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Infiniti M

Manufacturer	Infiniti
Parent company	Nissan
Production	2003–present (M35-45) 1990–1992 (M30 coupe)
Assembly	Tochigi, Japan (M35-45) Oppama, Japan (M30 coupe)
Predecessor	Infiniti I / Nissan Cefiro Infiniti Q45 / Nissan Cima
Class	Mid-size luxury car / Executive car (UK)
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Platform	Nissan FM platform
Transmission(s)	5-speed automatic

The "M" moniker has been used on various vehicles sold under the Infiniti brand name.

The M30, M45, and M35 are mid-size luxury cars from Nissan's Infiniti marque. The M35x has also won Consumer Reports top luxury car pick for 2006, taking the spot after the 2005 Lexus LS 430.

With info translated from the Nissan products described in the Japanese Wikipedia:

[edit] 1990

Infiniti M30

Manufacturer	Nissan
Also called	Nissan Leopard
Production	1990–1992
Assembly	Oppama, Japan
Successor	Infiniti J30
Class	Mid-size luxury car
Body style(s)	2-door convertible 2-door coupe
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	3.0 L VG30E V6
Transmission(s)	4-speed RE4R01A automatic
Wheelbase	103.0 in (2616 mm)
Length	188.8 in (4796 mm)
Width	66.5 in (1689 mm)
Height	52.0 in (1321 mm)
Curb weight	1511 kg (3333 lb) (coupe) 1622 kg (3576 lb) (convertible)

The Infiniti M30 (chassis code F31) was a 2-door luxury GT coupe introduced with the Q45 as the start of the Infiniti line in 1990, as a stopgap until other models could be produced. The M30 was basically a Japanese Nissan Leopard built with left-hand drive and rebadged as an Infiniti, and had added luxury features. The other main changes were in the engine, transmission and suspension. The M30 was only sold in the United States.

[edit] Overview

Infiniti M30 convertible

The M30 had no factory options, but dealers offered the addition of a cellular phone and a CD player/changer. The sole engine was Nissan'sVG30E, a 3.0 L SOHC V6 that produced 162 hp (121 kW) and 180 ft·lbf (244 N·m) of torque, also used by many previous Nissan models such as the Maxima and 300ZX. Like the 300ZX, the M30 was a front-engined and rear-wheel drive vehicle. The transmission was an RE4R01A, four-speed automatic with overdrive, as enabled or disabled by a button on the shifter. There was no option of a manual transmission. The differential was a Nissan R200-type open differential. It is generally regarded among M30 enthusiasts that the change of powertrain, weak suspension and the lack of options in these categories was a serious mistake on Infiniti’s part, and perhaps to blame for the lackluster sales. The M30 (coupe)has a stock weight of 3333 lb (1540 kg), yet only 162 hp (121 kW), creating an inadequate power to weight ratio for the intended image of a sport coupe. Unsurprisingly, the M30 convertible weighed even more, due to massive amounts of body and chassis reinforcements, but this is regarded as a good thing to some, because the chassis is noticeably stiffer than it is on the coupes. In addition, sports cars normally come with a manual transmission standard and have the option of an automatic. Instead, Infiniti didn't even give potential buyers the choice, as all M30s had the four-speed automatic.

The M30 was equipped with the Nissan Sonar Suspension II system that was also installed on the Maxima at the time, which featured a sonar module mounted under the front bumper that scanned the road surface and adjusted the suspension accordingly via actuators mounted on the strut towers. There was also a switch on the center console that allowed the driver to change between "Sport" and "Comfort" settings—essentially "firm" and "soft", respectively.

The M30 convertible was, as of the Infiniti G37 convertible's introduction in 2009, the sole convertible of the Infiniti line. Infiniti selected about half of the models produced from 1991 to 1992 and had them made into convertibles by the ASC (American Sunroof Corporation). While the power tops on these did not need extensive maintenance for quite a while, they could be operated manually if necessary. All M30 coupes had power tilting/sliding sunroofs standard, with "auto-cut" while sliding to the closed position to prevent anything from getting caught.

