Costa Mesa, CA – The big news for the 2009 Infiniti M35 is a bump in horsepower, up to 303 from 275 via a revised 3.5-liter V6 cranking out 262 lb-ft Torque.  Also a new 7-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport Mode is in place of the old 5-speed.  The ’09 M35x (all wheel drive) soldiers on with the 5-speed.  Why the new 3.7-liter V6 from this year’s G37 making 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft Torque isn’t available is a mystery.

                The luxury sport sedan marketplace is hotly contested with competition from the likes of BMW, Acura, Lexus and Hyundai with its new Genesis Sedan.  The approach these automakers take with their offerings differ but for buyers shopping this category the Infiniti M35 does everything very well and is a very worthy option.

                The base M35 come very well equipped with items such as adaptive xenon headlights, sunroof, auto up/down power windows, 10-way power adjustable driver and passenger seats with heating and cooling and  memory function for the driver side, leather interior, dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, 18-inch alloy wheels, and much more.  MSRP Base Price is $45,800.   

                Add the Sport package with active rear steering, sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch aluminum wheels shod with sticky 19 inch summer tires, sport bolstered front seats, leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter, aluminum trim and pedals to enhance the driving pleasure and your well on your way to some fun corner carving when you feel the need with the ability to take a few people with you in complete comfort.

Helping to keep you and your passengers comfortable is the Advanced Technology Package with the Bose 5.1 Studio Surround Sound System with 14 speakers, yes 14!  Two each in the top of the seatback with the headrest centered between them.  Very cool stuff and the system offers enough power to keep any road going DJ happy.  So will the 9.3 GB hard drive “music box” and iPod connectivity.  On the safety front:  airbags abound throughout the car and LDW, lane departure warning system, LDP, lane departure prevention and intelligent cruise control.  All that on top of the standard 4-wheel ABS, tire pressure monitoring system, traction control and vehicle dynamics control.

sporty, handsome and comfortable car that returns a respectable 17 MPG City and 25 MPG Hwy for a combined rating of 19 MPG overall.  I averaged 20 MPG in mixed driving over the course of 473 miles.
                  If you are an avid reader of this column you’ll recall I reviewed a 2008 M45S last summer and enjoyed it immensely.  The roughly $4000.00 premium for the V8 powered M45 is not a lot of money but is also something to consider when looking at financing and insurance rates.  Me being me I would opt for the V8 but that is in no way meant to say that the strong V6 in this model is anything less than entertaining.
                This V6 pulls strongly and provides a throaty growl out the quad chrome-finished exhaust.  My preferred set-up while driving this car was to use the manual mode with the automatic rev-matching downshifts.  This allows you to shift at your desired RPM level and the 7-speed gearbox holds gears longer in this mode offering more performance.    Paddle-shifters would be a nice addition to this vehicle even with its luxury state of mind.  The 19-inch (P245/40R19) W-Rated Bridgestone Potenza summer tires (part of the Sport package) offer plenty of grip.  They also offer a little more road noise inside of the cabin, especially over rough or grooved pavement, more than you would expect in a luxury vehicle, but is a small price to pay for the amount of “sport” that comes with all the “luxury” you have around you.                The interior is outstanding.  Comfortable seating for 4, 5 if you don’t mind riding pretty “friendly” in the rear.  The cooling option in the front seats is…well…awesome.  I’m not sure why it’s taken automakers so long to offer it to the masses but once you experience it you’ll never want to be without it.  The center stack has taken some criticism from reviewers but I find it easy to use, much easier than those offered by the competition with dials and/or mouse like controllers.
                As competent a vehicle as this is the new 3.7 liter V6 from the ’09 G making 330 horses would be welcomed.  Until then, horsepower hungry buyers will be happy with the M45 and its V8 but this V6 is no slouch. 

Column and photos provided by Rich Branch, EVP of Race Central TV and Radio Network Partners.