Sleek and curvaceous, the 2011 Infiniti M56 is an exciting and luxurious ride. Infiniti has lengthened this year’s models dimensions, increasing the length, height and width overall. Its new powerful engine and flowing redesign are all intact from the 2010 model as well. RoadflyTV and host Ross Rapoport took a good look at the M56 and they were very impressed.

Under the hood, the Infiniti boasts some true and surprising power. The M56 has a 5.6-liter V8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and gets 417 pound-feet of torque. This impressive output lets the M get to 60 mph in a time of roughly 4.9 seconds. The seven-speed automatic transmission is flawless, shifting gears with a fluid ease, making great use out of all 420 horses.

Inside, the Infiniti shines. The dash and interior materials are made from Japanese ash wood, giving a the M56 a unique and timeless aesthetic. Comfortableness and luxury are not a problem here.

Altogether the Infiniti M56, sold as the Nissan Fuga in Japan, is a seductive competitor to such European hallmarks as the BMW 5-Series or the Mercedes-Benz E550 and is hot on their heels in terms of desirability and driving enthusiasm. Drivers seeking a classy and distinguished alternative to the European market would do well to take a close look at the M56.

Host: Ross Rapoport

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Join host Jessi Lang as she reviews the 2010 Infiniti EX35 Journey AWD.  Though not your rough and tumble SUV, the AWD EX35 will be more than enough of a sport utility vehicle for the driver seeking stability/confidence in bad road conditions paired to luxury, style, and sport performance.  Watch the Infiniti EX35 review video for more on the key features of the vehicle and more importantly, how it stacks up against some of its competitors in the crossover SUV segment.

With acceleration and power fit for a sports sedan, the Infiniti EX35 is car-like in its nimble driving and handling.  Powering the EX35 is a 3.5 liter V6 engine that produces 297 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque.  The front design is reminiscent of its G37 sibling while the rear tends more towards its larger FX family member.  However, with the small crossover styling, the EX35 compromises its interior and cargo space for its tight compact packaging.

The EX35 comes with two great optional packages, the Premium package and Technology package. With the Premium and Technology  packages, Infiniti offers a bevy of creature comforts from memory seating position synchronization, 8-way powered front seats, navigation, lane departure warning, intelligent cruise control, distance control assist, and a 360 degree around view mounted camera system for parking.

Pricing for the 2010 Infiniti EX35 is the same as the previous year starting at $37,400.  As-tested with all of the packages will put the price-tag at $42,945.

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We hope you had a chance to make it out to the 2010 LA Auto Show, but if not, we still have a few more newsworthy videos coming your way.  Infiniti claims their M Hybrid will “challenge you to re-think everything you know about performance luxury hybrids” and after seeing some of the specs, that statement may be true.  The M35h will be the first of its type to deliver V8 power with 4-cylinder efficiency and is currently the only car in America with more than 350 horsepower and 30 mpg. 

Infiniti unveiled its first production hybrid performance luxury sedan, the 2012 Infiniti M35h, at the 2010 LA Auto Show. Available in the spring of 2011, the M Hybrid stands to break new ground as the first true luxury performance “driver’s” hybrid — and the only vehicle to offer more than 350 horsepower and 30 miles per gallon (estimated) fuel economy.

The Infiniti M35h features the all-new Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid™ system, an advanced one-motor, two-clutch parallel hybrid design that combines precise, high-speed motor control technology, which, enabled by the powerful Lithium-ion battery, allows power to be delivered directly to the vehicle’s 7-speed automatic transmission. The system also utilizes an innovative Hybrid Electric Power Steering system and Electric Driven Intelligent Brake regenerative braking system, both which help conserve energy and provide a natural, enjoyable driving feel. 

The Infiniti M Hybrid’s exhilarating driving performance also greatly benefits from use of Infiniti’s proven 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine, which paired with the 50 kW electric motor, provides a hybrid system net power of 360 horsepower. 

Torque figures are equally impressive, with the V6′s 258 lb-ft of toque combining with the electric motor’s immediately available 199 lb-ft of torque to provide strong performance. The result is a vehicle that first and foremost delivers a refined driving experience, along with expected best-in-class Combined fuel economy (estimated fuel economy 30 mpg Highway, 25 mpg City and 27 mpg Combined).

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Host Jessi Lang thinks the 2010 Infiniti G37 S Convertible is one of the most well-rounded luxury sports car on the market and after watching her convincing arguments, you’ll be hard-pressed to disagree. With an attractive design, stiff handling, and packing a punch, the G37S Convertible is quite the package.

Infiniti is pitting the G37 S Convertible against manufacturers known for their performance and luxury, the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, and it holds it own. The G37 Convertible is unique as it was designed as a convertible, not by Infiniti forcing the G37 Coupe into a convertible model.

