The exterior redesign has given the Q45 an elegant look which is distinctive,
and slightly reminiscent of Jaguar sedans. It is still stallion sleek with
a long, sloping nose, a thin roofline and steeply raked rear glass. A big
change in the look is the absence of the third side window, which made
possible the wider rear roof pillar, which in turn is responsible for much
of the freshened appearance. Losing the third window meant gaining rear
windows that go all the way down, a rarity in today's designs. There's
also a strong character line that separates top from bottom.
It's a rare thing to have a car company say, "hey, look at us--our
engine is smaller this year," but that's what we have here. The engine
is called "new", but in reality is a refinement of the 4.5-liter,
dual overhead cam, 32-valve V8 previously used.
The numbers are, at first glance, puzzling. Displacement is down to
4.1 liters. Horsepower has gone to 266 from 278. Torque is 278 pound-feet,
down from 294 at 4000. However, because of weight saved in the refinement
process, the power-to-weight ratio is unchanged from last year. (This Q45
weighs 3879 pounds vs. 4039 last year.)
So why go to the trouble and expense of changing the engine? The smaller
displacement and internal refinements in reducing weight and frictional
power losses have meant an increase in efficiency. Fuel consumption has
gone up from 17/22 city/highway to 18/23, which means the Q45 no longer
falls within gas guzzler territory. The new engine takes some load off
the front wheels to give the big sedan a more nimble feel. Although peak
torque is still 4000 rpm, there is more usable torque lower in the power
range and that means better low-speed acceleration.
By the way, the engine has a second, or improved, generation of variable
valve timing, which adjusts according to engine speed and load. Variable
valve timing is a key element in the new engine's efficiency. Although
it sounds complicated, the system is not another thing to go wrong and
should be considered a plus.
The new V8 drives the rear wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission
and viscous limited-slip differential with traction control.
The suspension got refinements as well. The MacPherson strut front suspension
is 44 pounds lighter, which improves the front/rear weight distribution,
which in turn has a positive effect on handling.
In the rear, the Q45 has a multi-link arrangement designed to keep more
tire contact patch on the road, and more patch means more grip. Anti-dive
and anti-squat characteristics mean less passenger discomfort under hard
braking and acceleration.
The Q45t (touring), from $50,395, has a slightly more aggressive suspension
tune for a sportier feel.
Prestige cars traditionally offer a lap-of-luxury interior environment.
The Q45 cleaves hard and fast to the traditional approach. What isn't covered
in leather is covered in woodgrain. The leather is some of the best in
the business: buttery soft and perfectly stitched. It comes in but three
colors--beige, stone beige and black--but who could (tastefully) ask for
more?
The instrument layout is well considered with everything within sight
and/or reach. The occupants intentionally sit low in the car--not dramatically
so, however--so there is an added sense of security, of being surrounded
by body structure. The power front seats adjust in 10 directions and have
power lumbar supports.
There is a two-position memory for driver entry and exit, an eight-speaker
Bose sound system and Homelink, a transmitter system for opening gates
and garage doors and separate air conditioning for the rear seats. That
$48,890 base price (including destination) also brings with it the usual
vast array of comfort and convenience features that are essential in this
class: power tilt/telescope steering, cruise control, speed-sensitive wi-pers,
timed rear window defroster, dual vanity mirrors, power windows, locks,
and trunk and fuel door.
Regarding safety of the crash kind, the Q45 has dual front airbags and
front seat belt pre-tensioners. However, the new Q45 still lags its direct
competitors from BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in terms of side airbags, the
next horizon in side impact protection.
Regarding safety of the perpetrator kind, there are pick-resistant door
locks. If, somehow, the castle has been breached, the perpetrator will
run up against the Infiniti Personalized Protection Sys-tem that combines
60,000 possible key codes with a new, numerically random "rolling
code" generated by the engine's computer each time the ignition is
turned off.
A nice touch we liked is the Interior Light Logic feature. It turns
the interior lights on very brightly in the open door for easy entry and
exit without blasting the rest of the cabin with intense light. We also
liked the pin light that bathes the center console and front door panels
with soft light that makes finding and operating controls a bit easier.
When we learned of the displacement reduction, our first concern was
the Q45's impressive V8 performance had been compromised. Not to worry.
The new engine retains the Q's impressive thrust. Throttle response is
instant, whether you're moving away from a stoplight, making a tight freeway
merge or passing.
This V8 is among the smoothest and most satisfying around today, easily
holding its own with the Lexus and BMW offerings and perhaps even a touch
smoother and quieter than the Mercedes-Benz V8s.
The Q45 has always had a more driver-involved feeling than the LS 400,
less so than the BMW 5-Series and the M-B E-Class, and that characteristic
continues. We think it's a good compromise most drivers will find satisfying.
The engine and transmission are connected electronically--so smooth,
precise shifts are based on speed and load. On the road, the feeling is
of a seamless flow of power with no hesitation or jerkiness between shifts.
The suspension produces as advertised. The car feels very firmly planted--stable
as a train in a straight line, controlled in turns. Whether it's the weight
loss over the front wheels, the suspension tune or a combination of both,
the Q45 feels even more nimble than before.
Steering is quick, the suspension softish but not cushiony, which is
good. Visibility is good. Overall comfort is good. This car is as much
at home lazing around town as it is devouring miles of interstate. It's
a nice place to be.