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80-616: The Infiniti M is a line of mid-size luxury (executive) cars from the Infiniti luxury division of Nissan . From 2013 (model year 2014) on it has been marketed as the Infiniti Q70 , reflecting the company's new naming scheme. The first iteration was the M30 Coupé/Convertible, which were rebadged JDM Nissan Leopard . After a long hiatus, the M nameplate was used for Infiniti's mid-luxury sedans (executive cars). First

160-612: A Jatco RE4R01A 4-speed automatic transmission. The differential was a Nissan open R200 unit. Although most Nissan Leopards were equipped with a DOHC V6, offered in 2-liter, 3-liter, naturally aspirated and turbocharged variants, the M30 was only offered with the SOHC VG30E. Although it was a smooth powertrain, which Infiniti touted in its brochures for the M30, the 3,302 lb (1,498 kg) coupe, and 3,523 lb (1,598 kg) convertible were generally received as overweight and underpowered, with

240-503: A 4 speaker Nissan-Bose audio system with satellite radio controls, a cassette player and an electric mast antenna, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, power moonroof, and on coupes, automatic climate control. For the 1991 model year, the cable-type speedometer became electric, instrument cluster typeface changed to match that of the Q45, and fuel and coolant temperature gauges were switched. An illuminated entry feature

320-458: A design that is currently maintained by the designers. By the mid-1990s, Infiniti was lagging behind Lexus and Acura in sales. The Q45 had retreated considerably from its focused, taut rendition of a sporty full-size luxury sedan, having become a barely recognizable, ponderously handling sedan that earned the nickname "The Japanese Lincoln". In the summer of 1998, Infiniti revived the G20 , based on

400-907: A diesel model. In 2013, Infiniti's model designation changed to the coupes and sedans starting with the letter Q, the SUVs and crossovers starting with the letters QX, and a number reflecting the model's place in the brand lineup. The M sedan became the Q70, the G coupe became the Q60, and the G sedan became the Q50; meanwhile, the QX56 became the QX80, the FX became the QX70, the JX became the QX60 and

480-555: A larger SUV to compete with the Toyota Land Cruiser /Lexus LX470. This was the 2004 Infiniti QX56 based on the U.S. market Nissan Armada . Nissan Motors President and CEO, Carlos Ghosn , developed a business strategy to break Infiniti away from its Nissan roots. The G series helped re-define Infiniti as the "Japanese BMW", as it was aimed directly at the BMW 3 Series of sedans and coupes. The M35/M45 garnered acclaim from

560-578: A name change to the vehicle, which became the I35. Sales and the brand, bereft of an image or a following, floundered. By 2000, large Japanese companies were feeling the effect of the Japanese asset price bubble , and the reduced desirability of Infinitis led to it facing extinction. The company rededicated itself to developing a dynamic and powerful line-up of sporty luxury cars. This coincided with parent company Nissan entering into an alliance with Renault under

640-637: A new compact car named Q30 in 2015. In mid-2019, the Sunderland plant ceased assembly of Infiniti vehicles in the United Kingdom. Johan de Nysschen was appointed to head the Infiniti division in 2012. De Nysschen left the company as of August 2014 to become CEO of Cadillac . Infiniti Chairman Andy Palmer assumed de Nysschen's responsibilities. Nissan appointed Roland Krüger, former head of BMW 's Asian division, as president of Infiniti after

720-524: A number reflecting engine displacement. For example, the QX56 was an SUV featuring a 5.6L engine. An exception to this was the QX4 SUV, which featured a 3.3L engine (1996–2000) and later a 3.5L engine (2000–2003). An " x " following the engine displacement of Infiniti sedans denoted an all wheel drive model (e.g. Infiniti G35x ), " s " denoted a sport package, " h " denoted a hybrid model, and " d " denoted

800-472: A quoted 0–60 time of 9.4 and 9.7 seconds, respectively. Infiniti marketed the car as a luxury sports coupe, but its relatively low power output, comfort-oriented driving dynamics, and the absence of a manual transmission hampered its performance and sporting image. Like the Nissan Maxima, the M30 was equipped with Nissan's Sonar Suspension II . A sonar sensor mounted underneath the front bumper scanned

