Passport Infiniti of Alexandria

Edmunds.com has just identified the top cars in each class for the True Cost to Own Awards for model year 2010. These winning vehicles are the value leaders of Edmunds cost-of-owning estimates.

After gathering data from July 2009 through April 2010, Edmunds applied its True Cost to Own algorithms to estimate the five-year cost of owning each model year 2010 new vehicle currently on the market. From there, Edmunds.com separated vehicles into comparable segments, according to their body type and average MSRP.

Costs used by Edmunds included financing, depreciation, taxes and fees, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs and any federal tax credit that may be available. Adding all of these together can give a more accurate picture of which cars cost less overall.

The awarded vehicles include Infiniti's M35 model. It is highest on the list for lowest overall ownership costs in its respective segment. From data collected, the M35 has consistently maintained the lowest cost of ownership and gives smart consumers the best value for their money.

"Do I want one? You do if you want to travel in luxury." - Autoweek

"?it proved surprisingly nimble for rapid motoring on roads that would entertain a sports car or motorcycle pilot." - Popular Mechanics

"We can say that should you ever find yourself fortunate enough to be skimming the skies in a multimillion-dollar airliner, we hope the cabin is as nice as what you find in the new Infiniti..." - Autoblog

"The (new Infiniti QX) is a machine more perfectly suited to its primary mission: ferrying well-off families to and from the vacation house, mall, and celebrity-chef restaurants..." - Car and Driver

"The 2011 Infiniti QX56 interior is awash in the sort of creamy, soft-touch, carefully wrapped leather and precisely molded plastics and glossy wood trim that you might indeed find inside an executive jet. It's nice. People will feel good when they climb aboard." - Automobile Magazine

May 30th, 2010 review by The Washington Post on the all-new 2011 Infiniti M37, available now at Passport Infiniti.

Things once annoying become valued with age. Consider the blind-side warning systems on many of today's automobiles. The BSW's primary job is to warn drivers when an unseen vehicle is approaching in an adjacent lane.

A related technology -- variously called "lane- departure warning or "lane-keeping protocol" -- alerts drivers when they are wandering into adjoining lanes because of drowsiness or other inattention.

The lane-policing systems employ discreetly mounted exterior cameras in combination with interior sensors that monitor speed and direction. A vehicle approaching in the "blind side" of an adjoining lane triggers a visual warning in the affected side-view mirror of a BSW-equipped vehicle.

If driver inattention leads to lane wandering, the lane- departure warning system beeps or chirps in an attempt to interrupt the driver's slumber behind the wheel.

Like many U.S. automotive journalists, I greeted the lane-policing technologies with disdain when I first used them -- in my case in 2005, four years after Nissan Motor began experimenting with them in Japan. Both systems were annoying. I pushed their disabling buttons almost in tandem with starting up the cars in which they were installed.

Other automotive journalists did the same. But despite that lukewarm media reception, Nissan and many of its rivals -- BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac among them -- continued developing the lane-policing technologies. They had reason.

In North America and Western Europe, the numbers of older drivers were growing. More cars and people were crowding the streets of the world's cities, generating the need for more proactive automotive safety.

But I had not fully shaken off an adolescent mentality common to many automotive journalists: a belief that accidents happen only to people who know nothing about cars or driving, or who think that "fun to drive" means any driving without family members as passengers or targeted hosts, or who, deep down in their gasoline-soaked souls, hope that all of the hoopla over alternative propulsion systems and fuel economy is something that will eventually go away.

I've left that unsustainable school of thought in writing and thinking about automobiles. I pay more attention to things the automotive media once fashionably ignored or put aside as less than sexy.

Safety is one of those things, which is why I'm using this column to thank Nissan and others for continuing to improve the lane-policing technologies I once dismissed.

One of those systems on this week's subject car, the 2011 Infiniti M37, probably saved me and my wife, Mary Anne, from death or serious injury.

Yes, I'm finally getting around to the car of the week. In composing this piece, I realized that I might not have been around to write it without Nissan's work in lane- policing technologies.