The M30’s production run lasted for only 3 years, ending in 1992 due to lagging sales. Nobody knows exactly how many models were produced, but it has been said that just over 12,000 were made, half coupes, half convertibles, making the M30 the rarest Infiniti ever put into production. Previously rumored by M30 enthusiasts was that only 5,000 were made in total, half being coupes and half convertibles. The M30 was replaced by the Infiniti J30, a mid-size 4-door sedan. While the J30 is a completely different car and has a different chassis code (Y32), it was called the "Leopard J. Ferie" in Japan and was still referred to as the Nissan Leopard.

[edit] Safety

At the time, the M30 rated as one of the top-5 most safe cars to drive of the 90s. The car came with a driver's airbag and ABS (anti-lock brakes) as standard equipment, though it lacked belt pretensioners and roll-over protection (convertible). All M30s came with 3-point self-locking seatbelts located at each outer seat, and the rear-center seat had an adjustable lapbelt.

The M30 received 4 in both frontal- and side-impact crash test ratings, making it one of the safest cars out there at the time. Nissan paid special attention to the placement of the M30's side reinforcing, which is located most notably in the doors and quarter-panels. Of course, all of this safety came at a price; the M30 weighs over 3,200 lbs., and the massive amounts of reinforcement in the doors are very heavy on their hinges. Over time, the driver's door begins to sag drastically, whereas the passenger door not so much.

[edit] Today

The M30 has a small cult following, similar to that of the Nissan Leopard F31 built in Japan. The car shares many similarities with more successful and capable Nissan sports cars, such as the 240SX, 300ZX and early-generation Skylines. As such, more powerful engines, manual transmissions, suspensions and limited slip differentials from these cars can be swapped into the M30 to create a much more capable car. In both the U.S. and Japan, the M30/Leopard has been used for drifting, as it can take parts from other Nissans and is rear-wheel drive.

[edit] Trivia

• The M30 had a small part in the 1999 movie Three Kings, where it was referred to as “The Infiniti Convertible.” The movie takes place in 1991, and therefore, the M30 would have been a 1991 model. However, the movie itself was released in 1998, leaving no way to determine whether the black convertible with optional chrome rims was a 1991 or 1992 model.

[edit] 2003

First generation

Also called	Nissan Gloria
Production	2003–2005
Layout	FR layout
Engine(s)	4.5L 340 hp (254 kW) V8
Wheelbase	110.2 in (2799 mm)
Length	197.2 in (5009 mm)
Width	69.7 in (1770 mm)
Height	57.6 in (1463 mm)
Fuel capacity	21.1 US gallons (79.9 L/17.6 imp gal)
Related	Infiniti FX Infiniti G35 Nissan 350Z

The 2003 M45 was based on the Y34-series Nissan Gloria, with styling almost identical to the Japanese-spec Gloria, and replaced the I30/I35 a.k.a in Japan as the Nissan Cefiro as Infiniti's mid-size car. The engine is Nissan's 340 hp (254 kW) VK45DE V8 which produces 333 lb·ft (451 N·m) of torque.

A major distinction was that the only engine available on the USA-spec M45 was the V8. The Japanese-spec Gloria was never available with a V8, only V6 engines, including turbocharged versions.

The vehicle was something of a stop-gap solution for Infiniti. When introduced in North America it was using a Japanese design that was already several years old. Its styling was criticized for being generic and homely, and it sold poorly. On the other hand, it did allow Infiniti to expand the use of the 4.5L V8 that had been exclusive to the Q45, thus creating a better economy of scale to cope with that engine's development costs. The car also gave Infiniti a viable competitor for such cars as the Lexus GS, particularly the V8 GS400/430.