Under the hood, the G37S Convertible is powered by a 3.7L V6 engine that produces 325 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque. You have the choice of a seven-speed automatic with features like rev matching or a tightly-geared six-speed manual. The fuel economy numbers with the V6 are not anything impressive but aren’t surprising with the performance, averaging 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

On the interior, Infiniti has done an impeccable design job. The cockpit is driver-oriented with a one-piece steering wheel and gauge setup that moves as a unit, making the gauges visible to the driver at any position. The standard audio offering with six speakers, six CD changer, mp3 playback ability, radio data system, and optional satellite radio will be enough for most buyers but for those who plan on driving with the top down a lot and still want to hear their music should opt for the optional open air Bose sound system with 13-speakers and microphones that optimize EQ settings for open and closed topped driving.

If you’re not looking to load up on options but you want the performance, comfort, and luxury, the price is right, starting at $46,950. However, if you want to stock up on goodies and upgrades, the price will break $50k like our tester that came in at $50,035.

If you want to break from the traditional luxury sport sedan, but still want something that performs and looks great, you should definitely consider the 2011 Infiniti M56S. For 2011, the M56S boasts about a 70 horsepower increase, more sculpted exterior lines, and user-friendly interior updates. In layman’s terms, the ’11 M6 S was re-designed, both inside and out.

Under the hood, the M56S is a beast. It is powered by a 5.6L VVEL direct-injection V8 mated to a 7-speed transmission that produces 420 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 417 lb-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Fuel economy with this paring is surprisingly not atrocious, and on the highway, it could be considered downright good. Expected values are 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

Infiniti also realized that there are many different types of drivers that could be drawn to the M56 and of course, there are always different types of driving conditions. There is a knob that tailors the driving experience to the driver’s desire as well as the road conditions. Choosing between sport, standard, economy, and snow settings changes the mapping for the transmission, engine, and traction. Also, If you and your spouse or family member are sharing the Infiniti M56S, the iKey (“intelligent key”) saves you the frustration of constantly having to re-adjust the seat and mirror settings by remembering specific individual settings for multiple drivers.

The basic M56 starts at a base price of $56,550 but the upgrades for the optional sport package and optional deluxe interior package brought the price up to $64,065.

Infiniti debuted their second-generation QX56 during press days at the 2010 New York International Auto Show. The QX56 boasts a new 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 engine with Infiniti’s VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) and Direct Injection Gasoline (DIGTM) technologies. Also new is a standard 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching, replacing the previous 5-speed automatic.

With the new engine, the QX56 packs quite a punch. The ’11 QX delivers 25% more horsepower and 10% better fuel economy while maintaining a high towing capacity, rated at 8,500 pounds for both 2WD and 4WD models. The last noteworthy technology to mention is the new Blind Spot Warning (BSW) system that is now available. It illuminates an indicator light if another vehicle is detected in the blind spot area. Then, if the driver activates the turn signal, the indicator flashes and an audible warning sounds.

One thing remains the same about the second-gen QX56: the price tag. The cost of the 2011 QX56 will keep the same pricing as the 2010 QX, starting at $56,700 for the 2WD model or $59,800 for the 4WD model.

Join us as we test the all-new, second-generation, 2009 Infiniti FX on the mountain roads outside of San Diego, CA. We tested the 2009 FX50 Sport with the new 5.0L V8 that produces 390 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 369 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. Don’t need that much power? Then the 2009 FX35 is the model for you, with the new 3.5L V6 engine that still produces a respectable 303 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Both models will be available with AWD while the FX35 will also offer RWD. Even with the large engine, the FX50S gets surprisingly good fuel economy for a SUV, averaging 14 mpg in the stop-and-go traffic of the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Car Review Video of the 2009 Infiniti FX50S

The designers of the 2009 Infiniti FX have made several subtle changes, some visible and others hidden. Expanding upon Infiniti’s FM platform that was specifically designed and configured for use in the FX, the wheelbase is now longer for a sportier feel. The front end has added a wave design to the dark chrome grille and functional side gills. Scratch Shield paint with the self-healing clearcoat finish protects the eight available exterior colors from those unavoidable door dings and scratches. On the interior, Infiniti made sure to improve their navigation system, which is now also controllable via touch-screen.

Photos of the 2009 Infiniti FX35

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The interior of the FX is sticking with the trend of mixing the sports car feeling into SUV design. The automatic driving position system coordinates the steering wheel and mirror position as the seat is adjusted. The seating position is lower than expected in a SUV and the steering wheel is smaller than those found in most SUVs, the size and responsiveness more like something you’d expect in a sports car. The front seats have stitching patterns that are both elegant and sporty, complimented by details like the maple door insets that complete the SUV’s luxurious and expensive feel. While there isn’t much room in the backseat for those over 6 feet tall, the low step-in height of the SUV makes ingress and egress easy for all sizes. Even with the sporty feel and luxurious features, the FX is still a SUV with a cargo space that can supposedly can fit up to five golf bags before the using the 60/40 rear seat split for additional storage.

For more on the FX50S’ 7-Speed transmission with the Rev Matching feature or the other new technologies like Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) and Distance Control Assist (DCA) that weren’t touched on here, watch our 2009 Infinti FX car review video. But, if you feel the need to run out to the nearest dealer immediately, expect to pay around $56,000-$57,000 for the FX50S basics and somewhere between $62,000-$63,000 if you want all of the goodies.

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