Trim levels: M45

MSRP: $42,300

Notes: Brand-new for 2003, the Infiniti M45 arrived in the States adapted from Nissan's Japanese-only Cedric & Gloria twins, which had already been for sale for three years on the platform used by the M45; the platform also underpinned Infiniti's Q45 in modified form. The new Infiniti sedan (which became the fourth in the Infinti lineup), slotted between the new rear-drive G35 and the flagship Q45. Aimed at the heart of the mid-luxury market, the M45 was meant to compete with the BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS 430. Equipped only with a V-8, the M45 was priced near the level of the competitors' six-cylinder models. Sporty, although not as lively as the benchmark 5-Series, the M45 was often called a latter-day muscle car, with its powerful V-8 nestled in a smaller body than its Q45 cousin. Standard equipment included antilock brakes with electronic distribution control and brake assist. The interior used wood trim in limited quantities, and a leatherette surface coated doors. Amenities such as dual-zone climate control and a 10-way power driver's seat were standard. A six-disc CD-changer was mounted in the glovebox, compromising interior storage space only slightly, while being far more convenient than the trunk-mounted units of some of the M45's competitors (and the trunk, at only 13.4 cubic feet, needed all the space it could find). Much cheaper than the Q-ship, the M45 was built to increase sales traffic for upper-end luxury cars, as Nissan tried to make its luxury brand into a true contender in the luxury market, and not just a niche player. It was the third new car for Infiniti in only two years. Because the M45 arrived on an existing platform several years from a redesign, the designers were not able to significantly alter the car's styling from the Japanese models, and the look was seen as rather curious by American standards. Even at launch, Infiniti's product planners conceded that this M45 was a stopgap measure; its replacement arrived less than three years later.

Series: 2003-2004

PERFORMANCE