I could go on endlessly about the virtues of the Infiniti M37, made by Nissan, as an automobile. Let's be real. How difficult is it to make a fine car at a base price of $48,400? Any car company that can't do that should not be in business.

The M37, available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, is a fine automobile. Its interior of leather and Japanese-ash wood trim bespeaks luxury with taste. But for people who equate value and performance with horsepower, the M37's 3.7-liter, 24-valve V-6 engine (330 horsepower, 270 foot-pounds of torque) may not be enough, which I find amusing.

That Infiniti V-6 is one of the smoothest, quietest, most pleasantly performing midsize sedan engines available anywhere. It is equipped with electronically controlled valve lift and timing to precisely meter the intake of air and fuel, thoroughly burn the mixture, produce maximum power, and efficiently treat (clean) and exhaust the spent gases.

Super-low-friction air induction in conjunction with the use of low-friction-coated pistons also facilitates the movement and compression of the M37's air-fuel mixture. It all works wonderfully well, yielding maximum power at minimum fuel consumption.

So what?

We were in the middle lane heading north on Interstate 87, yes, to visit our New York daughters. It's what parents do.

I saw an old Chevrolet Camaro barreling up the left lane, appearing to infringe on me in the middle. I instinctively turned right. But the right side-view mirror blinked furiously. Mary Anne screamed. There was a truck in that lane. I maintained my middle-lane position -- the safest of two unsafe alternatives.

That blinking blind-side-warning light dominates any thoughts I have about the 2011 Infiniti M37. Thank you, Nissan. Thank you, Infiniti.

Children's National Medical Center, locally referred to as Children's Hospital, is the only exclusive provider of pediatric care in the Washington, Metropolitan area.

Many children in the hospital require fresh blood or special rare types of red blood cells. Red blood cells, platelets, and plasma are in constant demand for victims of accidents, cancer treatments, blood diseases, and many types of surgery.


Please take a few minutes from your busy schedule and donate lifesaving blood for the patients at Children's National.

• Location: Passport Nissan-Infiniti
• 150 S. Pickett Alexandria, VA 22304
• Date:  Thursday, August 12th, 2010
  
• Time:  10 am - 3 pm
  

To schedule an appointment, contact: Andrea Wolschleger at awolschl@cnmc.org or call (202) 476-3306

• CLICK HERE FOR DONOR ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
  
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2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan review as reported by USA TODAY's James Healey:

The 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan includes updated navigation system, instrument cluster and console and polished-wood trim.
 
If the day ever comes when the sackcloth-and-ashes ethic has us scooting about in enclosed golf carts with lawn mower engines or electric motors, Nissan's V-6 will be among the most-mourned casualties of the aggressive downsizing underway in the industry.

Widely used by Nissan and its Infiniti luxury line, the engine is sheer driving delight. You could put the V-6, its displacement now boosted to 3.7 liters from 3.5, into a dilapidated Yugo (redundant?) and wind up with a car more delightful than disappointing.

With joy, we report that a junkyard Yugo is not this week's target. It is the revised, freshened, updated, tweaked - pick your industry jargon adjective - 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan.

While it doesn't represent Infiniti's latest thinking - the bigger M sedan, redesigned for 2011, does (and the 2011 will be featured in a future Test Drive) - the G hardly seems aged.

The spiffed-up G sedan and the sleeker two-door coupe went on sale in December. A convertible - sort of Infiniti's take on the Nissan 370Z sports car - hit the market in February.

Limited-production anniversary editions, marking the brand's 40th year, are just arriving at dealers.

Changes for 2010 common to all the Gs: updated navigation system, instrument cluster, console, wood trim (now polished instead of matte).

Specific to the G sedan: new schnoz and rump.

The 3.7-liter V-6 went into the car in the 2009 model year.

It's a sweet engine.

Aurally: grumble morphing into growl, becoming a roar as your right foot gets heavier.

Dynamically: ummm, nice, transforming into yippee and thence to holy mother of all that's good and pure, as your right sole hits the floor.