[edit] 2006

Second generation

Also called	Nissan Fuga
Production	2006–present
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Engine(s)	3.5L 280 hp (209 kW) V6 4.5L 335 hp (250 kW) V8
Wheelbase	114.2 in (2901 mm)
Length	2006-07: 192.6 in (4892 mm) 2008-present: 194.1 in (4930 mm)
Width	70.8 in (1798 mm)
Height	59.4 in (1509 mm) (M35 & M45) 59.5 in (1511 mm) (M35 & M45 Sport) M35x: 60.0 in (1524 mm)
Fuel capacity	20 US gallons (75.7 L/16.7 imp gal)
Related	Infiniti FX Infiniti G35 Nissan 350Z Infiniti G37 Infiniti EX35

Infiniti released a completely redesigned M for the 2006 model year to compete directly in the mid-size sport luxury class, against such class stalwarts as the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It uses a much more rigid version of the G35/350Z/FX Nissan FM platform and is available with the common VQ-series 280 hp (208 kW) 3.5 L V6 in the M35, or the Q45's 335 hp (249 kW) 4.5 L V8 in the M45. In Japan this current version of the M is known as the Nissan Fuga.

The automotive press has awarded the M several best-in-class awards in direct comparisons against its competitors. Despite entering a very crowded, competitive segment in which almost every member has been recently redesigned, the M still managed to find many key distinctions: Both the M35 and M45 are fastest in their class (0-60 in 6.3 and 5.4 seconds, respectively). The M is near or at the top of its class of every interior dimension, actually breaking into the EPA "large" category depending on which option packages are selected. In fact, while being smaller on the outside than the flagship Q45, the M45 boasts more room, greater performance, a superior multilink rear suspension with double wishbones in front, and much friendlier ergonomics, filling in the gap since the previous flagship Q45 was no longer imported from Japan after the 2006 model year.

All-wheel-drive models are called the M35x and M45x, which use a sports car derived system (ATTESA-ETS) to send all power to the rear wheels until slip is detected.

The M line was released in February 2005 (at almost exactly the same time as the new 2006 Lexus GS) and its first several months of sales have been far beyond expectations. Prices in the US (USD) range from approximately $40,000 - 55,000.

[edit] 2008

For the 2008 model year, minor changes are seen. The M45 gets optional all wheel drive (M45x), all models get new front and rear facias, and redesigned blue-and-white gauges (as opposed to the previous orange ones). Infiniti is also offering a S type version for the M45/M45x. Another new feature on the 2008 model is a new touch screen navigation.

[edit] Trademark lawsuit against BMW M series

In 2007, Canadian Federal Court Justice W. Andrew MacKay ruled that the use of the letter by Infiniti was in a form similar to that of the BMW's trademark M alone, and its use of M6 as a package for modifying one of its vehicles, cause confusion in Canada between the sources of the wares of the defendant and the wares of the plaintiffs. The court granted injunction that prevents Nissan from directing public attention to its products in any way likely to cause confusion. ^[1]

BMW introduced its first M series vehicle, M6, in Canada in 1987, and as of 2008 its current lineup consists of the M3, M5, M6, M Coupe and M Roadster. Infiniti registered M45 in 2004 and M35 in 2005 as trademarks for sedans in the middle of its range, and in some advertising has used the letter M alone.

[edit] 2011 and later

Around 2011, Infiniti is expected to release an all new M, the M37 (VQ37VHR 3.7 liter 24 valve V-6, 330 hp) and the M50 (VK50VE 5.0 liter 32 valve V-8, 390 hp (291 kW), 369 lb·ft (500 N·m) torque). The new M is expected to take a design closer to that of the new G37 sedan & coupe.

[edit] Other links

• Official American site
• F31Club.com, an Infiniti M30 & Nissan Leopard enthusiast community
• [1]
• Official Canadian site
• ConsumerGuide review of the M30
  
• History and specifications, year-by-year, of the Leopard

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