880-688: A redesigned Acura Legend coupe was launched in 1991. The interior came in for criticism for its outdated ergonomics and lack of room. While the Japanese-market Leopard had received a new dashboard along with the 1988 facelift, economics precluded making a left-hand-drive version of the new dashboard and the M30 was instead fitted with the LHD version of the R31 Skyline 's rectilinear dashboard, first presented in 1985. The M30 made up for these deficiencies in its somewhat lower price; whereas

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960-626: A result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , effectively ending all production in Russia, exports into Russia and Belarus, and new car sales of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in those countries as a result of huge sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus by the European Union, Japan, United Kingdom, and the United States. Infiniti's former model name designation included one letter for coupés and sedans , two letters for SUVs , and

1040-415: A service life of 10 years. The batteries are installed upright behind the rear seats. The main sacrifices are that the luggage compartment space is reduced, the hybrid's rear seats are fixed in place and cannot fold down, and all-wheel drive is not available. One benefit of the battery placement though, is that it leaves the hybrid with a 51/49 front to rear weight distribution. The combined power output of

1120-507: A small camera mounted above the rearview mirror to gauge distance from the lane markers, and would lightly deploy selected brakes to help ease the car into the correct lane. It allowed for unimpeded lane changes when the turn signal is used and yields control to the driver at all times. Blind Spot Intervention System used sensors to provide a visual warning in the side view mirror. If the car sensed movement toward an obstacle, it provided an audible warning and applied opposite side brakes to guide

1200-538: A well established reputation with premium level performance sedans after Nissan acquired the Prince Motor Company and integrated the Nissan Skyline , Nissan Laurel and Nissan Gloria , originally Prince vehicles, in 1966–1968. A sports sedan replacing its Nissan Primera -based predecessor (the G20 ), the Nissan Skyline -based Infiniti G35, was successful after it was voted Motor Trend Car of

1280-697: The 2008 Geneva Motor Show . The official launch was late 2008, and was phased over a two-year period across 21 European countries. Four models are offered in Europe: the next generation of the Infiniti FX 37 and Infiniti FX 50 performance SUV, the Infiniti G37 , the Infiniti G37 coupe, and the Infiniti EX 37 crossover. Infiniti Europe's headquarters are in Rolle, Switzerland. Carlos Ghosn unveiled

1360-701: The Acura Legend , which was later joined by the Lexus GS . Infiniti's first offering in the entry-level luxury segment was the Infiniti J30 , which had to compete with the revised 1992 Lexus ES and was unsuccessful owing to its small interior and unusual styling to which it was succeeded in 1996 by the Infiniti I series introduced previously in April 1995, related to the Nissan Maxima and in 2002 by

1440-610: The Infiniti 's flagship Q45 . In addition to the difference in powertrain with the Y34 Cedric/Gloria, the Y34 M45 uses a different instrument panel design, similar to the F50 Q45 as well as a different rear multi-link suspension design. The Y34 Cedric/Gloria's rear multi-link suspension design is similar to Z32 300ZX, and S14/S15 Silvia/200SX/240SX where the rear spring is mounted on the strut. The rear suspension design on

1520-526: The Infiniti G35 . Infiniti's global network includes over 230 dealers in 15 countries. In September 1990, Infiniti introduced a third model, the Infiniti G20 , derived from the compact and European-focused Nissan Primera . In 1992 for the 1993 model year, Infiniti introduced a four-door coupé J30 with only one engine option, the 210 hp (157 kW; 213 PS) VG30DE . This engine

1600-619: The Infiniti M at a hotel in Los Angeles. It shares the VQ37VHR from the Infiniti G , and Nissan 370Z . Featured are new powertrains: the 5.6 L V8 ( VK56VD ) with VVEL , Gasoline direct injection , the Nissan-Renault V9X Engine V6 Turbo Diesel (only for Europe), and the newly developed hybrid that includes one electric motor and two clutches to allow the gas engine and electric motor to drive