Appealing at all speeds in all conditions. No need, as parents of yore said disparagingly, to "ram around" to enjoy.

The boost to 3.7 liters brings horsepower up to 328 from 306 and adds an undetectable 1 pound-foot of torque, now 269. The change also boosts how fast you have to rev the engine to get those numbers.

The seven-speed automatic mated to the 3.7 has more acceleration-oriented ratios in the lower gears, so responsiveness improves. And it has a more relaxed top gear for better highway mileage.

Unfortunately, the seven-speed from time to time seemed a bit busy. Not hunting for the right gear. Rather, little motions and sensations giving the impression that lots of activity was occurring just to keep you at the desired speed in the desired gear.

The vague busyness of the seven-speed was barely a bother, but the driving enthusiast drawn to the G in the first place would be the type to notice.

Upshifts, especially under hard throttle, were swift, crisp and otherwise commendable. Downshifts, too. And the automatic will blip the throttle for you to make downshifts smooth, not jerky, just as you'd blip the gas driving a manual.

Let's just decide right here, right now: Seven speeds is too many, and eight is silly. Six, well executed, is the Goldilocks/Baby Bear number: just right.

The test car, a G37x ("x" meaning all-wheel drive) with more option packages than you might want, showed that Infiniti hasn't compromised the snappy braking and crisp cornering that keep it among top-tier sports sedans. Steering was responsive but lacked perfect road feel.

The AWD system was sure-footed in heavy rain and didn't seem to detract from the car's precise cornering, which AWD's extra weight and power split sometimes can do.

One thing that hasn't changed: a tight fit. G's a small car; not cramped but trim. Be sure your tush fits the bucket seats.

And that back seat is unsuitable for long-legged or robust riders. Put somebody back there to see, don't just eyeball it and guess.

Subtle appeal: relative simplicity.

No car really is simple nowadays, but G manages to avoid the type of needless complexity of BMW's iDrive and copy-cat multilayered control systems. You can operate most G features without a guide and interpreter.

Honorable mention for the automatic transmission's manual-shift mode. You want to stay in manual mode, yank the gearshift sideways, then tap forward or back to shift.

You want to use manual only briefly - say in a tight corner when a downshift helps control the car - just finger-pull the steering-column shift paddle. Instant response. No need to move the gearshift lever first.

After a few moments without using the paddles, the transmission reverts to conventional automatic operation.

Will you prefer the G to, say, a BMW 3 Series or equivalent? Depends on your prejudices.

But the G test car was immensely satisfying, a seeming no-brainer for buyers looking at that size and price range.

About the 2010 Infiniti G37

What? Midcycle update of the brand's best seller. Available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Available in four-door sedan, two-door coupe or convertible body style.

When? Since December.

Where? Made in Japan.

Why? Frequent tweaks needed to stay competitive.

How much? Sedan starts at $34,145 including $895 shipping. Coupe, convertible and 40th anniversary versions priced higher.

How potent? 3.7-liter V-6 rated 328 horsepower at 7,000 rpm, 269 pounds-feet of torque at 5,200; six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission.

How big? Not very, especially inside, though you'll hear it called a midsize. G37 sedan is 187 inches long, 69.8 in. wide 57.2 in. tall (except AWD is 57.8 in.). Weighs 3,605 to 3,807 lbs. Passenger space, 99 cubic feet (96.5 cu. ft. with sunroof). Trunk, 13.5 cu. ft. Turns in 35.4 ft. (RWD) or 36.1 ft. (AWD).

How thirsty? Versions rated 17, 18 or 19 miles per gallon in town, 25 or 27 mpg on the highway, 20 or 22 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Trip computer in AWD test car registered 17.4 mpg (5.75 gallons per 100 miles) in frisky suburban driving.

Overall: Sweeter than ever for those OK with a tight fit.

Click here to view this review on USA Today's website.

