2011 Infiniti M37

With its previous-generation M model, Infiniti found itself in an uncomfortable place: Its latest corporate VQ V-6, as found in the Nissan 370Z, was more powerful than the M45’s V-8. So offering that 330-hp 3.7-liter in the M had to be delayed until now, after a more potent, 420-hp V-8 found its way into the M. Although the V-6 gets a bit coarse near its 7500-rpm redline, not surprisingly, it propels the restyled 2011 M37 as forcibly as last year’s V-8–powered M45: 0 to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds and the quarter in 14.1.

And despite the V-6–powered M’s 27-hp gain for 2011, fuel-economy ratings increase as well (although, at 21 mpg, we averaged 2 mpg worse than in the M56). The problem is that the obstinate transmission programming makes its fuel-economy mission obvious. With the four-way selector knob in “standard” mode, the transmission regularly requires more than 50 percent throttle before granting a downshift. The “sport” setting helps considerably, but even then, the seven-speed is sometimes slow to react.

But the reason the M has crawled its way into our hearts—and to two comparison-test victories—is its right-now eagerness. And, thankfully, that’s still the case with the new model. The Sport package, which adds an instantly noticeable zeal compared with the base car, accounts for a lot of this; the steering is far more direct and reacts more quickly off center (this tester loved it; Robinson did not), and the brake pedal has a lot more bite as well. The only downside is that the summer tires can add considerable road noise over certain pavement textures. Overall, though, it’s a welcome difference. What’s not so welcome is that getting the $3650 Sport package (20-inch wheels and tires, four-wheel steering, stiffer suspension, larger brakes) also imposes the $3350 Premium package (navigation, 10-speaker Bose stereo, heated steering wheel, cooled seats), which means the cheapest M37S is $54,115, $2450 more than the previous M35S.

But the new car’s higher style quotient makes those numbers easier to swallow. The M’s body now bulges in all the right places, and interesting details abound inside: swooping door handles surrounded by pleated leather, switches that are no longer carried over from lesser Nissans, and even an elegantly curving center console. And it’s this compelling and comprehensive sense of occasion that makes the M a far more complete competitor to the German horde.