1680-694: The Infiniti Q45 , and was intended to be an alternative to the Acura Legend coupe and to a lesser extent the Lexus ES 250 , as it was also a lower-priced alternative to the Lexus LS400 , although the ES 250 was only offered as a 4-door sedan. Unlike its competitors that were designed with the American market in mind and were launched as brand-new models, the M30 was based on a somewhat dated platform that

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1760-633: The Lexus ES and Lexus RX . More importantly, the JX was meant to give Infiniti a credible rival to the Acura MDX and BMW X5 crossovers that offer optional three-row seating. In 2012, Infiniti moved its global headquarters from the Nissan corporate building in Yokohama and incorporated in Hong Kong as Infiniti Global Limited , with Carlos Ghosn intending for Infiniti to have a greater focus on

1840-639: The Plaza Accord of 1985. The brand was created around the same time rivals Toyota and Honda developed their Lexus and Acura premium brands, respectively. As the Japanese government invoked voluntary export restraints , it became more effective for automakers to export fewer but more expensive cars to the U.S. market. The marque launched with two models, the Q45 , and the M30 that were previously sold at Japanese Nissan Store dealership networks. The Q45

1920-763: The QX30 and Q30 produced at the Nissan factory in Sunderland were to cease production. Similarly, on September 3, 2019, it was announced that Infiniti would leave Australia and New Zealand due to slow sales in the region. Accordingly, Infiniti left the European (with the exception of Caucasus, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine), South African, Australian, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysian, Singaporean, South Korean, and Vietnamese markets in 2020. In South Korea, sales of Nissan and Infiniti had dropped after "consumer sentiment against Japanese products intensified", leading to both marques being discontinued there, as

2000-468: The Renault engines for Red Bull Racing for the 2011 Formula One season . As of 2011, the G Series (consisting of the sedan, coupe, and convertible) accounted for 60% of sales. This was attributed to their SUVs (including crossovers) which were seen as aimed at the narrowest of niches, a lost opportunity as SUVs were popular in the U.S. market. In contrast, at archrival Lexus, SUVs contributed half of

2080-569: The 1990 Acura Legend coupe started at $ 27,325 before options and the 1990 BMW 325i started at $ 24,650 before options, the M30 started at $ 23,500, and had no factory options, per Infiniti's pricing structure used at the time. Dealerships offered an in-car cellular telephone and in-dash CD player as optional accessories, amongst other items. Standard equipment on the M30 included a driver's side airbag, anti-lock brakes, an anti-theft security system with an engine immobilizer, Nissan Sonar Suspension II, and leather upholstery. Other standard features include

2160-788: The 2007 model year a redesigned version of the G35 sedan was launched, followed in August 2007 by a new version of the company's G coupe, the G37. The coupe was first unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007. Also released in (December) 2007 was new Infiniti EX35 compact crossover, Infiniti's entry into the compact luxury crossover market. The EX shared the G35's 3.5-liter, 306 hp (228 kW), V6 engine. Carlos Ghosn unveiled Infiniti's arrival in Europe at

2240-455: The 2022 model year based from QS Inspiration concept. Infiniti According to Nissan, the Infiniti logo is a stylized representation a road extending to the horizon—and of Mount Fuji , reflecting its Japanese origins. The Infiniti brand was introduced in the United States in 1989 to target the premium vehicle segments in the United States that would not have otherwise fit in with Nissan's mainstream offering, and partially influenced by

2320-578: The 3.5L V6 (302 hp (225 kW) and 258 lb⋅ft (350 N⋅m)) gas engine and electric motor to drive the rear wheels simultaneously. The lithium-ion battery pack comes from the Infiniti Essence . The VQ35HR 3.5 L V6 Hybrid utilizes the Atkinson cycle . The electric motor, installed in parallel between the engine and the transmission, produces 68 PS (50 kW; 67 bhp) from 1.3kWh lithium-ion batteries that are expected to have

2400-621: The 4.5L V8 that had been exclusive to the Q45 , allowing the company to better amortize the engine's development cost. Infiniti released a redesigned M for the 2006 model year, released in February 2005, and marketed in Japan as the Nissan Fuga . All-wheel-drive models, marketed as the M35x and M45x , use a system ( ATTESA-ETS ) to send all power to the rear wheels until slip is detected. As

