2011 Infiniti EX gets numerous updates, starts at $34,150*

The biggest news for Infiniti’s 2011 model year lineup may be the all-new M sedan, QX56 SUV, G25 sedanand IPL G coupe, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the automaker’s portfolio sails into the new year unchanged. The smaller EX crossover/wagon thingie, for example, gets a host of new updates including a seven-speed automatic transmission, larger wheel choices and more standard technology.

Curiously, Infiniti is still offering the EX with its smaller 3.5-liter V6, even though the majority of its products now use the more powerful 3.7-liter mill. Still, with 297 horsepower on tap, the EX35 should continue to be a surprisingly engaging steer, and with a new seven-speed gearbox in place, fuel efficiency should be improved for 2011, especially in the all-wheel drive models.

From there, all EX models now come standard with 18-inch wheels (a 19-inch set is available with the Deluxe Touring Package), dual-zone automatic climate control and new exterior paint options including Arctic Blue (pictured). Other changes for 2011 include Active Blind Spot Warming being added to the EX’s technology package and a revised premium package that encompasses both the upgraded Bose audio system and around-view camera system.

Review: 2011 Infiniti M37

Not too long ago, the Infiniti M was the lesser sibling to the flagship Q. It was the middle child. During the 2006 model year, when the Q was less than a year from being dropped from the lineup, Infiniti gave the M a strong shove in the back in the form of a 4.5-liter V8 and quietly told it to climb up on the soon-to-be-vacant throne. With the Q gone and unlikely to return anytime soon, the Infiniti M is now tasked with being the automaker’s flagship sedan.

Completely redesigned for the 2011 model year, the Infiniti M is bigger and better than its predecessors ever were, but it still can’t fill the Q’s empty shoes. Shorted the substance and stature to battle the Lexus LS, the newest Japanese luxury sedan is relegated to fighting wars with the aged Lexus GS and Acura RL. But those two are the easy enemies. BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac are the ones fielding today’s worthy adversaries.

Consumer Reports still loves redesigned Infiniti M37, likes Hyundai Genesis 4.6 a lot

The Infiniti M37, Hyundai Genesis V8 and the BMW 5 Series were tested in the latest issue of Consumer Reports, and the results were fairly predictable. All three vehicles received ratings of “Excellent,” though each vehicle’s road to the top came from a different direction.

The newly redesigned M37 remains CR’s top-rated midsize luxury sedan for its combination of performance, luxury and comfort. CR chief David Champion credits the M for combining “agile handling, a taut yet comfortable ride, and a beautifully-finished interior.” Solid praise, indeed. The BMW 535i’s top rating comes on the heels of a test that revealed the new sedan as quick, luxurious and fuel efficient. Interestingly, CR believes that the new 5 Series has lost some of its trademark agility for 2011.

While the M37 is the top-rated midsize luxury sedan the V8-powered Hyundai Genesis could be the big winner of this test. South Korea’s best nailed the test with the most power of the three vehicles tested and the lowest price tag of the group. We’re not talking a couple thousand bucks, either. The Genesis was $10,000 cheaper than the M and $15,000 less than the BMW. The dark-horse luxury sedan was called spacious and smooth, though the ‘built for comfort’ chassis was called out for being “not that sporty.” Both the M37 and Genesis have been granted the coveted CR “Recommended” label, while the 5 Series doesn’t have enough reliability data available to qualify just yet. Check out the official press release after the jump.

First Drive: 2011 Infiniti G25

Thanks to years of dedicated work and impressive engineering, Infiniti has earned a reputation for being the “Japanese BMW.” Like the German automaker, Infiniti’s U.S. entries are decidedly more performance oriented, but the brand’s decision to install the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter V6 in its G Sedan had us wondering if things were changing… and not for the better.

Follow the jump to find out if our suspicions have been confirmed.

First Drive: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe

Our waiting Infiniti IPL G Coupe idles curbside. Exiting its enormous Thermos-sized chrome exhaust tips, the invisible waveforms invite a closer listen. The baritone note suggests power, with a cadence that is is lumpy, sounding closer to a V8 with a heavy cam than any V6 we’ve ever heard. A harbinger of things to come, or just an evil audible tease? We had flown to California’s Napa Valley to find out, but first we needed some context.

Infiniti IPL G Convertible Concept to debut in Paris

The first Infiniti Performance Line offering was unveiled at Pebble Beach last month in the form of the IPL G37 Coupe. The 348-horsepower G hardtop wears a factory-designed bodykit and came with engine and chassis tweaks to make things slightly firmer and faster. It goes on sale in December.

