Infiniti EX35 is all-wheel drive hatchback priced between the G35 and M. Based on Car & Driver’s test of the Infiniti EX35, it outperforms its competitors. 0-60 mph time l is 5.8 – 6.2 seconds, slower than the BMW 335i’s 5.3 seconds. The quarter mile is 14.6 seconds at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h), and top speed is 144 mph (232 km/h). 70 mph (110 km/h) – 0 braking is a short 166 feet (51 m), shorter than the Pontiac G8 GT (a sports sedan). The nameplate EX35 refers to the engine found under its hood; the fourth-generation dual overhead cam 297 hp 253 lb-ft torque 3.5-liter 24-valve V6 VQ35HR gasoline engine, with aluminum-alloy block and heads, ladder frame construction, variable exhaust cam timing (eCVTCS), asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors, electronically controlled “drive-by-wire” throttle system, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, and low-friction molybdenum-coated pistons that takes use of the Continuous variable valve timing.
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Infiniti FX is a mid-size luxury Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (CUV). In creating the Infiniti FX, its designers sought what they called a cool fusion – the blending of a substantial, SUV lower body with the sleek, elegant upper body more reminiscent of a classic sports car or sports GT. The redesigned 2009 Infiniti FX was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4, 2008. The new Infiniti FX will be offered as the Infiniti FX35 and Infiniti FX50. The Infiniti FX35 will be powered by the same 3.5 liter VQ-series V6 engine used in the G35 Sedan and will deliver an output of 303 hp (231 kW). The Infiniti FX50 will be powered by an all-new 5.0 liter V8 engine with an output of 390 hp (291 kW) and 369 lb•ft (500 N•m) torque. Exterior styling retains some of the current Bionic Cheetah look, while incorporating new cues exclusive to the Infiniti brand. The interior has been completely redesigned to bring the Infiniti FX up to the level of luxury currently found inside of the Infiniti EX35 Crossover.
The Infiniti Q45 is a full-size luxury car that served as the flagship of Nissan’s Infiniti marque until 2006. It is a rear wheel drive luxury sedan powered by a V8 engine. The Q45 was completely redesigned for 2002, now based on the new platform shared by both the Cima and the President. ThisInfiniti Q45 focused on performance again with a new 340 hp (253 kW) 4.5 L VK45DE V8 engine, gatling gun inspired HID headlights, and sharper styling. The car featured a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. Despite good reviews, sales remained poor – just 1129 were sold in the United States for all of 2005. The following features were standard in the Infiniti Q45: all-leather interior, power sunroof, 8-way power front seats, remote keyless entry, rain-detecting wipers and side curtain airbags. Standard electronics include: CD, 8 Bose speakers, trip computer, rear camera parking sensors and a voice-activated navigation system. The 2002 Infiniti Q45 was the first vehicle to ever offer voice-activated navigation controls. The car seated five and had a base price of US$56,200.
The M30, M45, and M35 are mid-size luxury cars from Nissan’s Infiniti marque. The M35x has also won Consumer Reports top luxury car pick, taking the spot after the 2005 Lexus LS 430. Around 2011, Infiniti is expected to release an all new M, the M37 (3.7 liter 24 valve V-6, 330 hp) and the M50 (5.0 liter 32 valve V-8, 390 hp (291 kW), 369 lb·ft (500 N·m) torque). The M is expected to take a design closer to that of the new G35 Sedan and G37 Coupe.
The 2003 M45 was based on the Y34-series Nissan Gloria/Nissan Cedric, with styling similar to the Gloria, and replaced the I30/I35 as Infiniti’s mid-size car. The engine is Nissan’s 340 hp (254 kW) VK45DE V8 which produces 333 lb·ft (451 N·m) of torque. The rather Japanese squared-off styling did not make much of a splash on the US market, and the M45 sold poorly. Infiniti released a completely redesigned M for the 2006 model year to compete directly in the mid-size sport luxury class, against such class stalwarts as the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It uses a much more rigid version of the G35/350Z/FX Nissan FM platform and is available with the common VQ-series 280 hp (208 kW) 3.5 L V6 in the M35, or the Q45’s 335 hp (249 kW) 4.5 L V8 in the M45. In Japan the M is known as the Nissan Fuga.
The Infiniti M30 (chassis code F31) was a 2-door luxury GT coupe. The M30 had no factory options, but dealers offered the addition of a cellular phone and a CD player/changer. The sole engine was the VG30E, a 3.0 L SOHC V6 that produced 162 hp (121 kW) and 180 ft·lbf (244 N·m) of torque, also used by many previous Nissan models such as the Maxima and 300ZX. Like the 300ZX, the M30 was a front-engined and rear-wheel drive vehicle. The transmission was the RE4R01A, a four-speed automatic with electronic overdrive. There was no manual transmission option. The differential was a Nissan R200-type open differential. It is generally regarded among M30 enthusiasts that the change of powertrain, weak suspension and the lack of options in these categories was a serious mistake on Infiniti’s part, and perhaps to blame for the lackluster sales. The M30 (coupe)has a stock weight of 3333 lb (1540 kg), yet only 162 hp (121 kW), creating an inadequate power to weight ratio for the intended image of a sport coupe. Unsurprisingly, the M30 convertible weighed even more, due to massive amounts of body and chassis reinforcements. In addition, sports cars normally come with a manual transmission standard and have the option of an automatic. Instead, Infiniti didn’t even give potential buyers the choice, as all M30s had the four-speed automatic.