2480-740: The 5 Series; furthermore the M was equipped and priced competitively against its German rivals, while the M35 also received strong reviews. Despite entering a very crowded, competitive segment in which almost every member has been recently redesigned, the M managed to claim several key distinctions. The M is near or at the top of its class of every interior dimension, actually breaking into the United States Environmental Protection Agency "large" category depending on which option packages are selected. The M35x won Consumer Reports top luxury car pick for 2006, taking

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2560-654: The 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance , and at a media event in Beverly Hills, California in December 2009, to coincide with the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles. The production version went on sale globally starting in the spring of 2010, as a 2011 model — and in the US on March 1, 2010. It was launched in Europe at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show . A driving mode selector was included on all models, situated below

2640-672: The EX became the QX50. In August 2010, Infiniti unveiled its new performance marque named Infiniti Performance Line , or IPL. In 1996, Nissan launched an effort to compete in the Indy Racing League with the Infiniti brand. The engine chosen for the Indy cars was a racing variant of the VH engine used in the production Q45s . Eddie Cheever resulted third in the 2000 season. The IRL program

2720-480: The Infiniti M received a facelift , receiving optional all wheel drive (M45x), revised front and rear fascias, revised tail lights, and redesigned blue-highlted gauges, previously orange. Infiniti also offered an S type version for the M45/M45x similar to the previous Sport model. Other new features on the 2008 model include touch screen hard drive based navigation, iPod integration, and a music hard drive. For 2009,

2800-804: The Infiniti M56 was competitive with other V8 mid-luxury (executive) cars such as the BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550. The 5.6L V8 is not shared with its Japanese domestic market counterpart, the Nissan Fuga , as Nissan opted instead to have the hybrid version as the performance option. The extended length version of the Fuga, known as the Cima , is offered as the Infiniti Q70L beginning from model year 2015. The M37 and M56 will have all-wheel drive optional, badged as M37x and M56x, respectively. Safety technology included Lane Departure Prevention , which uses

2880-481: The Infiniti brand into new premium segments. In 2013, Infiniti's model designation changed to the coupes and sedans starting with the letter Q (SUVs and crossovers starting with the letters QX) and a number reflecting the model's place in the brand lineup. The M sedan became the Q70 while the G sedan was replaced with the Q50; meanwhile, the QX56 became the QX80 while the EX became the QX50. In August 2013 Infiniti announced that Simone Piattelli Palmarini would take up

2960-462: The Infiniti lineup, as though they were the flagships of the marque, they were out-powered by the VQ37VHR engines fitted in the 2009 G37 coupe and sedan . For that model year while the G Series received 7-speed automatic transmissions across the lineup, only the M35 RWD was upgraded to a 7-speed automatic while the rest of the nameplate retained the aging 5-speed automatic. For the 2008 model year,

3040-571: The JDM Nissan Primera , a compact sport sedan. The second generation G20 was marketed as a competitor to European entry-level luxury sport sedans, but it now weighed more than the first generation version. Because Infiniti continued to use the SR20DE four-cylinder engine and compact size, it fell short of sales expectations. The G20 was also marketed primarily to the wrong demographic, that being middle-aged professional women, and as such it

3120-432: The M35 received a new V6 engine producing 303 hp (226 kW) and 262 lb⋅ft (355 N⋅m) of torque and a 7-speed automatic transmission. The 2009 M35x, M45, and M45x retained the five-speed automatic. The Y51, designed by Hideo Komuro during 2006 and 2008 under the supervision of Shiro Nakamura , took on a more fluid look, recalling the coke bottle styling of a 1960s and 1970s. The 2011 Infiniti M debuted at

3200-571: The M35H's hybrid power-train is 360 hp (268 kW; 365 PS) at 6500 rpm, and an estimated 391 lb⋅ft (530 N⋅m) of torque at 2000 rpm. Reviewers have considered the 2012 Infiniti M35h, along with the 2011 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid which also debuted in the same calendar year, as among the best executed hybrid performance luxury cars. The M35h and Panamera S Hybrid are the first hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles with an automatic transmission to return frugal fuel economy figures and retain