This week, its droptop brother will arrive at the Paris Motor Show. Infiniti hasn’t announced power output, but we expect the IPL G Convertible Concept will probably be a shade less muscular than the coupe, as is the case with the non-IPL models. The automaker hasn’t given away any hint of pricing, either, but VP Ben Poore did say “IPL promises unique driving attributes from other Infiniti models, without adding stratospheric prices,” if that’s any consolation. Stay tuned for complete details later in the week.

Infiniti FX models see price drop for 2011

The 2011 Infiniti FX has just received that rare gift of a price cut, with $2,600 coming off the FX50′s MSRP and $1,250 in savings for the FX35. Looking at Infiniti’s numbers for 2010, the division has been outperforming 2009 by anywhere from 10 to nearly 50 percent since February 2010, but the picture comes into focus when you separate the FX from the herd.

Despite good divisional performance, the swoopy FX is off 12.4 percent calendar year to date, according to the Nissan North America sales report for August 2010. It’s not like 2009 was a banner year, of course, so to help spur FX sales, Infiniti has lowered the base MSRPs on its FX models to $41,600 for the rear-wheel-drive FX35, $43,050 for the FX35 with all-wheel drive and $56,400 for the V8-powered FX50. To sweeten the pot, Infiniti is also throwing in a standard power liftgate, too. We’ll know soon enough whether the pricing gambit has worked. Official press release posted after the jump.

Infiniti Performance Line debuts with 348-hp IPL G Coupe

Up until recently, Infiniti wasn’t entirely sure what its brand was all about. But since its latest reboot, the brand has staked a claim as an unabashedly Japanese performance luxury automaker – in essence, the anti-Lexus.

Today, it’s taking another step in that direction with the introduction of the Infiniti Performance Line and unveiling the first vehicle to wear the new badge: the IPL G Coupe. And anyone expecting an answer toBMW’s M division or Mercedes’ AMG line might be slightly disappointed.

Like most in-house component offerings, Infiniti is putting an emphasis on style, performance and OEM-level fit and finish, beginning with new front and rear fascias, side sills, rear spoiler and 19-inch seven-spoke graphite wheels. Matching the Graphite Shadow or Malbec Black exteriors are a new set of sport seats with thicker bolsters, manual thigh extenders (ala BMW), torso and thigh support adjustment, along with de rigueur contrasting red stitching.

Far more important is what’s been done under the hood and at each wheel well. A new high-flow exhaust partners with a recalibrated ECU to raise output to 348 horsepower (at 7,400 rpm) and 276 pound-feet of torque (at 5,200 rpm), an increase of 18 hp and six pound feet over the standard G37. Channeling that additional grunt to the ground is a close ratio six-speed manual with a short-throw shifter (a seven-speed auto is available with paddles), a viscous-type limited slip differential and Bridgestone Potenza RE50A summer rubber sized 225/45 in front and 245/40 in the rear. A retuned suspension is also included, increasing spring rates by 20% in the front and 10% out back, along with slightly upgraded brakes.

Report: Next Infiniti M and G to share platform with Mercedes-Benz E Class?

Renault-Nissan and Daimler recently announced a strategic alliance that promised technology and facility sharing that could result in the saving of over $1 billion per year. We’ll have to wait a while before we can see any parts or factory sharing, but that isn’t stopping the rumormill from running rampant.

The latest tease comes courtesy of Japanese enthusiast rag Best Car, which claims that the Infiniti M and Gwill share a common platform architecture with the Mercedes E-Class. The move would make sense from a money-saving perspective, as Infiniti could save hundreds of millions of dollars in development costs. Daimler could reap huge sums of savings through increased economies of scale, while likely receiving funding from Renault-Nissan to help pay for the costs of developing the architecture. The two companies are reportedly also looking into sharing engines, factory space in the U.S. and possibly even commercial vans.

But while it makes sense for Daimler to share the E-Class platform with Infiniti from a cash standpoint, we’re taking this bit of news with a healthy dose of skepticism. Infiniti already has an excellent rear-wheel drive platform and there’s a good chance that it’s cheaper to build. But then again, if Daimler and Renault-Nissan are truly serious about saving over $1 billion per year, these are exactly the kinds of parts-sharing agreements that will help them reach their cost-saving goals.