First Drive: 2011 Infiniti M

Third Time's A Charm: With the debut of Gen III, the Infiniti M Appears Ready for Prime Time

By Ron Kiino, Motor Trend

The last time we had an Infiniti M in a comparison test -- a 303-horsepower, seven-speed M35 S -- it finished eighth... out of eight cars. Or, as the seven other luxury brands are happy to point out, dead last. For the 2011 model year, though, Infiniti has put to bed the last-place second-gen M and pulled out from under the covers a third gen that is more stylish, more powerful, more fuel-efficient, and more technologically advanced. As you can tell, it's got more of just about everything, a fact that will no doubt make it a formidable participant in the next shootout. But until we can amass another luxe-sedan showdown, let's examine whether the 2011 M truly has the goods to be great.

Up 0.6 inch in length and 1.5 inches in width but down 0.3 inch in height, Infiniti's fresh flagship wears sleeker, more curvaceous sheet metal draped over available 20-inch wheels (18s are standard), all of which make it look like an enlarged G sedan. Many of the styling cues, e.g. the sculpted fenders and low-slung, upright grille, come from the voluptuous Essence concept that debuted at the 2009 Geneva auto show. Inside, the refinements continue with abundant premium leather and wood, providing a richer ambiance than its predecessor. For the aesthetically and tactilely picky, a new deluxe touring package adds super soft semi-aniline leather, suedelike headliner, and unique Ash trim that has been hand-buffed with genuine silver powder (to see wood softly sparkle under sunlight is reason enough to drop the $3800). And unlike the 2010 model, the 2011 presents a more user-friendly center stack that not only utilizes fewer buttons but also is angled more towards the driver. All occupants will appreciate the M's available Forest Air HVAC system, which provides humidity control, a breeze mode that alternates airflow for a more natural feeling, and auto recirculation that detects dust and foul odors, as well as a class-leading 103.6-cubic-foot interior.

Under hood, the M ditches the previous 3.5-liter 303-horse V-6 and 4.5-liter 325-horse V-8 in favor of a 3.7-liter 330-horsepower V-6 (M37), a direct-injected 5.6-liter 420-horse V-8 (M56), and, come spring 2011, a 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a lithium-ion battery pack (M35 Hybrid). Both the M37 and M56 come standard with a seven-speed automatic and are available with all-wheel drive as well as a sport package that includes double-piston dampers, four-wheel active steering, four-piston front brake calipers, shift paddles, sport seats/steering wheel/shift knob, and 20-inch alloys with summer tires.

Recently we had a chance to sample the 2011 M lineup for a day, and found both the M37 and M56 to be especially lively and quick. The M37's 3.7-liter V-6 seemed an ideal match for Infiniti's flagship, and should have no problem bettering the old M35's 5.8-second 0-60 time, especially given a weight loss of six pounds. Further, fuel economy with the six increases from 17/25 to 18/26. As with most sedans in this segment, the V-6 sounds so sporty and comes across so robust that a V-8 is really unnecessary. Nevertheless, eights are expected in the M's class, and the 5.6 will likely fulfill the 15 percent take-rate that Infiniti predicts. Given that the 2010 M45's 4.5-liter generated "only" 325 horsepower, the 2011's 95-horse bump represents a huge leap in performance, especially since, according to Infiniti scales, the M56 has gained just 70 pounds. We expect 0-60 times to fall below five seconds, but one thing not falling is gas mileage -- it's up from 16/21 to 16/25.

Enthusiasts will appreciate the 2011 S trims' steering wheel-mounted magnesium shift paddles, a feature absent in the 2010 model. Part of the aforementioned sport package, the paddles allow for manual gear changes of the seven-speed, which also features downshift rev matching. The larger Akebono brakes, another upgrade of the sport pack, offer up progressive pedal feel and stout performance, and the M's steering proved quick, linear, and communicative. A new four-mode (standard, eco, sport, snow) Infiniti Drive system comes standard, and Infiniti's Safety Shield adds the world's first blind-spot intervention system (selective braking intervenes to pull the car back into its lane) to lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, intelligent cruise control, and distance control assist safety systems.

Whether all of these improvements are enough to set the new M apart from the 2011 BMW 5 Series, not to mention the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Jaguar XF, et al, remains to be seen. We'll reserve that judgment until we have the opportunity to drive them back-to-back. Regardless, with the arrival of the M, this segment has become more competitive than ever.