3280-662: The M56 while providing a more balanced, near 50/50, front/rear weight distribution. On August 23, 2011, the Infiniti M35h set an official Guinness world record for the world's fastest accelerating production full hybrid. The feat took place at the United Kingdom's Santa Pod Raceway , where CAR magazine journalist Tim Pollard drove the vehicle down the quarter-mile dragstrip in 13.896 seconds. The M35h averaged 13.9031 seconds for all runs, reaching speeds over 100 mph (160 km/h). Guinness adjudicators were present to witness

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3360-592: The Nissan Motor Company never made a profit in South Korea during its tenure in the South Korean auto market from 2005 until its exit in 2020, due to the Korean opposition towards everything associated with Japan. It also relocated its headquarters from Hong Kong to Yokohama, Japan, where parent company Nissan is located. In November 2021, Nissan stated that its Infiniti brand will become 100 percent all-electric by 2030, ending production and new car sales of fossil fuel powered Infiniti vehicles by that year. In March 2022, Nissan withdrew entirely from Russia and Belarus as

3440-468: The North American designation "I30" in 1996. It offered one engine, the 193 PS (142 kW; 190 hp) VQ30DE with front wheel drive shared with the Maxima. The I30 was redesigned for the 2000 model year, featuring an increase in power to 231 PS (170 kW; 227 hp). Infiniti made further changes to the I30's appearance and performance in mid-2001, upgrading the engine to the more powerful 259 PS (190 kW; 255 hp) VQ35DE ; this inspired

3520-400: The Q45 was no longer exported from Japan after model year 2006, the M45 became Infiniti's flagship. The M used a more rigid version of the Nissan FM platform shared with the G35 / 350Z / FX — and was available with the VQ-series 280 hp (209 kW) 3.5 L V6 in the M35 , or the Q45 's 335 hp (250 kW) 4.5 L V8 in the M45 . While shorter 177 mm (7.0 in) than

3600-433: The Renault F1 Team's facilities in France. In addition, the Infiniti Engineering Academy provides for engineering students to collaborate with the Renault F1 Team. Infiniti and the Renault F1 team also collaborate on Project Black S, a road car that features an ERS inspired by the one used in Formula One. In 2020, a few Infiniti Q50s were entered into the British Touring Car Championship by Laser Tools Racing. They won

3680-402: The Y34 M45 is much like the rear suspension design on the Z33 350Z, where the spring is mounted independent of the shock/strut, and sits directly on the lower arm, in a spring cup. The front suspension design carries over from the Y33 Q45, with a one-piece strut/upright. In place of the stamped steel front lower arm, the Y34 M45 has a cast aluminum lower A-arm. The M45 broadened Nissan's use of

3760-500: The Year in 2003. The release of the sport-tuned FX35/45 crossover that same year piggybacked on the G35's success. The FX used the same components as the G35 sport coupe and was designed for American tastes. It combined good handling and performance with station wagon -like versatility and all-weather capability. In 2004, Infiniti added an all-wheel drive version of the G35 sports sedan to compete with similar all-wheel drive sports sedans from Audi and BMW . Infiniti also introduced

3840-408: The acceleration/handling characteristics of its gasoline-only counterparts. Earlier hybrids such as the Lexus 2007 GS 450h used a CVT for fuel economy at the cost of driving dynamics, while the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 which has an automatic transmission did not feature significantly improved mileage over its gasoline counterpart. The M35h's fuel economy is superior to the M37, and it is almost as fast as

3920-427: The automotive press, winning an eight-car comparison test in Car and Driver , and the model was named the best luxury sedan by Consumer Reports . The M45 model featured the same engine as the Q45, and the M45 became the flagship model after the Q45 was discontinued. The Infiniti M (2002–2005) and the Infiniti G (starting in 2002) were known in Japan as the Nissan Gloria and the Nissan Skyline. In November 2006 for

