System
Detects and eliminates chemicals in the air, filters out bacteria, molds and allergens, controls humidity, and pulses the stream of air flowing into the vehicle to create a feeling of a more natural breeze.
Blind Spot Warning & Blind Spot Intervention™
Detects if a vehicle is in the blind spot, then alerts the driver. If the driver attempts to change lanes with a vehicle in the blind spot, the system can automatically take corrective action to move M back into the centre of the lane of travel.
Coming Soon
The all-new 2011 Infiniti M arrives in dealerships this spring, available in four models—M37 V6 in rear wheel and all wheel drive and M56 in rear wheel and all wheel drive—along with a multitude of packages, including the Premium, Touring, Sport Touring and Technology. The company is also studying the possibility of launching a hybrid version in subsequent model years.
“The M fits beautifully into the overall Infiniti lineup,” notes Parent. “It’s the new halo vehicle for the Infiniti brand, and we’re extremely excited to have it coming to Canada.”
For more information visit infiniti.ca/en/ms/2011m