- #40 of 139
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Re: New M45x for 2008 [blov8r]
by pearl
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May 25, 2007 (7:40 pm)
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Replying to: blov8r (May 03, 2007 6:11 am)
horrendous gas mileage by Infiniti was one of the main reasons I did not buy one - instead buying a BMW. Infiniti needs to get off the "we can make our 3.5L go faster than yours by transmission and final gear ratios" kick. They may be fast, but they suck gas, and the kudos for those days are over. If the 08 M does not have some salutes to gas mileage, via a SIX speed auto, or other efficiencies, in this econo environment, they will become an asterisk. EVERY other auto manufacturer understands this.
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- #41 of 139
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Re: New M45x for 2008 [pearl]
by blov8r
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May 31, 2007 (6:44 am)
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Replying to: pearl (May 25, 2007 7:40 pm)
I've enjoyed every minute of the 2+ years I've had my M but I'll not get another unless the gearing issue is resolved and respectable fuel economy improves. I can afford the fuel ... all of us who sprung for $53K cars can ... but it's an annoyance and Infiniti's arrogance NOT to address those issues has me looking another direction when this lease is up. I may even go hybrid! Bart 
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- #42 of 139
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Official 2008 M Info
by kals
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Jun 30, 2007 (5:55 am)
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Infiniti have released info on the 08 M. Same engine and transmission. Here is a cut and paste. For the full go to nissannews.com:
For 2008, the Infiniti M receives major upgrades that include the first-ever availability of Infiniti’s intelligent ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system on the 4.5-liter V8-powered M45. The new model, designated M45x, joins the M35x to provide buyers with two choices in all-climate AWD performance.
Other enhancements for 2008 include revised interior and exterior styling and added luxury amenities and technologies, including the production debut of Infiniti’s newest safety technology, the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system. LDP takes Infiniti’s existing Lane Departure Warning system (currently implemented on the FX and the 2007 M sedan) one step further by utilizing the Vehicle Dynamic Control to apply slight brake pressure to the wheels opposite the side of the lane departure direction to help prevent the M from inadvertently traveling out of its travel lane.
The M45 continues to offer a 325-horsepower 4.5-liter aluminum-alloy DOHC V8, while the M35 features the award-winning VQ-series 3.5–liter V6, tuned for the M to produce 275 horsepower. For the new model year, both engines will be offered with rear-wheel drive and Infiniti’s intelligent ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system. For 2008, previous M Sport models have been replaced by an available Sport Package.
Enhancements to the 2008 M include:
- New M45x AWD model with intelligent ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive
- Production debut of Infiniti’s Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system
- Revised front and rear fascia, headlights, grille, rear decklid and taillight design, rear fender panels, new chrome accents
- New wheel designs
- Available Sport Package with unique styling, Rear Active Steer (RAS), 19-inch wheels and tires
- Increased differentiation between Sport Package and non-Sport Package vehicles with unique bumpers, side sills, headlight color and wheels
- Rain sensing wipers
- Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System with touch-screen, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback and available XM NavTraffic® (requires active XM® subscription, sold separately)
- Revised interior and revised aluminum and wood trim
- Standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) (optionally available on M35 AWD)
- Standard climate-controlled seats
- New Stone interior color
- New white instrument panel lighting with violet accents and white and violet interior lighting
- Standard XM Satellite Radio (requires XM® subscription, sold separately)
- Six new exterior colors (out of eight total)
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- #43 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [kals]
by pearl
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Jun 30, 2007 (9:58 am)
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Replying to: kals (Jun 30, 2007 5:55 am)
while I am sure that the 08 M changes will be beneficial, I think that Infiniti will witness declining sales specifically because they refused to address the gas mileage issue. People have been complaining about this since the car was introduced, and there are some relatively easy solutions to maintain good performance and improve cruising MPG (e.g. six speed transmission). We'll see what happens, but I doubt that their sales will improve because of these changes.