Infiniti recalls 134,000 G35 coupes and sedans due to airbag issue

Being involved in a car accident is scary stuff. Being involved in a car accident and not having your airbags deploy is even scarier. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, just over 134,000Infiniti G35 coupes and sedans sold in the mid-2000s are affected by a problem in which wire harnesses for the airbags may wear down to the point of not functioning properly, meaning that the airbags may not deploy in a crash.

Infiniti is recalling 2005-06 model year G35 sedans and 2005-07 model year G35 coupes sold around the world due to this problem. The automaker has not yet notified the Feds of how the faulty wire harnesses will be fixed, but the official recall is now being announced, just two weeks after the potential problem was reported to NHTSA. So far, no crashes or injuries have been reported due to this issue, and Infiniti’s parent company, Nissan, is hard at work developing a solution for this potentially dangerous situation.

Infiniti teams up with Bell & Ross on limited edition wristwatch for the jet set

Think of automotive brands associated with aviation, and what comes to mind? Saab and Spyker first and foremost (which may or may not be coincidental since the two are now under common ownership). MaybeBMW, Mitsubishi, and Fuji Heavy Industries (makers of Subaru vehicles)… but Infiniti would be a bit of a stretch. In the watchmaking sphere, Bell & Ross are synonymous with aviation, known as they are for producing timepieces designed after airplane instruments. Now the two brands have teamed up for a very limited edition wristwatch.

Complimenting the FX Limited Edition recently released (and almost already sold out) in Europe, only 100 examples of the BR03-92 Instrument Phantom Infiniti wristwatch will be produced, available only through Infiniti Centres in Europe. The timepiece features a 42-millimeter case coated in black carbon powder, black dial and purple accents, supposedly in compliment of Infiniti’s brand color. (News to us.) Each example will be individually numbered and fetches a princely sum of £2,809.97 in the UK, equivalent to $4,145. Details in the press release after the jump.

2011 Infiniti M56 with 420HP V8 and M37 with 330 V6 Rival BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class

Infiniti has lifted the covers (once again…) off its new 2011 M sedans (sold as the Nissan Fuga in Japan) at a private event held in Beverly Hills on Monday. Designed to challenge the new BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class -just to mention a few, the 2011 M sedan will be offered in the States initially with two gasoline-only powerplants with a hybrid version to follow shortly after.

The entry-level M37 features a 3.7-liter aluminum-alloy V6 which delivers 330 hp at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm, representing an increases of 27 horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque versus the previous 3.5-liter V6.

The range-topping M56 debuts a new 5.6-liter aluminum-alloy V8 that produces at 420 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increases of 95 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque over the previous M’s 4.5-liter V8.

The M37 and M56 are available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. For those that are looking for sharper handling, Infiniti offers a special Sport Package on the rear-wheel drive models that includes 4-wheel Active Steer (4WAS), sport-tuned suspension, Sport Brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires.

All 2011 Ms come standard with Infiniti’s 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), while the RWD models with the Sport Package get solid magnesium paddle shifters as standard.

Infiniti has also announced a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the M sedan featuring a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement with the first clutch installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the electric motor.

In terms of size, the new M’s wheelbase has remained unchanged at 114.2 inches, but the width has been increased by 2.0 inches (to 72.6 inches), the length increased by 0.6-inch (to 194.7 inches) and the overall height lowered by 0.4-inch (to 59.1 inches) over its predecessor.

Notable features include the Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) that helps the driver return the vehicle back toward the center of the lane, Active Trace Control, which adjusts engine torque and the control of braking at each of the four wheels to help enhance cornering performance and Double-piston Shock Absorbers that control damping force according to frequency of input from the road surface.

The M37 and M56 (RWD and AWD) will arrive in U.S. showrooms next spring with the M35 Hybrid expected to follow in the second quarter of 2011.

Report: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento approved for limited production

Lamborghini’s Sesto Elemento, the carbon fiber beauty that debuted at the Paris Motor Show just two short months ago, has reportedly been given the green light by its Italian automaker. The two-seat “Sixth Element” exotic is much more than radical jet-fighter styling and a fixation with all things lightweight. Hidden under its flat-black composite panels is the same V10 engine shoehorned into the Lamborghini LP 570-4 Superleggera. With a power rating of 570 horsepower and a curb weight of just 2,200 pounds, the 5.2-liter engine is reportedly able to launch the all-wheel-drive Sesto Elemento to 60 mph in just 2.5 seconds. Keep the pedal down, and the Lamborghini should top 215 mph. With a price tag of about €2.5 million ($3.4 million at today’s exchange), and a production run limited to less than ten units, best of luck securing one for your garage.