The FM platform is the backbone of the M45s, and it shares deep roots with the G35 from Nissan. Engineers reused the Front Mid-ship layout that also underpins the FX crossover SUV and the G37 Coupe, yet 60 percent of the platform components got a fresh redesign for the M45 Concept
M35 and M45s
I have sat in both the M35 and M45, and the difference in front-to-rear balance is something you genuinely feel through the seat, not just read about in a brochure.
That front axle placement keeps the engine tucked back, which helps the weight balance stay even during quick handling maneuvers.
Under the body, an independent suspension uses a double-wishbone setup up front and a multi-link design out back, with front stabilizer bars and rear stabilizer bars working together to settle the car through bends.
Whether you choose the 3.5-liter V6 or the 4.5-liter V8, this next-generation, redefined platform carries the weight evenly across both the sedan and coupe versions.
Large wheels and tires sit pushed out toward the corners of the vehicle, which is a small detail that makes a big difference in driving excitement.
This positioning also reduces weight transfer when you brake hard or turn sharply, something every Infiniti owner notices on a twisty backroad. The Infiniti Q45 lent its DNA to this flagship, and the enhanced platform beneath the M45 still feels modern even years after launch.
Engine & Performance
Step on the gas in the V-8 M45s, and the torque shows up instantly with a mellifluous exhaust note that never feels forced. The torque converter is tightly calibrated, so throttle response stays sharp every time you touch the accelerator.
Infiniti also offers a five-speed automatic with a leather-clad selector, letting drivers shift manually through a manual shift mode whenever they want more control.
In testing, the M45 posted an elapsed time of 14.2 seconds and hit a terminal velocity of 101 mph, which is respectable for a 4020-pound luxury car that was never built for drag racing. Passing performance stays strong at high speed, and noise and vibration stay impressively low during a long cruise.
Under the hood, the DOHC 4.5-liter V8, shared with the FX45, produces 325 horsepower and 336 lb-ft of pulling power.
That engine, known internally as the VK45DE, uses titanium valves, modular cylinder heads, a microfinished crankshaft, and lightweight pistons, all tied together by a quiet cam drive chain. A variable length air induction system and Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS) keep things efficient.
Meanwhile, the M35 runs a DOHC 3.5-liter V6 rated at 275 horsepower and 268 lb-ft, part of the respected VQ engine series also found in the G35 and FX35, built with aluminum-alloy block and aluminum-alloy heads plus a drive-by-wire throttle system, and
The M45 Concept pushed things further with a 340-horsepower unit paired to a short-throw performance shifter, a confident braking system with strong brake pedal feel and pedal response, a steering system built around a hydraulic boost system and
Micro-polished steering gear with solid rack mounting, all backed by Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and a 5-speed automatic transmission with downshift rev matching.
Handling, Steering & Rear Active Steer System
Out on real mountain passes, the manual-transmission override lets the car perform blips the throttle moves during downshifts, almost like an automated manual system.
Honestly, the adaptive transmission logic in automatic mode is so smart that most drivers will skip the manumatic system entirely and just leave their hands on the steering wheel.
I drove an M45 Sport through the Angeles National Forest once, and the well-damped suspension combined with accurate steering and communicative steering made the twisties genuinely fun.
The stability-control system in Infiniti vehicles can fully switch off, which feels bold compared to other brands that hide their stability mechanisms behind layers of menus. Even at the limits, deep in the mountains, the car stays organic under the controls, and it will turn in crisply and hangs on with confidence.
The steering is naturally weighted and stays precise throughout, much like its G35 cousin, which shows a bit of trailing-throttle oversteer in tight turns that’s easy to catch once you feel the slide begin.
Behind that confidence sits the Rear Active Steer system, often labeled RAS, standard on the M Sport. This setup relies on electronic motor-driven control to adjust rear suspension geometry based on steering input and vehicle speed, guided by an electronic control unit reading data from multiple sensors tracking steering angle. A system actuator then shifts the rear geometry through the rear suspension lower links, delivering sports car-like agility without sacrificing luxury sedan stability or ride quality, a feature also found in the M45 Concept’s own active rear control system, built around motor-driver rear-wheel control for the M45.
All-Wheel Drive
The ATTESA E-TS system, short for Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split, brings serious all-wheel drive capability to the M35x and M45x.
This all-climate performance tech is shared with the FX45 and FX35 AWD, and it relies on a smart torque split control strategy that reads both road conditions and driving conditions in real time. I have driven a similar AWD Infiniti through a snowy parking lot, and the confidence it gives you is hard to overstate.
This setup delivers genuinely sports car-like handling and strong cornering capability by shifting torque distribution between the front wheels and rear wheels, ranging anywhere from a 50:50 split up to 0:100.
That flexibility means excellent starting traction performance along with smooth acceleration and stable acceleration, especially helpful in snow-covered or off-road conditions where a standing start needs every bit of grip available.
