Â
Infiniti’s likable mid-sizer adds a V-8 AWD variant and gets a slight restyle. |
||
| Â | ||
| BY STEVE SILER, | August 2007 | |
| Â | ||
Picture this: You’re milling about the 2007 Pebble Beach Concourse d’Élégance, and a brand-new car sits among the old: the 2008 Infiniti M. Spokesmen jump up and down—calmly, ahem—explaining that it’s new, but you hardly notice any changes from the M you have seen for the past two years on the road. But since you are fond enough of the ’07 M35/M45, you take a closer look.Â
On the outside, there are restyled 18- and 19-inch wheels and a new front bumper. You nod in approval toward the improved rear end, which dons a new, sculpted rear bumper, quad exhaust tips, and streamlined taillamp graphics. Inside, the wood elements have been moved around a bit, and there is a new optional feature or two for techies, including a 9.3-gig hard-disk infotainment system. New M45 AWD (M45x)But no, don’t move on to the Delahayes just yet, they say. The biggest news for the ’08 M involves stuff you can’t see, and you’re led toward an M45. This one has all-wheel drive, you’re told. Previously, all-wheel drive was offered only on the M35x, but now Infiniti has found a way for it to cope with the bigger motor, rendering the M45x better able to compete with such vehicles as the Audi A6 4.2 and Volvo S80 V-8, particularly in the Snowbelt. Now that’s worth a sip of champagne right there. |
||
Â