INFINITI STEPS UP ITS GAME
IN LUXURY PERFORMANCE MARKET

By Paul Borden, June 2010

Traditionally, Mercedes-Benz and BMW have ruled the luxury performance sedan market with their AMG and M series, respectively.

But recently, they have been getting company.

Among others, Cadillac with “V” versions of its CTS and DTS models, Jaguar with its supercharged XF and XJ, and Porsche with its Panamera are becoming more prominent players in the segment.

And now Nissan is stepping in with the Infiniti M56S.

New for the 2011 model year and on sale now, the M56S is an immediate contender in the game, rivaling the best any of the European set has put out in punch, power, and poshness.

It marks a big step forward from generation M models, which were plush enough but definitely a rung below their Teutonic brethren when it came to performance.

With a 5.6-liter V8 boosting horsepower and torque to 420 hp and 417 lb.-feet, the new M56S enjoys an increase of 95 and 81, respectively, over the vehicle in the lineup it replaces, the M45. Yet fuel economy numbers are actually better than the previous generation’s model (16/25 mpg for 2011 over 16/21 for 2010). More on that later.

All that power gets to the rear wheels (it’s also available in all-wheel drive) via a seven-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth transition both up and down the gear range.

You may also select gears manually via paddle shifters that are mounted on the steering column, not the steering wheel as on most models. That takes a bit of getting used to as the paddles don’t rotate as you turn the wheel. But they are extra long and easily reachable with your fingertips, unless, of course, you have hands the size of the guy in the Burger King commercial.

In addition to selecting gears, you also may choose from one of four driving modes simply by turning a knob on the console. In addition to standard, which applies to most conditions, there are sport, eco, and snow modes.

My driving being conducted mostly in South Florida, I can’t tell you a lot about snow mode. But sport adds a big “wow” factor in throttle response and transmission shifts, and eco mode really does cut back the performance. In fact, the difference is more noticeable than I have ever detected on any other model. The M56S goes from tiger to pussycat with one simple turn.

Does it make a difference?

Apparently so.

Company engineers estimate the increase in fuel economy in switching to eco mode (you can do so on the fly, by the way) to be a 5-10 percent improvement over standard or sport. Furthermore, the “eco pedal” lets you know when you are driving in the most fuel efficient manner via a small light in the instrument panel (green is good, yellow is not).

Using eco mode for long turnpike and interstate hauls makes sense, but if you drive too much in eco mode, you’ll miss out on the fun and overall driving experience the M56S offers. If fuel economy is your big thing, you might be better off looking at the M37, the six-cylinder version of the lineup.

The overall effect of all that power under the hood, the transmission, and the different driving modes make the M56S a delight to drive. With the exception of when it is in eco mode, the response when you hit the gas pedal is more attune to what out would expect out of Infiniti’s G series than you would from the company’s flagship sedan. The M56S is a big car, nearly 195 inches long and weighing in at more than two tons, but it doesn’t drive or handle like one.

But the M56S is more than just about performance.

Inside, you’ll find an attractive, roomy, comfortable cabin with more judicious use of contrasting Japanese Ash wood accents adding a distinctive touch. The backseat can be a big snug if the front is all the way back, but it is far from cramped. There are also handles above each door to make it easier to get out.

The center stack does have a lot of buttons and knobs, but basic controls are pretty intuitive to operate. Don’t let the knob under the clock on the center stack mislead you. This isn’t BMW’s notorious iDrive. In fact, about the only thing I really used it for in a week was to change the scale on the navigation screen. About everything you use the knob for can also be accomplished by pushing other buttons.

All kinds of technology is available on the M56, some standard, some in optional packages. Among standard features are traction control, active noise control, cruise control, Bluetooth, Intelligent key with push-button starter, navigation with XM NavTraffic and Weather (offered in a package on the M37), power seats, a bunch of air bags and more.

Features offered in optional packages include Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent cruise control (which adapts to speeds of vehicles in front of you), Intelligent brake assist with Forward Collision Control, and a new “Forest Air” system that goes into operation when a foul odor (hello, skunk) is detected outside, shutting off the vents until the area is passed. Alas. I don’t think it works when the odors originate inside.

About the only thing missed is an automatic closer for the trunk. You have to pull down on the trunk lid yourself. (Oh, the humanity!) OK. Before you get on me for being wimpy, consider the times when you are unloading your car, your hands are full of packages, and all you have to do is reach up and press a button to close it as opposed to having to pull down on the lid. Now is that such a bad idea? I thought not. The size of the trunk, by the way, is about average -- slightly under 15 cubic feet.

All this is offered in a package that goes starts at $57,550 for rear-wheel-drive models and $60,050 for those with AWD. (The M37 models are $46,250 with RWD, $48,400 AWD.) Packages and other accessories can add up to $3,650 or more to the final cost.

Even so, those numbers make the M56S price-competitive as well in the segment. It’s a beast that offers a big bang for the buck.