2011 Infiniti M37: Performance and Luxury Niche Has Another Player

By Mike Blake, Carlisle Events

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Nissan’s luxury and performance arm, Infiniti, has reached adulthood. Now in its 21st year, Infiniti is an established player in the luxury niche, and it has the power to make it a worthy combatant in the performance sector as well. Created to provide opulent vehicles that didn’t otherwise fit the Nissan market chain, Infiniti in well-positioned in the segment against its Japanese counterparts, Lexus and Acura, and is poised to go head-to-head with German carmakers BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

Infiniti’s M Class began in 1990 with its M30 Coupe that was also known as the Nissan Gloria in Japan (the Infiniti badge is seldom seen in Japan), but the current, luxury incarnation of M had its birth in 2003 with the M35 and M45. The numbers are a nod to engine size – M35 had a 3.5-liter engine and the M45 was powered by a 4.5-liter. Today’s M’s, the 3.7-liter M37 and the 5.6-liter M56 continue that tradition.

Also known as the Nissan Fuga, the M Series was designed under the Infiniti Essence Concept that incorporates style, performance, luxury, craftsmanship and technology.

Both M’s embody beauty from the outside in. Sleek, athletic, sporty, graceful and aggressive in its line, the Infiniti M exhibits a different look from each angle of viewing. A long, low hood sweeps up and into a high rear deck and short rear overhang to herald its rear-wheel drive status. The new M is lower, longer and wider than earlier models and nudges onlookers into seeing the car hug the ground as it propels itself across highways and on the track. Power is envisioned in its appearance and backed up under the hood, as the entire package confidently proclaims luxury.

Measuring 194.7 inches in length, 72.6 inches in width and 59.6 inches in height on a 114.2-inch wheelbase, the 3960-lb. Infiniti M combines its sporty flavor with gracefulness using its signature dark-finish Infiniti double-arch upright low grille and crystal-look headlight clusters, large aluminum-alloy wheels, and the optional rear deck spoiler to complete a Euro-luxury look.

My test M37 was bathed in Black Obsidian paint for a classic expression of lavishness, but lavishness takes today’s luxury cars just so far. Power and performance also must be in play, and Infiniti M plays well with the M synonymous with muscle. The M35 comes standard with a 330hp 3.7-liter aluminum alloy V-6 with molybdenum-coated pistons. Relying on sequential multi-port fuel injection and mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control, the set-up also produces 270 lb-ft of torque. M35’s big sister, the M56, receives its force from a 5.6-liter, 32-valve V-8 engine that thrusts out 420hp and 417 lb-ft of torque … that’s more than many heavy-duty trucks.
Despite slight hesitation at shift points, the M37 delivers early strength and was able to sprint from zero to 60mph in 5.9 seconds, while covering a quarter-mile in 14.2, reaching 100mph.

On the highway and around town, M37 showed excellent acceleration at all speeds, but the transmission is a bit uneven. Driver and passengers enjoy a quiet, balanced ride, though in autocross tests, there was some noticeable understeer in the final portion of tight esses. Some engine noise can be heard in the cabin, but road noise is kept out in a manner befitting a luxury car, and the ride is smooth as one would expect, though perhaps a bit floaty when faced with severe road imperfections.

EPA rated at 18mpg in city driving and 26mpg on the highway, my week of mixed-use driving reaped an average of 22.7mph.

In the cabin, opulence abounds as does interior space. The roomy module shows head room of 39.1 inches in the first row and 37.7 inches in the second seats, shoulder room of 58.4 and 56.7 and leg room of 44.0 and 36.2.

Instrumentation is avant garde and easy to read with an electroluminescent speedometer, tachometer, coolant temperature and fuel gauges, outside temperature display and trip info.

Standard on the M37 are leather-appointed seating, 10-way power driver’s and front passenger’s seats with 2-way power lumbar support, climate-controlled front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, genuine Japanese Ash wood accents on doors, instrument panel and center console, Active Noise Control, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted switches and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Safety matters are attended to with the Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System that includes dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection, energy-absorbing steering column, hood buckling creases and safety stops, front and rear crumple zones, body side reinforcements and tire pressure monitoring system with individual tire pressure display.

My test M37 was base priced at $47,115, and full bell-and-whistle options, which included blindspot warning, forward collision warning, navi system, voice controls, Bluetooth, rear deck spoiler and aluminum alloy wheels brought the sticker price to $59,460.

The 2011 Infiniti M37 is a luxury car with the power, style and electronics to compete with all comers.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

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