Infiniti M37X - The Essence of Infiniti

Infiniti M37X - The Essence of Infiniti

Infiniti M37X - The Essence of Infiniti

Still making its rounds at auto shows, the Infiniti Essence concept car defines the brand’s design language for the next generation. Looking like a Japanese Jaguar, the car’s flowing lines, chrome detailing around the windows, and concave sculpting on side panels have become the essence of Infiniti. No current model wears this suit better than the M37x.

Exterior style embraces the new four-door sports car ethos with a long sloping nose, arched roofline, high windowsills, and fastback look. Shoulderlines drape over 18” alloy wheels as they flow from the hood to rear deck. Body surfacing on the front fenders and doors is especially nice. Up front, Infiniti’s big chrome grille and curve-following headlamps project the car’s authority while elegant wrap-around taillamps give another nod to Jaguar. From many angles, the M37 looks like a four-door XK. It is much more adventurous than the previous two generations’ boring Euro sedan profiles.

Interiors embrace the two-tier control stack that became an Infiniti hallmark with the last generation Q45 and was adopted by the rest of the line-up. The buttons have been compared to piano keys, but the idea was to keep all major functions within 8” of the driver. It seems like a mass array of buttons and knobs at first, but become easy to use quickly. Swooping dash and door contours with stitched coverings and real silver-coated woodgrain are unique, looking stellar inside the M37.

The cabin immerses passengers in heated/cooled leather seats, multi-zone climate control, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, power tilt/telescoping steering column, Bluetooth phone connectivity, rear air vents, and Infiniti’s traditional analog clock. Besides a Bose 2-channel, 10-speaker audio system to please your ears, you can play music from your mobile device connected through a USB port or by Bluetooth streaming. When connected, the device’s menus and functions are managed from the car’s array of buttons and in-dash screen. I love the baby Bose speakers in the front seats. Active Noise Control keeps the cabin near absent of unwanted sounds.

Fast-forward technology doesn’t stop there; the M37 has one of the world’s most sophisticated suites of safety equipment. Four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, vehicle stability control, traction control, and side curtain airbags are the simple part. There are enough sensors to land a jetliner. Intelligent Cruise Control automatically slows down for traffic, Blind Spot Warning blips an orange light near the mirror to alert drivers to vehicles, and Blind Spot Intervention can automatically brake wheels to nudge the sedan away from danger. Lane Departure Warning provides resistance and encourages the car back into its lane while Forward Collision Warning alerts the driver when he or she is approaching a vehicle in front too quickly. When the sensors detect scenarios that could lead to imminent collision, they will pre-tighten the seatbelts (apparently, this works when you put the brakes into full-ABS on slick roads). Before long, we’ll have probes in our brains so the car can react when we even think about doing something stupid.

Compared to the list of safety features, the car’s powertrain is easy to understand. You can get an M with a 5.6-litre V8 that generates 420-HP, but do you really need more than the 330-HP base 3.7-litre V6 provides? Even at speeds that will earn quality time with local constables, the M37 is not deterred from galloping away with gusto. The seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode works crisply to deliver up to 50% of power to the front wheels. Driving more responsibly, an Eco mode (gifted from the Nissan Leaf) reduces accelerator sensitivity to save fuel. Still, 17/24-MPG city/hwy. is good for a car like the M37x.

Taking the M37x to travels shouldn’t be missed. It is nimble enough to enjoy corners, but lounges comfortably high-rolling it down the Interstate. I found the steering and suspension to be a good balance between sport and luxury. If you want a pure sport sedan, buy the G37 – it is based on the same vehicle architecture as the M37, but rides on a shorter wheelbase. The M37’s main job is to fill in for the Q45 while keeping the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS, and Jaguar XF in check. If you want a bigger car with more luxury, Infiniti will be happy to sell you the Gigantic-class QX56 SUV.

Infiniti got off to a slow start in 1989, giving Lexus a wide lane to make a name for luxury and renowned build quality. While Lexus touted excellence, Infiniti ads talked about trees and rocks. It didn’t work. Vehicles like the G25/G37, EX35, M37/M56, FX35/FX50, and QX56 prove Infiniti has found its place, and is growing all the time. There is a lot of style and performance in the M37x. If the car is indeed the essence of Infiniti, then the Japanese automaker is flying with beautiful curves. Price as tested came to $59,960.

2011 Infiniti M37x
Five-passenger, AWD Sedan.
Powertrain: 330-HP 3.7-litre V6,
7-spd auto trans.
Suspension f/r: Ind./Ind.
Wheels: 18”/18” f/r.
Brakes: disc/disc fr/rr with ABS.
Must-have features: Style, technology.
Manufacturing: Japan.
Fuel economy: 17/24-MPG city/hwy.
As-tested price: $59,960.