| First Drive | | Fort William, Scotland | Infiniti M37 S |
Infiniti continues its assault on the European market with yet another new model - the M37 is the range's new flagship executive saloon and it has the BMW 5 Series in its sights.
In the Metal
Presence: the M37 has bags of it. At almost five metres long and two metres wide this is a large piece of real estate that confidently stakes its claim to a chunk of tarmac. Significant exterior dimensions aside, the styling is bold and muscular - an imposing recipe shaped as much by the need for aerodynamic efficiency as the stylists' desires. The end result is a contemporary form, particularly in profile, that hints at the shape of the
Mercedes-Benz CLS and
Audi A5 Sportback, but is unmistakably of Japanese origins. This identity is borne out in the interior also, where the familiar traits of gadgets, plastics and a plethora of buttons are present on every surface.
What you get for your Money
From a value perspective the M37 is hard to fault. The range topping S Premium specification comes with every bell and whistle in the Infiniti catalogue from comfort boosting items such as heated and ventilated seats - adjustable in every direction possible - to a veritable arsenal of safety features that include a lane departure system that actually steers the car back on course. Oily bits focus on the 3.7-litre V6 engine that boasts all the mod cons in terms of valve control to create a nice flat torque curve and an impressive output approaching 320bhp. An active four-wheel steering system adds some garnish to a rear-wheel drive chassis with the engine mounted up front (though almost behind the front axle for better weight distribution).
Driving it
The V6 engine in the M37 is a fine unit, well suited to the job in hand thanks to a blend of etiquette and muscle, a schizophrenia aided by the multi-function gearbox that can be set to a soothing Eco mode where performance is blunted to the benefit of fuel consumption. Around town and when ambling around it's an excellent companion. At the other end of the scale, the Sport mode sharpens things up nicely, working the engine further up the rev range, milking the power and holding gears for longer. In this guise the M37 S can really hustle and the chassis likes to get in on the act, too.
The four-wheel steering system takes some getting used to as relatively small steering inputs are all that are required for a swift and assured change of direction. Ultimately it falls short of the dynamic benchmarks in the class but it's a capable contender. On the downside, the driving position itself is rather high; we would prefer to be lower in the cabin - more ensconced, rather than perched in close proximity to the headlining, even for an average height driver. It's a trait that mars the sporting pretensions and prevents the feeling of integration one enjoys in a
Jaguar XF or a
BMW 5 Series. Those over six-feet tall may find things a little claustrophobic.
Worth Noting
Though the M37 S is the range topper, the forthcoming M30d gives little away in terms of outright performance and probably almost nothing in everyday driving, whilst travelling significantly further on a tank of fuel.
Established rivals are familiar sights, the question "what's that?" was the most common conversation opener with people who saw us out and about in the Infiniti: rarity can be appealing.
Summary
Many brands have already proven that success across the pond does not equate to happy times in Europe and this effect has typically been exaggerated as eyes are cast further up the range. In this case, Infiniti have bucked the trend and the M37 S presents itself with the blend of talents required to succeed in some of the world's most demanding markets in Europe. It is by no means the finished article though and does not quite challenge for class honours - cars such as the XF are just
too good for Infiniti to knock from their perch at the first attempt. However, the M37 is a credible effort and for those who seek an alternative to the usual choices it is unlikely to disappoint.
