Infiniti · 1989–2019

Infiniti M

The Infiniti M is a line of mid-size luxury (executive) cars from the Infiniti luxury division of Nissan. From 2013 (model year 2014) on it has been marketed as the Infiniti Q70, reflecting the company's later naming formula. The first iteration was the M30 Coupé/Convertible, rebadged variants of the JDM Nissan Leopard. After a hiatus, the M nameplate was used for Infiniti's short-lived mid-luxury M45 sedan, a rebadged version of the Japanese-spec Nissan Gloria and Infiniti's subsequent flagship M35/45 and M37/56/35h/30d, based on the JDM Nissan Fuga.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Nissan Cefiro

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First generation (1989–1992)

The Infiniti M30 was a 2-door coupé based on the Japanese market Nissan Leopard (chassis code F31). It was launched in 1989 for the 1990 model year as a lower-priced alternative to the Infiniti Q45, and was intended to be an alternative to the Acura Legend coupe and to a lesser extent the Lexus ES 250, as it was also a lower-priced alternative to the Lexus LS400, although the ES 250 was only offered as a 4-door sedan. Unlike its competitors that were designed with the American market in mind and were launched as brand-new models, the M30 was based on a somewhat dated platform that was originally designed for the Japanese market; when the Leopard was imported to the United States, few changes were made to the exterior but the interior was revised to better suit American tastes; a leather interior was standard in the M30, and several features in the Leopard such as a center-mounted television screen and a digital instrument cluster weren't available in the M30 as those features were perceived as gimmicks in western car markets. The M30's angular design aesthetics and on-road performance were viewed as outdated, especially considering a redesigned Acura Legend coupe was launched in 1991. The interior came in for criticism for its outdated ergonomics and lack of room. While the Japanese-market Leopard had received a new dashboard along with the 1988 facelift, economics precluded making a left-hand-drive version of the new dashboard and the M30 was instead fitted with the LHD version of the R31 Skyline's rectilinear dashboard, first presented in 1985. The M30 made up for these deficiencies in its somewhat lower price; whereas the 1990 Acura Legend coupe started at $27,325 before options and the 1990 BMW 325i started at $24,650 before options, the M30 started at $23,500, and

Second generation (2002–2004)

Infiniti M45 was designed in 2000 at the Nissan Technical Center (NTC) in Atsugi, Japan; was manufactured in Tochigi, Japan; and is based on eleventh generation, Y34-series Nissan Gloria. In contrast to the Japanese models, which were available only with 6-cylinder engines, the M45 was powered by Nissan's VK45DE V8, producing 340 hp (254 kW) and 333 lb⋅ft (451 N⋅m) of torque, which it shared with the Infiniti's flagship Q45. In addition to the difference in powertrain with the Y34 Cedric/Gloria, the Y34 M45 uses a different instrument panel design, similar to the F50 Q45 as well as a different rear multi-link suspension design. The Y34 Cedric/Gloria's rear multi-link suspension design is similar to the Nissan Z32 300ZX, and Nissan S14/S15 Silvia/200SX/240SX where the rear spring is mounted on the strut. The rear suspension design on the Y34 M45 is much like the rear suspension design on the Nissan Z33 350Z, where the spring is mounted independent of the shock/strut, and sits directly on the lower arm, in a spring cup. The front suspension design carries over from the Y33 Q45, with a one-piece strut/upright. In place of the stamped steel front lower arm, the Y34 M45 has a cast aluminum lower A-arm. The M45 broadened Nissan's use of the 4.5L V8 that had been exclusive to the Q45, allowing the company to better amortize the engine's development cost.