 

2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 Test Drive

The 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 try to take on BMW and Mercedez-Benz in midsize luxury. Here is how the vehicles fare on a demanding mountain test drive.

By Ben Stewart, Popular Mechanics

Two months ago we had a chance to spend some time behind the wheel of prototype versions of Infiniti's new M37 and M56 sedans. We were certainly impressed. But it's difficult to judge a luxury car when there are still some rough edges to smooth out.

Well, after driving the production sedans for a day on some challenging driving loops in the mountains near San Diego, we can say these new Infinitis are assuredly smooth. The midsize luxury sedan class has been heating up thanks to recent launches of the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series. Are these Infinitis capable and comfortable enough to take on these legendary German rivals? Let's find out.

The Specs

Under the hood of the $46,250 M37 is the familiar 3.7-liter VQ-series V6, now rated at 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. But the biggest news, for those who relish the thrust from V8 power, is the motor in the $57,550 M56. The new 5.6-liter V8 is rated at 420 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are paired to a seven-speed automatic and all-wheel drive is optional.

M37s are rated to deliver 18 mpg city and 26 highway, while the V8 M56 model's performance dips slightly to 16 mpg city and 25 highway.

Like nearly every other car in Infiniti's lineup-with the exception of the hulking QX56 SUV-the new M sedans ride on an updated version of the company's FM platform. This architecture is so flexible it can underpin cars as varied in size and mission as the Nissan 370Z and the Infiniti FX crossovers.

Unlike most new car redesigns today, the dimensions of the M have not grown by much in this latest generation-it is wider by 1.5 inches, lower by a fraction of an inch and slightly longer too. But the wheelbase remains the same, and that means the interior provides roughly the same roominess as the old car. The new Ms haven't gained much weight either, the M37 at 3858 pounds is 6 pounds less than the old car and the M56 is 70 pounds more than the old M45.

The focus of the new M's chassis was refinement. Upfront, the double-wishbone suspension remains largely the same. But in the rear, the multilink design has been heavily modified with far beefier-looking lower links, retuned rubber bushings and a new coilover shock design. The goal? Increase comfort without loosing any of the sportiness.

Speaking of the "s" word, a sport package can be optioned on either the V6 or V8 cars. This includes larger 14-inch front rotors (13.8-inch in the rear) along with new dual-piston shocks, four-wheel steering (up to 1-degree rear steer in phase with front wheels) and 20-inch wheels with summer tires-amongst numerous interior upgrades such as magnesium paddle shifters and thicker bolstered seats.

The new M is packed with technical prowess too. There's a standard Drive Mode Selector that will vary throttle progression and transmission shift mapping for one of four modes, standard, sport, eco and snow.

The option list is deep with new tech too. There's not only a blind-spot warning system but also Blind Spot Intervention that uses cameras and individual wheel braking to guide the car away from a lane that is occupied. Similarly, Active Trace Control will use selective individual wheel braking to set the car up for an upcoming corner-it's almost like a pre-stability control. The system doesn't make the new M corner any more quickly, but it does smooth out transitions.

The new M will have a hybrid model for 2012. Until then the Eco Pedal option is there to satisfy fuel-frugal drivers by providing feedback at the pedal when you are accelerating too forcefully in Eco Mode.

Inside, the Forrest Air system combats what is one of the more annoying shortcomings of any climate system-constant air blowing straight at your face. Instead of fiddling with the vent controls and reluctantly sending all the airflow to your feet, this system manages air for you and sends a pleasant breeze-like flow of air around the cabin.

But one of our favorite tech advancements could be the simplest one. Intelligent Key allows individual fobs to store seating, mirror and steering wheel position, audio, nav and climate settings. So walk to your M sedan with "your" fob in your pocket and the car will automatically adjust to the settings you like best.

The Drive

Slide behind the wheel of the new M and you'll immediately notice that the level of craftsmanship and polish has improved over the old car's. The plastics and fitment of the various interior components are far richer and more luxurious than before.

