km : Automotive News

LA Auto Show: 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56

Stuart Fowle

The last-generation Infiniti M was among our favorite non-European sports sedans. It was cleanly-styled, full of good technology, and incredibly good to drive. Although the brand isn't technically at the LA Auto Show, it chose this week and that city to officially debut an all-new 2011 M, which will be sold in 330-hp M37 form and 420-hp M56 form. The former uses the familiar 3.7-liter V6 from the G37, while the V8 variant uses a pretty beastly new 5.6-liter, direct-injection engine. Both will use Infiniti's seven-speed automatic.

The M's new design carries themes from other recent debuts like the 2009 FX35 and FX50, with swoopy styling inside and out. While the materials and attention to detail seem to be top-notch, Some of the wild, busy lines might be off-putting to those considering the edgy new E-class or the simple and elegant Audi A6 or Jaguar XF. Infiniti's target seems to be BMW, whose 5-series has developed some swoopiness as of late as well. Despite the polarizing look, the M's new powertrain options make it a serious competitor to our favorite stalwarts of the segment, and it should be a hoot to drive in V8 form.

Japanese competitors like Infiniti have always relied on a plethora of gizmos to compete with Germany's engineering and refinement, and while the M is likely creeping closer with the latter, it does come packing a lot of technology. The list includes a new Blind Spot Intervention system that actually corrects the steering when the Blind Spot Warning system detects a possible merging accident with another vehicle and an "Eco Pedal" that is activated by a dial-selected "Eco Mode" and actually vibrates the gas pedal when the driver is wasting fuel. Both of those, we have to say, are unnecessary and a bit off-putting. However, an optional 16-speaker Bose surround sound system with speakers build into the seat backs does sound pretty fantastic, and we're sure the car's semi-aniline leather and white ash trim with real silver powder mixed in are pretty fantastic. The new M goes on sale in March at an undetermined price. Next summer should be full of some very interesting comparison tests.

see what others are saying about this story...