Working alongside VDC, or Vehicle Dynamic Control, each wheel gets exactly the torque it needs at exactly the right moment.
As Igo noted when discussing the M lineup for 2008, this system suits regions facing inclimate weather conditions perfectly, giving drivers real handling benefits and control benefits no matter the season.
Interior Design & Comfort
Climb inside the M45, and fully adjustable seats paired with abundant legroom make the cabin feel instantly welcoming.
The gauge cluster glows with electrofluorescent faces and red needles, surrounded by a soft glow around the perimeter ring. A wave-shaped dashboard with a shallow contour angle pulls surfaces away from the occupants, boosting the perception of space in a way photos never quite capture.
This driver-oriented cockpit reflects real Infiniti level of luxury through careful design detail, including Fine Vision electroluminescent gauges and gear-like rings wrapped around the instrument cluster meters. The center console gets aluminum trim surface texturing, fresh wood trim, updated door trim, and a full gray interior color, while Sport Package trims add unique steering wheel stitching and shift knob stitching along with distinct front seat designs and aluminum-trimmed pedals.
Material choices like Rosewood and aluminum trim pair with leather-appointed seats and climate controlled front seats, plus standard XM Satellite Radio and available heated power reclining rear seats.
The Bose Studio Surround sound system with 5.1-channel decoding pushes sound through 14 speakers, including personal speakers tucked into the front seat shoulders, and the
M45 Concept took this further with a hand in-glove fit, an indulgent design, and genuinely high-quality design that shaped Infiniti interior design for years, reflecting a more passionate interior direction through a modern interior layout built on ease-of-use
and purposeful simplicity, with leather-appointed climate controlled seats, a Solar Eclipse instrument lighting system, power reclining rear seats, and a surround audio system with a 14-speaker setup that Igo himself called the finest audio system Infiniti had built, with sound performance to match.
Technology Features
A keyless fob handles owner recognition automatically, so you can simply unlock the door using the pull handle and press the start button while resting your foot on the brake pedal.
That fob can also live in the spring-loaded niche in the dash rather than your pocket. Press the button without braking, and you only wake the electrical systems without triggering engine start.
The Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System uses a touch-screen alongside a 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback, plus XM NavTraffic when paired with an active XM subscription.
Drivers also get the Infiniti Intelligent Key system with Push Button Start, a Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, a RearView Monitor, and Intelligent Cruise Control working together seamlessly. I’ve found these small conveniences add up fast on long highway drives.
Rounding things out, the Infiniti Information Display uses a 7-inch LCD screen with genuinely easy-to-use controls, supported by Infiniti voice recognition.
The Infiniti Navigation System brings a cleaner user interface with voice-activated destination entry, plus HVAC and audio controls tied into Bluetooth wireless connectivity, meaning the key fob stays in your pocket through locking, unlocking, and starting the engine.
Exterior Design
Infiniti blends luxury styling with sport styling to create real dynamic visual appeal on the M45. Up front, a bold front grille and sculpted bumpers work with a lower air intake and integrated fog lamps, while sharp side sills run the length of the body.
Around back, refreshed fenders, taillights, and a clean deck lid pair with an optional rear spoiler design and shimmering chrome bodyside accents.
Sport Package trims bring extra visual differentiation through unique headlight color, while the standard expressive grille and crystal-look headlight clusters give every trim a luxurious appeal.
Massive 18-inch wheels or 19-inch wheels wrapped in low profile tires support a stable posture with a wide track, and short overhangs front and rear add genuine sportiness to the silhouette.
That long wheelbase delivers a surprisingly roomy interior without sacrificing sporty exterior dimensions, helped by a wide front track and wide rear track that boost handling stability, interior volume, and trunk volume all at once.
Lightweight body components, including aluminum-alloy inner door panels, aluminum-alloy outer door panels, hood panels, and decklid panels, keep weight down, and
the M45 Concept pushed this dynamic visual sensation even further with a jewel-like grille, high performance tires on a wide tread, an aggressive hoodline flowing into anchored shoulders, a sporty silhouette and powerful silhouette shaped by a fluid roofline, sculpted hood, and sculpted front fenders that give it a solid look
and muscular look, finished off with L-shaped LED taillights, quad-tipped tailpipes, an aerodynamic design, and zero front lift.
Safety Features
Lane Departure Prevention, known as LDP, made its worldwide production debut on the M45, with the related Infiniti EX35 luxury crossover SUV receiving similar tech.
It builds on the earlier Lane Departure Warning system found on the FX and the 2007 M, leaning on Vehicle Dynamic Control to apply gentle brake pressure opposite the lane departure direction, nudging the car back toward its intended lane.
A small camera mounted near the windshield reads lane markers to track vehicle position and catch early lane drift, flagging any pending lane change made without a turn signal through a visual display paired with an audible buzzer. If the driver doesn’t steer back toward the center of travel lane, the system applies gentle control to generate part of the needed yaw movement using the VDC brake actuator on each individual wheel.