Okay, so how do they drive? Though the new Ms don't really weigh any more than the outgoing models, there is a sense of solidity and heft to these sedans that wasn't there before-sort of like a BMW 7 Series.

The handling is still very sporty, the steering precise, and the M37 and M56 probably deliver higher limits than the old M sedans-especially with the sport package. Still, there's an edginess that has been smoothed out of this car. The old M was more raw and unpolished-and that actually made it quite fun. This new one is more restrained and more effortless to drive quickly. And that makes it slightly less involving. In other words, the new M now finally feels like a luxury sedan.

For most, the M37 provides just the right amount of thrust. And it is engaging, with a sweet V6 howl that only seems to get better with each generation of Infiniti car. But the M56 is the one we want. Its effortless power and torque reminds us why we love V8s. And its enormous thrust makes it far quicker than any previous Infiniti M sedan. The only problem is that the sound of the V8 is muffled. We'd like to have seen louder mufflers bundled with the Sport package on the V8 cars.

The Bottom Line

Infiniti has added considerable refinement to its flagship sedan. The M may have had some of its edginess polished away. But these sedans are easily the most comfortable and luxurious cars Infiniti has ever produced. In fact that finely tuned blend of sportiness and luxury in these new M sedans could steal quite a bit of business from Infiniti's German rivals.

What is an Infiniti? That's a pretty harsh question to be asking 20 years after the brand's debut, but sadly, it's pertinent. To be fair, the possible answers to this question got much narrower in 2003 when Infiniti introduced a legitimate BMW 3 Series competitor, the G35 (now G37). The situation further clarified that same year when the "Bionic Cheetah," known to the rest of us as the FX showed its (then) quite handsome face. But it was the 2005 introduction of the second generation M sedan that announced most loudly Infiniti's luxury-performance aspirations: to kick BMW in the back of the pants.
Read the full Autoblog review here.

First the Oscars and now this! The envelope please! The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a bevy of scores for the Infiniti M, Lexus HS 250h and Toyota 4Runner and it was nothing but "Good" all around. The Infiniti and Toyota were tested for frontal offset and side impacts, with their "Good" score maintaining the scores of their predecessors. The Lexus scored a first-time Good" in the frontal offset test. You can get all the details on the most recent round of crash-testing here and scan the IIHS archives to see how the competition stacks up.

Infiniti convertible looks good with top up or down and can handle any road

Scott Burgess: Auto review

The addition of the hardtop has transformed convertibles from Sunday summer strollers to everyday drivers.

For the most part, they look like regular cars, drive like regular cars and generally feel like them. But then touch a single button and the three-piece roof folds up smartly into the trunk, and all of sudden everything ordinary becomes better. For those who want it all, hardtop convertibles make it possible.

Earlier this year, Infiniti introduced the 2009 G convertible. The word "ordinary" and "regular" never should be used when mentioning this vehicle. Things like "great" and "beautiful" should be said often. Top up, top down, the G convertible is just as nice in January as it is in July.

Infiniti, the luxury brand of Nissan Motor Co., on the whole seems to have found its identity in recent years. Throughout its sporty lineup, there's a flowing feel to the vehicles as they mix sweeping curves with high-tech luxury. The G convertible is merely Infiniti's next step after producing the stellar G37 coupe and sedan. It's as it should be -- a progression of luxury.

Under the long, graceful aluminum hood is Infiniti's 3.7-liter aluminum V-6. The 325-horsepower engine lets the driver toss the car around with glee. The seven-speed automatic transmission pushes through the gears so quickly, you hardly notice when you're in seventh.

