First Drive Review
Infiniti's new Q45 doesn't have as much power as Eddie Cheever's Infiniti-powered Indy Racing League car, but Cheever didn't seem to mind as he wheeled the new big Q down the autostrada toward Rome. What he did mind was bouncing off the 148-mph speed limiter as he urged the sedan onward, trying to get us to the Colosseum before the entry gates closed at 3:30 one wintry afternoon.
For someone accustomed to flying around ovals at 200-plus mph, 148 mph is a trifling velocity. But for owners of this impressive new model, it will be an illicit adventure seldom experienced on the public roads.
You see, although the new Q45 is motivated by a potent new 340-hp, 4.5-liter V-8 (internally designated VK45DE and boasting 74 more horsepower than the current Q's V-8), the car's lavish luxury trappings suggest strongly that it will see service mainly between upscale suburbia and plush downtown offices. That's okay. Somebody has to do it.
And the new Q might just make that commute bearable, even with its smooth and torquey engine (333 pound-feet at 4000 rpm vs. 278 at 4000 for the old V-8) loafing underfoot. The new motor is replete with cool technical features such as titanium valves, a silent-chain cam drive, a hydraulically driven cooling fan, continuously variable intake-valve timing, variable volume induction, and an electronic throttle.
In operation, it's smooth and quiet, spinning easily to its 6750-rpm redline, yet it will thrust strongly at 2500 rpm when you call on it. Abetted by a new five-speed automatic-48 pounds lighter than the four-speed it replaces-the Q45 will hit 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, according to Infiniti's estimates. We don't doubt it.
Infiniti did not make a big deal of the now-fashionable manual-mode feature of the tranny, and since it seems to shift pretty much at will anyway, we can see why-particularly since the PRNDL quadrant has gone the way of so many of these applications.
The Q45's powertrain and chassis have no fewer than three solid-state supervising nannies. One is called the electronic torque-demand powertrain control, and it's integrated with the traction-control system (and electronic throttle) to assess-via various sensors-how much power should be made available for any given situation. In addition, Infiniti has installed vehicle dynamic control, the now-familiar co-driver that reaches over, like Hurley Haywood at a Porsche demo, to correct your little misjudgments.
Naturally, there is the obligatory anti-lock braking system, not to mention brake assist for people who've overdone it on the stepper at the gym, plus electronic brake-force distribution to automatically adjust fore-and-aft brake pressure. Yes, you still have to drive this car, and the startling thing is that even with all those chips looking over your shoulder, the new Q is quite a kick.
See, 340 ponies are nice to have, even if they've been disciplined within an inch of their lives. Besides, the interior of the new Q is pretty cool, sporting one of three atmospheres-bird's-eye maple in hues described as, ahem, Willow, Latte, and Graphite-all accompanied by lashings of leather; front, side, and head airbags; power-adjustable seats (even on the rear seats as an option); and all the usual niceties included on cars in this expensive zone.
The instrument panel is big and electroluminescent. The steering wheel has auxiliary audio and cruise-control buttons. And yes, that signature Infiniti analog clock sits right in the center of the dash.
In addition to these sybaritic necessities, the Q45 boasts a couple of surprising extras. A liquid-crystal screen mounted high in the center provides operating windows for the killer 300-watt, eight-speaker Bose audio system, the climate-control system, and various vehicle operation settings. It also provides the optional DVD-driven navigation display, plus a view from a rear-mounted camera that pops up on the screen when you shift into reverse. These goodies are part of a comprehensive $8000 Premium package.