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- #44 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [pearl]
by kals
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Jun 30, 2007 (3:58 pm)
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Replying to: pearl (Jun 30, 2007 9:58 am)
I have to agree with you 100% Pearl. The gas mileage issue should have been addressed. I don't think they can drop in a six speed auto because they don't have one in the parts bin. Correct me if I am wrong but there are currently no six speed auto Nissans or Infinitis. Perhaps if they had dropped in the revised 3.5 V6 they could have taken advantage of its better torque curve and thus tweaked the gear ratios a little for better economy. Sales are going to stay flat at best or go down.
On a side note I wonder what sort of mpg's the new M45x will yield.
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- #45 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [kals]
by ghstudio
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Jul 01, 2007 (7:26 am)
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Replying to: kals (Jun 30, 2007 5:55 am)
Really unexciting news! My M35 lease will be up in 15 months and I was anticipating moving into the '08 M...but not with these changes.
1) The obvious negative is no changes to the engine or transmission...Where is the 3.7, where is the 6 speed or CVT...and where is the fuel economy improvement? What is Infinity thinking? I guess they are abandoning the M for 2008 expecting the G to make the money. I am going to bet that the 08 M is a very short model year and the 09 comes out (very) early.
2) White and lavender instruments? I wonder if they did any market research? Sounds incredibly ugly for a luxury car.
3) every M owner I know turns off the current lane change system. With the "improvements" which will cause the car to turn back into the current lane, it sounds almost dangerous if you are actually trying to change lanes. I guess it works, but I can't imagine anyone using it except to demo to friends.
4) Finally, rain sensing wipers....wow, what a technology improvement.
I'll be moving to a Lexus or returning to a BMW for my next car.
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- #46 of 139
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Colors
by ohmark
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Jul 02, 2007 (12:29 pm)
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Any news at to what the new colors are?
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- #47 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [ghstudio]
by ocim
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Jul 02, 2007 (6:52 pm)
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Replying to: ghstudio (Jul 01, 2007 7:26 am)
I agree. I have no idea what the heck Infiniti is thinking. I liked the M35X after test driving. I thought that it had much more luxurious appointments over the competitors (BMW 530, Acura RL, Lexus GS, etc. I also thought it had better in handling than the BMW. However, I never drove the car on the open highway. There are too many complaints here about the car revving too high at 70mph. This really concerns me. Even 4 cylinders don't rev that high anymore, let alone a luxury car. I think the excessive engine hum would really get to me on long trips. I had a 91 Honda Prelude that I had to get rid of because of high revs at highway speeds. I swore I would never buy another car like that again. Too bad, because the M was really roomy - something that is also important to me.
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- #48 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [ghstudio]
by pearl
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Jul 03, 2007 (2:34 am)
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Replying to: ghstudio (Jul 01, 2007 7:26 am)
ghstudio, I am sure that you are correct that Infiniti does not have a six speed in their parts bin to "drop in"; however, they have heard the complaints about higway noise and poor fuel economy since the new M was introduced three years ago and have done nothing (including buying one from another manufacturer which many others already do). Nearly all other manufacturers are moving to six speed (or more) transmissions. Even if Nissan/Infiniti concluded that they could not/would not develop one, there are plenty of other things they could do, such as reduce the overall axle ratio, or drop the ratio of the final fifth gear in the present transmission, or try to reduce the vehicle weight, etc, etc. Infiniti seems very arrogant to me on this issue. For 08 there will be numerous other cars with similar performance AND better mileage. To me, Infiniti is behaving like having your neighbor tell you that your house is on fire, but continuing to sit there and watch your favorite TV show.
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- #49 of 139
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Re: Official 2008 M Info [pearl]
by blov8r
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Jul 03, 2007 (5:58 am)
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Replying to: pearl (Jul 03, 2007 2:34 am)
I got my M as one of the very first delivered in Tucson ... April 1, 2005. I've not had a moment's problem with it but am very disappointed that they've turned a deaf ear to the myriad of legitimate (and fairly easy to fix) "issues" raised by otherwise very happy owners. Have they fixed the passenger seat? I'll find out today ... mine's going in for an oil change. Gearing not addressed. Fuel economy not addressed. A recipe for taking a stunningly good beginning and turning it into yet another failure. I'd expect this kind of stubbornness from the Germans but not the Japanese. Very distressing. I'll buy American before I buy Infiniti or Lexus (again) if this is the best they can do. 12 months and mine's gone. Bart.
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