Newport Beach, CA – All good things must come to an end, so “they” say.  But most good things don’t actually end, they get better.  By the time you read this, the all new for 2011 “M” models from Infiniti will be available at your local Infiniti dealership.

                2010 being the Swan Song model year for the M35 S it’s going out with a successful track record, but no major changes over the ’09 model.  That’s OK because there is nothing left to prove.  The Infiniti M models have always been on my favorites list, and are something I would put in my garage.

                2010 models are as easy to shop as the ’09 models since that’s when the 7-speed automatic was offered in the RWD models (the M35x, all wheel drive, makes due with a 5-speed) and the stout 3.5-Liter DOHC 24-valve V6 making 303 horsepower and 262 Lb-Ft torque went into the engine bay.

Power aside, the base models come very well equipped with a sunroof, Bluetooth connectivity, adaptive xenon headlights, keyless entry, start/stop engine button, 18-inch tires and alloy wheels, automatic/dual- zone climate control, auto up/down power windows, 6-speaker audio system with satellite radio, CD/MP3 changer and auxiliary jack, leather interior and 10-way power heated and cooled front seats with memory options for the driver’s seat.  Base price will set up back $45,800.   

                The Sport package is only offered on the RWD model and adds 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 in place of the base models wood interior accents, sport body styling and the big red S on the trunk lid.  What it does not add, oddly enough, is steering-wheel mounted shifter paddles, and this car cries out for them.
                The Bose 5.1 Studio Surround Sound System with 14 speakers is the highlight of the Advanced Technology Package.  Other goodies in this option are for your safety and the safety of others on the road.  Included is the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system which signals the driver when they inadvertently drift into another lane, the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system which gently applies braking pressure to specific wheels to help you steer the car back to your intended lane, Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) system which keeps you at a safe distance from the car in front of you

while cruising along and Preview Braking which pre-loads the braking pressure if the on-board sensors detect that a collision could occur.  All these safety features are in addition to ABS, multiple airbags (seat, roof, and supplemental airbags), first-aid kit, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Traction Control, and the all important if you’re a gangster, emergency inside trunk lid release handle.
                For audiophiles the Technology Package adds the 9.3-GB Music Box hard drive and iPod interface system.  For the directionally challenged the voice recognition navigation system (one of the best I’ve used by far) is bundled in this package with XM real-time traffic information (subscription required).  You can’t get lost and you can listen to your favorite tunes all the way to your destination.
                Getting to your destination is the point here right?  So while listening to those tunes and following the directions given to you, you can have some fun driving.  The 7-speed tranny is best enjoyed in “sport” mode while doing your own up/down shifting and grinning to the sonorous melody of rev-matched downshifts emanating from the quad tailpipes while enjoying EPA mileage estimates of 17 City and 25 HWY (my lead foot squeaked out 16.1MPG over 300 miles).  Under WOT the 303 horses under the hood get a touch unruly and make some noise that leaks into the cabin, as does some road noise from the 19-inch Bridgestone’s, and the chassis gets a little nervous when pushed a little harder than it likes, not Nissan/Infiniti’s best example of suspension tuning, which is usually spot on.
                At the end of the day let’s be honest, at $54,415 out the door the 2010 Infiniti M35 S is executive transportation, not an entry into the Long Beach Grand Prix!  Mercedes, BMW, Acura, Lexus, and even Hyundai with its Genesis Sedan make up the competition in the Luxury-Sport Sedan market and Infiniti has served up a very worthy offering that has nothing left to prove as it rides off into the sunset.
                Farewell M35 S.  Hello M37 S (3.7-Liter, 330-horse/270 Lb-Ft V6, let’s hope you sprout those paddle shifters your predecessor left behind! 

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