Review: 2011 Infiniti M37

Not too long ago, the Infiniti M was the lesser sibling to the flagship Q. It was the middle child. During the 2006 model year, when the Q was less than a year from being dropped from the lineup, Infiniti gave the M a strong shove in the back in the form of a 4.5-liter V8 and quietly told it to climb up on the soon-to-be-vacant throne. With the Q gone and unlikely to return anytime soon, the Infiniti M is now tasked with being the automaker’s flagship sedan.

Completely redesigned for the 2011 model year, the Infiniti M is bigger and better than its predecessors ever were, but it still can’t fill the Q’s empty shoes. Shorted the substance and stature to battle the Lexus LS, the newest Japanese luxury sedan is relegated to fighting wars with the aged Lexus GS and Acura RL. But those two are the easy enemies. BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac are the ones fielding today’s worthy adversaries.

Consumer Reports still loves redesigned Infiniti M37, likes Hyundai Genesis 4.6 a lot

The Infiniti M37, Hyundai Genesis V8 and the BMW 5 Series were tested in the latest issue of Consumer Reports, and the results were fairly predictable. All three vehicles received ratings of “Excellent,” though each vehicle’s road to the top came from a different direction.

The newly redesigned M37 remains CR’s top-rated midsize luxury sedan for its combination of performance, luxury and comfort. CR chief David Champion credits the M for combining “agile handling, a taut yet comfortable ride, and a beautifully-finished interior.” Solid praise, indeed. The BMW 535i’s top rating comes on the heels of a test that revealed the new sedan as quick, luxurious and fuel efficient. Interestingly, CR believes that the new 5 Series has lost some of its trademark agility for 2011.

While the M37 is the top-rated midsize luxury sedan the V8-powered Hyundai Genesis could be the big winner of this test. South Korea’s best nailed the test with the most power of the three vehicles tested and the lowest price tag of the group. We’re not talking a couple thousand bucks, either. The Genesis was $10,000 cheaper than the M and $15,000 less than the BMW. The dark-horse luxury sedan was called spacious and smooth, though the ‘built for comfort’ chassis was called out for being “not that sporty.” Both the M37 and Genesis have been granted the coveted CR “Recommended” label, while the 5 Series doesn’t have enough reliability data available to qualify just yet. Check out the official press release after the jump.

2011 Infiniti EX gets numerous updates, starts at $34,150*

The biggest news for Infiniti’s 2011 model year lineup may be the all-new M sedan, QX56 SUV, G25 sedanand IPL G coupe, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the automaker’s portfolio sails into the new year unchanged. The smaller EX crossover/wagon thingie, for example, gets a host of new updates including a seven-speed automatic transmission, larger wheel choices and more standard technology.

Curiously, Infiniti is still offering the EX with its smaller 3.5-liter V6, even though the majority of its products now use the more powerful 3.7-liter mill. Still, with 297 horsepower on tap, the EX35 should continue to be a surprisingly engaging steer, and with a new seven-speed gearbox in place, fuel efficiency should be improved for 2011, especially in the all-wheel drive models.

From there, all EX models now come standard with 18-inch wheels (a 19-inch set is available with the Deluxe Touring Package), dual-zone automatic climate control and new exterior paint options including Arctic Blue (pictured). Other changes for 2011 include Active Blind Spot Warming being added to the EX’s technology package and a revised premium package that encompasses both the upgraded Bose audio system and around-view camera system.

First Drive: 2011 Infiniti G25

Thanks to years of dedicated work and impressive engineering, Infiniti has earned a reputation for being the “Japanese BMW.” Like the German automaker, Infiniti’s U.S. entries are decidedly more performance oriented, but the brand’s decision to install the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter V6 in its G Sedan had us wondering if things were changing… and not for the better.

Follow the jump to find out if our suspicions have been confirmed.

Infiniti gets in the holiday spirit with two snowball-themed ads

Infiniti is getting into the holiday spirit, and it has two new ads that each revolve around one theme: the snowball. The two ad clips are titled “Mischievous” and “Magical,” and the slushy projectile is used in two very different ways in the ads. “Magical” takes a whimsical approach towards spreading holiday bliss, while “Mischievous” takes aim at a certain German competitor, with an all-wheel-drive Infiniti G sedan playing the role of the snowball’s co-star.

We would love to see more snowy driving action with the G, but at least the spots get us in the right frame of mind for the season. Both ad spots are available for your viewing after the jump.

First Drive: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe

Our waiting Infiniti IPL G Coupe idles curbside. Exiting its enormous Thermos-sized chrome exhaust tips, the invisible waveforms invite a closer listen. The baritone note suggests power, with a cadence that is is lumpy, sounding closer to a V8 with a heavy cam than any V6 we’ve ever heard. A harbinger of things to come, or just an evil audible tease? We had flown to California’s Napa Valley to find out, but first we needed some context.

Infiniti IPL G Convertible Concept to debut in Paris

The first Infiniti Performance Line offering was unveiled at Pebble Beach last month in the form of the IPL G37 Coupe. The 348-horsepower G hardtop wears a factory-designed bodykit and came with engine and chassis tweaks to make things slightly firmer and faster. It goes on sale in December.

This week, its droptop brother will arrive at the Paris Motor Show. Infiniti hasn’t announced power output, but we expect the IPL G Convertible Concept will probably be a shade less muscular than the coupe, as is the case with the non-IPL models. The automaker hasn’t given away any hint of pricing, either, but VP Ben Poore did say “IPL promises unique driving attributes from other Infiniti models, without adding stratospheric prices,” if that’s any consolation. Stay tuned for complete details later in the week.