4000-425: The burgeoning luxury market in mainland China as it forecast the country to become the largest luxury car market. Nissan appointed Roland Krüger, former head of BMW 's Asian division, as president of Infiniti in September 2014. In mid-2013 Infiniti announced their Q30 Concept car would get its world premiere at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show , a move which would see Infiniti start an aggressive strategy to extend

4080-427: The carmaker claimed it doubles the fuel economy of its gasoline-powered version. Nissan also announced that the Nissan Infiniti/Fuga Hybrid, together with the Nissan Leaf , included its new Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians system to alert pedestrians, the blind and others to their presence when the hybrid is operating at low speeds in all-electric mode . The hybrid includes one electric motor and two clutches to allow

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4160-427: The chairman of the marque, Andy Palmer, resigned to join Aston Martin in September 2014. In January 2018, chief executive Hiroto Saikawa announced that the Infiniti brand would be transformed into an electric brand, with all new vehicles either being hybrid or all-electric by 2021. In 2019, Infiniti announced that the brand would be leaving the Western European market. This is due to a combination of poor sales and

4240-418: The direction of Carlos Ghosn and the Nissan Revival Plan . Car and Driver reported that Infiniti executives invited members of the motoring press to a meeting where they "swore never again to take their eyes off BMW ." Although this effort began with a completely redesigned Q45 flagship for the 2002 model year in early 2001, it was the G35 that helped improve Infiniti sales by 2003. In Japan, Nissan had

4320-474: The discontinuation was Nissan's plans to withdraw the Infiniti brand from the Australian , New Zealand , South Korean , Hong Kong , Macau , Vietnamese , Indonesian , Malaysian , and West European markets by the end of 2020, with Nissan already withdrawing the Infiniti brand from the South African market in 2017 due to losses and poor sales. Nissan has no plans of abandoning sedans entirely and plans on possibly introducing an Infiniti EV vehicle in 2021 for

4400-427: The full-sized "luxury" segment against the Mercedes S-Class , BMW 7 Series , Jaguar XJ and Cadillac Fleetwood . A second model was introduced in November 1989, the two-door M30 , a badge engineered Nissan Leopard . It remained in production for three years as an alternative to the Lexus SC . The powertrain was the VG30E 162 hp (121 kW; 164 PS) engine and an automatic transmission. The M30 coupe

4480-399: The interiors with wood accents and chrome brightwork, opting instead for a monochrome , organic and rounded surface appearance, focusing on padded leather and vinyl throughout. Some buyers had faux wood appliques added to areas surrounding the center console and around the interior door handles. The only item that had a bright appearance was the centrally installed analog clock in all models,

4560-415: The last Q45 at 5,069 mm (199.6 in), the M offered greater interior space, performance, a rear multilink suspension and front double wishbone , and improved ergonomics as well as a 30 mm (1.2 in) longer wheelbase. The automotive press the Y50 Infiniti M several praised the M35 and M45's driving involvement and handling dynamics vs the GS and E-Class while having superior ergonomics to

4640-563: The rear wheels simultaneously. The lithium-ion battery pack was first displayed in the Essence concept car. At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show , Infiniti launched a new powertrain for Europe, with the new V9X Engine developed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance . The new engine is used in the Infiniti FX , Infiniti EX , and the new Infiniti M . The new Infiniti M made its European debut at the show. In August 2010 Infiniti unveiled its new performance division named Infiniti Performance Line , or IPL. Soon thereafter in 2011, Infiniti chose to sponsor

4720-440: The redesigned 1990 Mercedes-Benz SL , although the SL used a hydraulic system. Unlike the coupe, the M30 convertible use manual climate controls, and a Bose Active Sound audio system. The convertible top used a plastic rear window; as a result the rear window defroster feature used on the coupe was removed, and buttons to raise and lower the convertible top were put in place of the rear window defroster switch. The convertible model

4800-412: The road surface ahead of the vehicle and instantly changed damping based on varying road surfaces, using individual actuators on all shock absorbers. A center console-mounted switch allowed drivers to choose between Comfort (soft) and Sport (firm) suspension modes. All M30s used McPherson struts for the front wheels, and a semi-trailing arm rear suspension with coil springs for the rear. Infiniti M45