If that's too fast, then use the magnesium paddle shifters to wind out each gear and take advantage of the car's full 267 pound-feet of torque. The car can transform from sleepy cruiser to near rocket ship at the click of a paddle. (There's also a manual six-speed transmission for drivers who prefer to drive more and steer less, but the automatic seems to fit this car's style more. Not every car needs to be a beast at a traffic light.)
A quiet ride

There's a sophisticated feel to the G convertible that defies description. The car's performance is much more mature than its age. (The first G37 arrived in 2002.) On the road, it feels a little heavy and planted. It weighs just a hair over 4,000 pounds, but the pounds are nicely spread around -- with a 52 percent to 48 percent front-to-rear weight ratio. The independent suspension holds the car to the road and lets a driver push through corners faster and faster. Push this car too hard and you'll swallow your gum. The back end will push back and slide a little, but the vehicle's dynamic control and traction control will help straighten out your line.

The rack-and-pinion steering with speed-sensitive power is nicely tuned to provide firm feedback and nice return to center, but also makes parking easy. The long wheelbase glides over bumps and concrete seams with never a hassle. Most of all, when the top is up, the G convertible is extremely quiet.

Long gone are the days when a convertible top flapped in the wind, providing the feeling that the top was down. I tested the G convertible during warmer months, but it would easily hold up to a Michigan winter. The only limitation would be the rear-wheel drive, which provides fun on snow and ice, but not necessarily safety.

Muffling outside noise is one of the hallmarks of luxury. People need quiet and time to think -- and the G convertible provides both. If everyone would drive around in a quiet car, and just sit and think for a few minutes every day, the world would be a better place. Infiniti is doing its part.

Sensing danger

The G convertible also takes over some mindless driving habits, freeing the driver to concentrate on more important things. The optional intelligent cruise control with preview braking will adjust the car's speed to the traffic in front while also looking out for dangerous situations. If it senses one, it pre-charges the brakes -- meaning as soon as you tap the pedal, the ventilated discs and calipers will spring into action.

Really, the G convertible performs much better than people might suspect, but that's only because it's so beautiful.

The front end stretches the car's body, and the L-shaped headlamps look like they stretch nearly all the way back to the driver. The Xenon headlamps are on par with those on the very best luxury cars, transforming glass and light into jewelry.

The well-proportioned body cuts the overhangs in the front and rear, providing it with a 112-inch wheelbase and taut stance. The wheels are stuffed into the curvy fenders, which are delicately flared. The wedge-like profile makes the G convertible look as if it's a cat ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey.

Then, take the top down and listen to every one say, "G, that looks nice."

Its beltline now takes on a much sharper look, and a parallel line below it cuts from the front fender all the way to the taillight.

Many convertibles have a tendency to bulk up on the backside, as they have to create space for the roof. This Infinity, however, remains slender from front to rear.

Front seats are heated

The interior combines performance and luxury. The leather seats are well-bolstered and very comfortable. Heating is standard on the front seats; ventilated seats are available as an option. Convertible-lovers know the benefit of both features. The optional 13-Bose-speaker stereo system sounds great with the top up or down, and most of the features seem oriented toward the driver. There is Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation, as well as voice recognition for operating the stereo, climate and optional navigation systems.

The controls on top of the dash for the navigation system take some time to learn to operate. And while the overall look of the dash and instruments feels elegant, Infiniti uses a little too much silver plastic around the center console and dash. It detracts from the car's beauty instead of enhancing it.

There also is an easy-to-use button to move the seats forward for easy access to the cramped second row. While the sedan can carry five people, the convertible is designed for only four. Then again, when was the last time you loaded up four adults into your current ride?

In the past, it took sunny days for convertible owners to grin. With the Infiniti G convertible, it doesn't matter what season it is. This car is ready for all of them.

In their October 2009 issue, Consumer Reports named Infiniti as the most reliable luxury car line in their article on reliability and owner satisfaction.

 

This graph shows how the upscale/luxury makes rank based on their average predicted reliability scores, and which models by each make have the highest and lowest ratings (higher scores better). The score is the overall reliability calculated as a percentage better or worse than the average of all cars.

August 14, 2009 - The all-new 2011 Infiniti M was revealed today at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the famed celebration of timeless automotive design. Infiniti Senior Vice President and Design Director, Shiro Nakamura, unveiled the completely redesigned M in a dynamic 3D digital presentation showing how the M has been transformed through natural inspiration and passionate craftsmanship into a luxury sedan of sculpted form and rejuvenating refinement.

