2006 Infiniti M45
New Platform, New Life: Remember the M45? Not many do. But plenty will know the new one.
MARK VAUGHN
Published Date: 5/3/04
When the Infiniti M45 debuted, it looked good on paper. A shorter version of the big Q45, it was lighter, yet powered by the same V8. As our subsequent testing proved, the M45 was indeed quicker, faster and more agile than the Q. And at $10,000 less, it should have sold like gangbusters, or at least like hot cakes.

But it didn't, unless you consider 4755 sales per year gangbusters. People couldn't get over the slab-sided appearance of the last M. And how much marketing push was there behind it, anyway? Name one single M45 ad, go ahead, just one. That's what we thought.

Now the new M45, due out in a year, is transferred from the mighty Q to the next evolution of the FM platform, the same underpinnings that, in slightly different configuration, ride under the mighty Z car. The new M45 shares an awful lot with another FM platform performer, the very successful, much-loved Infiniti G35, for which there are still long waiting lists and occasional dealer markups. Technically, the new M45 will ride on the Global Mid-Luxury platform, but you can call it the new FM.

So, can the 2005 M45 do what the present one didn't? It should-just imagine a G35 with a V8. You can even call this one the G45 if you want.


http://www.autoweek.com/article.cms?articleId=100112