Igo described this as a true leadership position, pointing out that fatal auto accidents linked to lane drift make up roughly 55 percent of single vehicle accidents and head-on accidents combined, a clear sign of progress in vehicle safety technology.
The earlier Lane Departure Warning, or LDW, reads lane markings and calculates lateral distance relative to vehicle speed, sending an audible signal to flag any unintended lane departure, switching off automatically once turn signals activate or through a manual driver cancel switch, addressing the 58 percent of fatal accidents tied to similar causes.
Other Safety Features
The Advanced Air Bag System, or AABS, includes dual-stage front supplemental air bags guided by an Occupant Classification System, working alongside roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags for added coverage.
3-point ALR/ELR seat belts cover every position, though the driver’s seat ELR uses its own locking style, and seat belt adjustable upper anchors include both pretensioners and load limiters for a tighter fit during sudden stops.
Up front, front seat Active Head Restraints reduce whiplash risk, and available pre-crash seat belts tighten automatically the moment emergency braking detects an evasive maneuver or sudden crash.
These small engineering touches rarely get noticed until the moment they matter most, which is exactly when good safety design should step in.
The body itself relies on Zone Body construction with an energy-dispersing side structure, plus a LATCH system, formally the Lower Anchors and Tether for Children setup, for a secure child seat anchorage system.
The broader Zone Body platform design includes both front crumple zones and rear crumple zones, while brake-operated pre-crash front seat belts and a slide away brake pedal round out the protective package.
Models, Packages & Trim Options
Every base M45 can grow into something more luxurious through optional equipment packages and several stand-alone items.
The Journey package brings an eight-speaker Bose stereo, climate-controlled front seats, a HomeLink transceiver, a rearview video monitor, swiveling xenon headlights, precrash front seatbelts, a compass, and handy audio/video input jacks, though the M45 Sport already includes xenon headlights, so its Journey content adjusts accordingly.
Stepping up, the Technology package adds DVD navigation, intelligent cruise control, and a rich five-channel DVD Bose Studio Surround stereo running through 14 speakers, plus a lane-departure warning system and XM satellite radio.
The Premium package then combines everything into one bundle, adding heated rear seats, power-reclining rear seats, rear-seat ventilation controls, a power rear sunshade, run-flat tires, and an eight-inch ceiling-mounted video monitor with headphones, all part of what’s called the Mobile Entertainment System,
While the navigation system and satellite radio remain available separately, alongside 18-inch chrome wheels and a full-size spare wheel with matching spare tire.
Across the lineup, buyers choose between the M35, M35x AWD, M45, and M45x AWD, covering V6 rear-wheel drive, V6 all-wheel drive, V8 rear-wheel drive, and V8 all-wheel drive setups.
The Sport Package brings Rear Active Steer, sharper suspension tuning, 19-inch wheels, sport-bolstered seats with trimmed front seats, a sport steering wheel, aluminum pedal accents, and unique body styling,
While the Technology Package, Advanced Technology Package, Premium Package, Wood Interior Trim, and Xenon/AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting System, paired with HID xenon headlights) round out the choices, along with the Infiniti Mobile Entertainment Package and refreshed exterior styling and interior styling throughout.
Pricing
Infiniti kept prices reasonable for what buyers got, starting in the high-30s for the M35 and climbing into the high-40s for the V-8-powered version.
After spending real time behind the wheel of the V-6 model during the car intro, it struck me as a genuinely sweet piece of engineering. Then came the V-8, and once you’ve felt that extra shove of power, it’s hard to go back.
The Evolution of Luxury
The M45s redefines what luxury means moving beyond status symbols and badges toward something far more personal and deeply felt. This shift reflects real Infiniti leadership in understanding both the soul and intelligence of every driver who gets behind the wheel.
As the concept car evolved into the 2006 production vehicle, Infiniti clearly listened to individual needs and respected different preferences across the lineup.
Whether someone wanted V8 or V6 power, all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive confidence, the sports and luxury balance stayed central to the mission, with Igo championing that vision throughout.
FAQs of M45s
What engine powers the M45s?
The M45s runs a breathtaking 4.5-liter V8 engine producing 325 horsepower and 336 lb-ft of torque for an exhilarating drive.
Does the M45s offer all-wheel drive?
Yes, the M45s features the intelligent ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system delivering confident traction in every road condition.
How does the M45s handle on the road?
The M45s delivers razor-sharp steering, sport-tuned suspension, and a Rear Active Steer system that makes every bend feel effortless.
What luxury features does the M45s offer inside?
The M45s cabin wraps you in leather-appointed seats, a 14-speaker Bose surround sound system, and Fine Vision gauges that feel truly premium.
Is the M45s a safe vehicle?
Absolutely the M45s pioneers Lane Departure Prevention, Active Head Restraints, dual-stage airbags, and a Zone Body safety structure for total peace of mind.