Inside the new M, meticulously crafted leather materials and wood accents-sanded and polished by hand-are fused with vividly modern design and advanced technologies. Outside, the lines of its unique double wave hood and sculpted body panels flow with organic grace, while its athletic stance hints at thrilling performance. Powering it will be the 3.7-liter VVEL V6 producing more than 320 horsepower, or an all-new 5.6-liter VVEL V8 producing more than 400 horsepower. The new M also demonstrates Infiniti's continued leadership in technological innovation. The 2011 M will feature an industry-first blind spot intervention system that warns of vehicles next to you and assists in returning the vehicle to its original lane. To view this exciting reveal, and find out more about the new M, select the link below.

Click Here to see the all-new 2011 Infiniti M

With great design comes great vision. And new levels of confidence and convenience. The Infiniti-first Around View Monitor uses cameras on every side to "see" objects or vehicles around you. Then it presents your surrounding environment in a composite bird's-eye perspective on the central screen.

Click the Play button to view this video describing the Infiniti Around View Monitor System

 

Available Lane Departure Prevention helps keep your vehicle from unintentionally drifting from your lane. It utilizes sensors to monitor the distance between the vehicle and lane markings, and when the vehicle drifts unintentionally towards the lane markers, the system first sounds an audible warning. Then it will lightly apply selected brakes to help ease your vehicle back into it's lane.

Click the Play button to view this video describing the Infiniti Lane Departure Warning System

           

TUSTIN, Calif. (May 12, 2009) - Who do you go to for advice when buying a new car? What about owners themselves? AutoPacific has just analyzed recommendation intentions from 25,000 new-car owners, and the results offer interesting insights.

AutoPacific, which has provided automotive analysis to carmakers since 1986, bases its findings on a just-completed comprehensive survey of more than 25,000 consumers who purchased or leased new cars or light trucks in the period from September to December 2008.

"Typically, car buyers are very pleased when they first drive their new car off the dealer lot. But just as a vehicle's worth depreciates over time, some car owners' level of confidence depreciates," says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "We have quantified their level of confidence to see which new car owners will recommend their model most and this is information which will help new car shoppers make informed, confident buying decisions. While many owners can be happy with their new cars, it takes another level of confidence to recommend it."

Porsche leads as the top brand in a close race, with the highest owner recommendation of 91%. "Porsche owners' feelings for their cars run deep, some might call it devotion," says Peterson. "Clearly that is still the case as the Porsche line-up all scored well in this survey."

The vehicle - car or truck - registering highest overall satisfaction in 2009 is the Infiniti G37, which was recommended by 95% of new owners. The truck with the highest overall satisfaction score is the Ford F-150 recommended by 89% of its owners. In a tie, the SUVs with the highest overall satisfaction score are the GMC Yukon XL and Honda CR-V recommended by 93% of their owners.

At the manufacturer level, multiple top-ranked award winners include: Toyota with eight top rankings (Toyota 6, Lexus 2), Ford with six (Ford 5, Lincoln 1), Honda with three and both General Motors and Chrysler with two (Chevy 1, GMC 1) (Dodge 1, Jeep 1).

AutoPacific's research objectively measures owner recommendations with newly purchased or leased passenger cars or light trucks by ranking new owners' responses to the question "Would you recommend your new vehicle to a friend or relative? Scores are based on the responses, ranging from "Yes, definitely," "Yes, with reservations," or "No."

Car and Driver magazine has named the Infiniti G37 to its 10Best list for 2009. Out of a field of 56 vehicles, the G Coupe and G Sedan rose to the top, marking the fourth time Infiniti has won this award, in addition to 2003, 2004 and 2007.

Each year, Car and Driver selects its 10Best vehicles according to particular criteria: how well it does what it should do (for example, performance cars should be fast and exhilarating), how fun it is to drive, and how much of a good value it is. G Coupe and G Sedan showed that their breathtaking styling and thrilling performance features make them truly worthy of recognition.