2006 Infiniti M45 Test Drives

Infiniti Transformed

Infiniti turns a nearly invisible car into a sexy, fast machine.

But you probably are aware of its replacement, Nissan Motor's 2006 Infiniti M45. Advertising has been heavy for "the new M," with memorable television spots in which orange lights encircle key cockpit components such as the instrument panel and seat-mounted speakers.

The advertising and the new vehicle, which went on sale earlier this year, seem to be working. In the first six months of 2005, Infiniti sold 9,506 M45s in the U.S. — an 829% increase compared with the 1,023 models the company sold in the first six months of 2004 (the availability of a cheaper M35 model with a V-6 engine, not a V8 as on the M45, has no doubt helped boost sales).

Yes, the new M45 is significantly more expensive, with a base price starting about $3,000 higher  than the previous model's, but it is significantly better.

Much of the improvement is cosmetic. The old M had a middling exterior design that recalled Ford Motor's Crown Victoria sedan. The new model is sharp and seductive, inside and out. Some might not think the new M is a world-beater, but at least it's now in the same ballpark as such all-stars as BMW's 5 Series, which is a comment we'd make about the old M.