4880-479: The role as head of public relations for Infiniti EMEA. Known to many in the media , Simone had previously worked for Pirelli and Ferrari . With its QX60 crossover (formerly known as JX35) Infiniti began to produce vehicles outside Japan. In 2014, it started producing two models in Xiangyang , China, a plant operated by Nissan's joint venture with Dongfeng Motor . At the same time, Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK expanded in Sunderland , England , to produce

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4960-454: The run and certify the record. The official claimed 0–100 km/h (62 mph) time for the Infiniti M35h is 5.5 seconds. In 2010, at the Geneva Motor Show , the Infiniti M was introduced with a diesel engine for the first time. It was sold across Europe starting in September 2010. The V9X diesel engine produces 240 hp (179 kW) and 406 lb⋅ft (550 N⋅m) of torque at 2,500 rpm. In western Europe, this V6 performance diesel

5040-634: The sales volume. In 2011, Infiniti sales fell, while other import luxury vehicles were doing well. Furthermore, Infiniti's performance over practicality emphasis has resulted in its crossovers and SUVs faring poorly among women compared to offerings from Acura and Lexus. Nissan announced the return of front-wheel drive to the Infiniti lineup on August 30, 2011, with the release of the Infiniti JX . It joins Toyota 's Lexus brand in terms of blending front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles again; since its inception in 1989, Lexus has had front-wheel drive platforms underpinning entry-level vehicles like

5120-429: The team after the 2015 season. The establishment of Renault F1 Team in 2016 by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance provided Infiniti with the opportunity to evolve its involvement in Formula One, collaborating on three main projects. Infiniti contributes engineering resources to Renault F1 Team for the co-development of the Power Unit's Energy Recovery System (ERS), including relocating several of their specialists to

5200-410: The top spot from the 2005 Lexus LS 430 . The Infiniti M did not gain a significant share in the mid-luxury market. The Infiniti G 37 sedan and coupe, competing in the entry-level luxury sport category, accounted for half of the marque's sales as of 2009. Out of that year's 81000 Infiniti cars sold, only 10000 were of the M nameplate. Furthermore, the 2009 update left M35 and M45 in awkward positions of

5280-560: The transmission gear lever and between the heated and ventilated front seat controls, providing four selections labeled "Standard", "Sport", "Eco", and "Snow", allowing the 7-speed transmission, engine and various systems to optimize driving in varying conditions. To minimize intrusion of exhaust noise in the passenger compartment, the M included a noise cancelling system marketed as Active Noise Control . Double-piston shock absorbers, developed by Kayaba Industry Company, have replaced those previously supplied by Hitachi . The 5.6L V8 VK56VD in

5360-407: The uncertain Brexit outcome. Furthermore, Infiniti was lacking brand equity and remained a niche player in the premium car market dominated by the longtime three German luxury marques (Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz). Infiniti stated its intent to focus on the Chinese (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), Middle East, and North American markets instead, where most of the brand's sales come from. Subsequently,

5440-482: The vehicle to the correct lane. The third generation Infiniti M models were given a "Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) by earning a "Good" score for all four IIHS crash tests while also featuring standard stability control to help avoid accidents altogether. The Infiniti M Hybrid, sold as the Nissan Fuga Hybrid in Japan where it was the top performance trim, introduced Nissan's first in-house developed electric hybrid technology, and

5520-536: Was added that would light the driver's and passenger's door keyhole and the interior dome light upon pulling the outer door handle. Selective door lock logic was added that allowed unlocking of the passenger door from the driver's keyhole by turning the key twice. A convertible was introduced for the 1991 model year. All convertibles originated as coupe models, and were shipped to California and converted by American Sunroof Corporation (ASC). The electric canvas top featured fully automatic push-button operation, similar to

5600-477: Was based on the all new second generation JDM Nissan President on a five millimeter shorter wheelbase platform at 2,875 mm (113.2 in). Starting with model year 1992, the wheelbase matched the President's wheelbase at 2880 mm (113.4 in). The Q45 included a 278 hp (207 kW; 282 PS) V8 engine, four wheel steering , and active suspension system offered on the first generation Q45t. The car's features would have made it competitive in

