| In any category of car there's always
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| | and punch the gas. Your right-foot
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| those obvious top-name picks that
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| | prompting is rewarded with a satisfying,
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| everybody seems to gravitate toward.
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| | refined growl and the muscular pull of
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| Maybe it's me-too-ism, or maybe it's just
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| | the M45's impressive 340 lb- ft. of
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| people's faith in certain apparently
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| | torque. Although the car weighs a
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| "sure-thing" brands. Whatever the
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| | substantial 3995 pounds, it nonetheless
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| underlying reasons for this phenomenon,
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| | moves with an effortless, rather
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| in the world of luxury cars, the big
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| | addicting urgency when asked to.And
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| names are evergreens BMW and Mercedes,
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| | believe me, we asked it to a lot. No
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| along with more recent fave Lexus.And
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| | matter what speed you're traveling, the
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| then there's Infiniti. Introduced at
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| | M45 has speed-hungry drivers covered.
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| approximately the same time as Lexus, the
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| | Nail it off the line and you're hauling
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| nameplate hasn't made nearly the
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| | along readily. Plunge into the throttle
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| impression that its biggest rival
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| | at highway speeds and the 5-speed
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| Japanese luxury brand has. And that's a
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| | automatic transmission promptly and
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| shame. This upscale Nissan division has
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| | appropriately drops a gear or two as
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| offered its share of sophisticated
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| | needed, pushing the speedometer needle
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| machinery to rival Lexus and other luxury
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| | vigorously upward. Leave the pedal down
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| marques. And, in many cases, Infinitis
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| | to the floor and the magic 100-mph mark
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| have a livelier, sportier feel than those
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| | approaches and passes by with pleasing
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| more-popular competitors.But while the
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| | effortlessness.Indeed, if you're not
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| brand's relative obscurity might be a bad
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| | watching closely, you can find yourself
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| thing for Infiniti, it's certainly not a
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| | thinking you're cruising a cop-friendly
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| bad thing for Infiniti owners. Not those
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| | 65 mph, and actually be doing more like
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| willing to forgo image projection in
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| | 85 or 90. Aside from a little too much
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| favor of real, satisfying automotive
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| | wind noise around the A-pillars, the
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| substance anyway. For such folks looking
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| | M45's speedometer is the only substantial
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| to get a top-notch midsize luxury car
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| | indication that you're approaching
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| that won't get lost in a sea of BMW
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| | triple-digit velocities.Part of that
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| 5-Series, Mercedes E-Classes, and Lexus
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| | sensation of effortless speed is a result
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| GSs, the all-new Infiniti M45 fits the
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| | of the M45s ride. It's a fine mix of
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| bill beautifully.And even if you don't
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| | competent body control and impressive
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| care about being a nonconformist, the new
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| | bump absorption, despite stiff 40-profile
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| Infiniti M is a terrific car. It's worth
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| | performance tires. The car is admittedly
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| considering strictly on its merits
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| | a tad on the firm side for a luxury
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| alone.This all-new M was introduced in
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| | sedan. But it's nevertheless comfortable
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| Spring 2005 as a 2006 model. It's offered
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| | and, more importantly, composed. Our test
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| as the M35 with a 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 and
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| | M45 remained surefooted and stable even
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| as the M45 with a 335-hp 4.5-liter V8.
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| | when traversing wavy country roads at
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| The M45 can also be had in a Sport
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| | close to 100 mph.In fact, it seemed no
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| version, which has 19- instead of 18-inch
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| | matter how fast we were going the M45
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| wheels, upgraded suspension, and a unique
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| | felt planted and ready for more. At 130
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| automatic rear-wheel steering system.
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| | mph on smooth roads, the car's
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| It's this hottest version of the M that
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| | confidence-inspiring composure remained
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| we were lucky enough to get for our test
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| | intact and the engine was still pulling
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| session.Easing into the M45's roomy
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| | strong. Satisfied with this as proof of
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| interior, you're surrounded by high-grade
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| | the M45's high-speed prowess, we eased
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| furnishings that speak of expensive
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| | off the gas to more sane velocities.Using
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| quality. Sport versions of the M45 eschew
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| | the car's powerful brakes to haul us
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| luxury-car-cliche wood trim in favor of
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| | quickly back down into the double-digit
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| attractive stainless steel panels dressed
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| | realm, we were able to sample the M45's
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| with a fine crosshatch pattern. The
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| | fine road manners. Although this is a
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| cabin's overall look is a confidently
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| | sizeable machine and it's obviously aimed
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| understated luxury, with a clean, modern
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| | at luxury and comfort more than
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| flavor. Very nice.The instruments are
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| | athleticism, it's nonetheless quite
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| traditional dials, neatly arranged in
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| | satisfying to put through its paces. Grip
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| front of the driver. Somewhat less
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| | is very good, helped by performance
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| "neat," however, is the integrated
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| | rubber, along with electronic handling
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| navigation/climate/audio control system,
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| | aids that are effective and generally
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| which sprawls across a somewhat odd,
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| | unobtrusive. Body lean is minimal, and
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| almost horizontal panel jutting out of
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| | the car treats drivers to a nimbleness
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| the middle of the dashboard. Although not
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| | that's impressive for a large sedan.No
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| as frustrating to use as some similar
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| | doubt some of that agility is due to the
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| systems found in the M's rivals, the
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| | Sport version's rear-wheel steering. The
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| layout is nonetheless more distracting
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| | system's operation is entirely
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| than it should be.That said, the busy
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| | transparent to the user, except when you
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| array of buttons is really the only major
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| | consider that this big two-ton sedan is
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| negative to be found in the M45's cabin.
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| | whipping through corners as if it were a
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| The seats are long-haul comfortable and
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| | size or two smaller.Complementing the
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| supportive, with good leg- and head-room
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| | rear-wheel steering is the sensation
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| even for tall occupants. Trunk space,
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| | drivers get from the front wheels. The
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| while not massively copious, is more than
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| | M45's steering feel is perhaps one of the
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| adequate for a foursome's weekend
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| | car's most satisfying elements. It's a
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| luggage.Getting ready to embark in the
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| | pleasing blend of good feedback,
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| M45 requires just the push of the starter
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| | reasonably quick ratio, and light but
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| button -- no key required as long as
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| | appropriate weighting. It isn't likely to
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| someone in the car has it in their
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| | disappoint luxury buyers who seek a more
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| pocket. Holding the button down, first
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| | rewarding driving feel than many of the
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| the seats and steering wheel motor to
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| | M's rivals can offer.And in a broader
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| their memory position, then the engine
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| | sense, that notion is the real core of
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| fires with a low, muted V8 rumble.Now get
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| | the M45's appeal. This is a car that's
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| ready to really wow your friends: Grab
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| | rich, luxurious, and comfortable, yet
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| the leather-wrapped shift knob and slide
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| | sporty, modern, and a little unique. It's
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| the lever into Reverse. You'll see not
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| | an excellent blend. Perhaps the best
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| just the standard gee-whiz deal of the
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| | evidence of that is how much we hated to
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| outside mirrors motoring down, but a
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| | give this car back when our week-long
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| reverse-view camera appearing on the
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| | test session was over.Anyone who
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| dashboard LCD screen as well.Wow -- real
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| | experiences the M45 will most likely feel
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| James Bond stuff!Pause a minute while the
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| | that strongly about it too.
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| oohs and ahhs die down, shift into Drive,
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