The Infiniti J30 was a rear wheel drive luxury car. The J30 went into production on April 7, 1992 as a 1993 model to replace the M30, and was launched in the United States at the same time as its competitor, the Lexus GS. The car was designed to slot between the smaller G20 and the larger Q45, as Infiniti’s first mid-size sedan. Also, it was fairly small but featured rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded near-luxury market. Unlike earlier Infinitis, the J30 received effective advertisement with jazz music and artistic camera shots. Power came from a 3.0 L VG30DE V6 which produced 210 hp and 192 lb·ft (260 N·m) of torque. While it shares the Y32 Chassis with the Nissan Cedric/Gloria, it was essentially a rebadged version of the Japan-market Nissan Leopard, where it was offered with both the VG30DE and VH41DE V8.
The Infiniti I30 and I35 were mid-size luxury cars sold under Nissan’s Infiniti marque in North American markets. The I30 was redesigned for 2000 along with the Maxima. Engine power was up to 227 hp (169 kW) but the manual transmission was no longer offered. In late 2001 the model or last got its most significant host of upgrades, including minor revisions to the interior, new optional equipment, larger brakes, a re-tuned suspension system, and standard stability control. The car was renamed I35 to reflect an engine-displacement increase from 3.0 to 3.5 L. Nissan’s VQ35DE V6 produced 255 hp (190 kW). Styling was also updated. Infiniti wanted to convince buyers that the new suspension tuning, enlarged brakes, stability control and 255 horsepower engine had transformed the I into more of a sports sedan and less of sedate entry-level model, but was largely unsuccessful. The model was only available with a 4-speed automatic transmission and front wheel drive, meaning that the ES300 and Acura’s pre-existing second generation 3.2TL remained its closest competitors, with models like the BMW 5-Series remaining out of its league.
The first generation Infiniti G35 (V35) was introduced to North America for the 2003 model year, as a replacement for the Infiniti G20. The G35 is based on the Nissan FM platform shared with the Nissan 350Z sports car and Infiniti FX crossover SUV. The Infiniti G35 was Motor Trend’s Car of the Year for 2003 and has been well-received by both the media and customers as a viable alternative to more expensive luxury cars. The Infiniti G35 was also nominated for the North American Car of the Year award that year and was on Car and Driver magazine’s Ten Best list for 2003 and 2004. Sporting the ubiquitous (and esteemed) VQ35DE engine, the Infiniti G35 uses a front-midship engine, rear-wheel drive layout (all-wheel drive is available for the G35x sedan) to achieve a 52% front/48% rear weight distribution. Both body styles are available with either a 5-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission, although the automatic is the only transmission available for the AWD sedan. A 6-speed manual transmission became available in 2003 as a 2003 model on the sedan (the coupe always had the option). For the 2003-04 model years, the V6 produced 195 kW (260 hp) and 350 Nm (260 ft·lbf) of torque in the sedan, 210 kW (280 hp) and 365 Nm (270 ft·lbf) in the coupe. However, owners of various G35 enthusiast groups have shown that the engine in the sedan produces nearly the same amount of power as the coupe. In the 2005 and 2006 model years, those with automatic transmissions (both sedan and coupe) produced 210 kW (280 hp) and 365 Nm (270 ft·lbf) of torque, while those with manual transmissions produced 222 kW (298 hp) and 350 Nm (260 ft·lbf) of torque (again, both in sedan and coupe form). There is speculation that the output did not actually change, and that Infiniti was simply taking advantage of the outdated SAE standard of rating horsepower. The Infiniti G35 is assembled in Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan, and the first Infiniti G35 was built on March 12, 2002 as a 2003 model.
The G20 was Infiniti’s entry-level luxury car in the United States during most of the 1990s and into the 2000s. It was virtually identical to the Japanese/European market Nissan Primera sedan, although the G20 offered higher levels of standard equipment. It was launched in 1991 to compete with the Acura Integra, BMW 3-Series, Lexus ES 250 and Volvo 200 series; later advertisements emphasized its European heritage with the tag line “Born in Japan. Educated in Europe. Now Available in America.” However, despite the lofty ambitions of the Nissan marketing department, it only achieved niche status as a competitor to other contemporary offerings. Two generations of the G20 exist in the United States, the HP10 (P10), built from 1991 to 1996, and the HP11 (P11), built from 1999 to 2002. Most G20s were front-wheel drive but some were all wheel drive. The G20 was powered by a transversely mounted DOHC NA reciprocating internal combustion engine, the SR20DE, a 2.0 liter (1998 cc) square (Bore × Stroke: 86.0 × 86.0 mm) Inline 4-cylinder. This engine was also shared with the US-spec Nissan Sentra/Nissan 200SX SE-R, Nissan NX2000, and a host of non-US Nissan vehicles. The particular engine used in the G20 produced 140 crank horsepower at first, and 145 in ‘00+ editions (116 to 126 whp; stock range) and 132 lb·ft (179 N·m) or 136 lb·ft (184 N·m) torque (111 to 120 wft·lbf; stock range). These engines were also fairly high-revving with a redline of 7450 rpm for 1991 through 1996 editions, 6950 rpm for the 1999 edition, and 6750 rpm for 2000+ editions. Like other SR-powered cars, the G20 has become extremely popular among “tuners” who like the engine for its flexibility, reliability, fuel economy and high power-handling capabilities. These factors combined with a low buy-in cost have caused used SR-powered Sentras, 200SXs and G20s to become popular and prominent in the tuner or “import scene” subculture.