5680-414: Was designed in 2000 at the Nissan Technical Center (NTC) in Atsugi, Japan; was manufactured in Tochigi, Japan; and is based on eleventh generation, Y34-series Nissan Gloria . In contrast to the Japanese models, which were available only with 6-cylinder engines, the M45 was powered by Nissan's VK45DE V8 , producing 340 hp (254 kW) and 333 lb⋅ft (451 N⋅m) of torque , which it shared with

5760-617: Was discontinued after the 1992 model year following a production run of approximately 17,000 cars. It was replaced in the Infiniti lineup by the J30 sedan, which was based on the F31 Nissan Leopard's successor, the Nissan Leopard J. Ferie (chassis code Y32). Power came from Nissan's VG30E V6, which produced 162 hp (121 kW; 164 PS) at 6000 rpm, and 180 lb⋅ft (244 N⋅m) of torque at 3500 rpm. All M30s had

5840-627: Was from the 222 hp (166 kW; 225 PS) 300ZX , the JDM Nissan Cedric , Nissan Gloria and the Nissan Cima , and was the North American version of the third generation JDM Nissan Leopard . Infiniti sales were slow. The company's initial campaign aimed to bring about brand awareness with Zen -influenced spots that focused on nature and tranquility, without showing the actual cars. Designers decided not to adorn

5920-496: Was never officially sold in Japan, and was exclusive to the US market, although convertibles have been imported to Japan in the last few years by collectors. All 1992 models gained the addition of a central locking switch next to the Sonar Suspension II selector, and the intake plenum cover was revised and displayed the Infiniti logo, rather than the Nissan logo and the "V6 3000" script on 1990 and 1991 cars. The M30

6000-514: Was not as popular new as its main competition, the similarly priced Acura Integra . In late 1996, Infiniti released the QX4 , modifying and adding premium accommodations to the Nissan Pathfinder , becoming one of the first luxury car manufacturers to offer a mid-size premium SUV. Infiniti replaced the J30 mid-sized rear drive sedan with the second-generation JDM Nissan Cefiro , giving it

6080-610: Was offered as a high performance option in lieu of the M56 V8. The M30d was not sold in the US or Canada. In 2019, Nissan confirmed that the Infiniti Q70, Q70L, Q30, and QX30 models will be discontinued after the 2019 model year due to poor sales as buyers in the United States , Canada , and Mexico preferred crossovers and SUVs instead of sedans , hatchbacks , wagons , convertibles , and coupes . Another reason for

6160-674: Was originally designed for the Japanese market; when the Leopard was imported to the United States, few changes were made to the exterior but the interior was revised to better suit American tastes; a leather interior was standard in the M30, and several features in the Leopard such as a center-mounted television screen and a digital instrument cluster weren't available in the M30 as those features were perceived as gimmicks in western car markets. The M30's angular design aesthetics and on-road performance were viewed as outdated, especially considering

6240-502: Was quietly wrapped after the 2002 season after a few wins. In 2011, Infiniti began sponsoring Formula One team Red Bull Racing , which was chosen due to the team's already existing collaboration with the Renault-Nissan Alliance, with Renault supplying engines to Red Bull Racing. In 2011, Infiniti signed Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel as its first global ambassador. Infiniti ended its sponsorship of

6320-608: Was the short-lived M45 sedan, a rebadged version of the Japanese-spec Nissan Gloria . The next generations, the M35/45 and M37/56/35h/30d, became the flagship of the Infiniti brand and are based on the JDM Nissan Fuga . The Infiniti M30 was a 2-door coupé based on the Japanese market Nissan Leopard (chassis code F31). It was launched in 1989 for the 1990 model year as a lower-priced alternative to

6400-400: Was underpowered for its stock weight of 3,333 lb (1,512 kg). The M30 convertible weighed even more, due to the required body and chassis reinforcements. The appearance of the M30 had almost no resemblance to the larger Q45, and the interior was almost completely different. Infiniti did not offer a mid-luxury sedan to match the first Japanese luxury sedan introduced to North America,

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