Third generation (2005–2010)

Infiniti released a redesigned M for the 2006 model year, released in February 2005, and marketed in Japan as the Nissan Fuga. All-wheel-drive models, marketed as the M35x and M45x, use a system (ATTESA-ETS) to send all power to the rear wheels until slip is detected. As the Q45 was no longer exported from Japan after model year 2006, the M45 became Infiniti's flagship. The M used a more rigid version of the Nissan FM platform shared with the G35/350Z/FX — and was available with the VQ-series 280 hp (209 kW) 3.5 L V6 in the M35, or the Q45's 335 hp (250 kW) 4.5 L V8 in the M45. While shorter 177 mm (7.0 in) than the last Q45 at 5,069 mm (199.6 in), the M offered greater interior space, performance, a rear multilink suspension and front double wishbone, and improved ergonomics as well as a 30 mm (1.2 in) longer wheelbase. Reception. In the automotive press, several reviewers praised the M35 and M45's driving involvement and handling dynamics vs the GS and E-Class while having superior ergonomics to the 5 Series; furthermore the M was equipped and priced competitively against its German rivals, while the M35 also received strong reviews. Despite entering a very crowded, competitive segment in which almost every member has been recently redesigned, the M managed to claim several key distinctions. The M is near or at the top of its class of every interior dimension, actually breaking into the United States Environmental Protection Agency "large" category depending on which option packages are selected. The M35x won Consumer Reports top luxury car pick for 2006, taking the top spot from the 2005 Lexus LS 430. The Infiniti M did not gain a significant share in the mid-luxury market. The Infiniti G37 sedan and coupe, competing in the entry-level luxury sport category, accou

Fourth generation (2010–2019)

The Y51, designed by Hideo Komuro during 2006 and 2008 under the supervision of Shiro Nakamura, took on a more fluid look, recalling the coke bottle styling of a 1960s and 1970s. The 2011 Infiniti M debuted at the 59th Annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and at a media event in Beverly Hills, California in December 2009, to coincide with the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles. The production version went on sale globally starting in the spring of 2010, as a 2011 model — and in the US on March 1, 2010. It was launched in Europe at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. A driving mode selector was included on all models, situated below the transmission gear lever and between the heated and ventilated front seat controls, providing four selections labeled "Standard", "Sport", "Eco", and "Snow", allowing the 7-speed transmission, engine and various systems to optimize driving in varying conditions. To minimize intrusion of exhaust noise in the passenger compartment, the M included a noise cancelling system marketed as Active Noise Control. Double-piston shock absorbers, developed by Kayaba Industry Company, have replaced those previously supplied by Hitachi. The 5.6L V8 VK56VD in the Infiniti M56 was competitive with other V8 mid-luxury (executive) cars such as the BMW 550i and Mercedes-Benz E550. The 5.6L V8 is not shared with its Japanese domestic market counterpart, the Nissan Fuga, as Nissan opted instead to have the hybrid version as the performance option. The extended length version of the Fuga, known as the Cima, is offered as the Infiniti Q70L beginning from model year 2015. The M37 and M56 will have all-wheel drive optional, badged as M37x and M56x, respectively. Safety technology included Lane Departure Prevention, which uses a small camera mounted above the rearview mirror t

Discontinuation

In 2019, Nissan confirmed that the Infiniti Q70, Q70L, Q30, and QX30 models would be discontinued after model year 2019 due to poor sales and a buyer shift in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to crossovers and SUVs instead of sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, convertibles, and coupes. Another reason for the discontinuation was Nissan's plans to withdraw the Infiniti brand from the Australian, New Zealand, South Korean, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, and West European markets by the end of 2020, with Nissan already withdrawing the Infiniti brand from the South African market in 2017 due to losses and poor sales. Nissan has no plans of abandoning sedans entirely and plans on possibly introducing an Infiniti EV vehicle in 2021 for the 2022 model year based from QS Inspiration concept.

Awards and recognition

2010 Ward's Auto Interior of the Year 2011 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award- "Top 10 Cars of 2011" (Top Luxury Pick). 2011 Infiniti M received Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick. 2011 Infiniti M35h sets official Guinness record for world's fastest production hybrid (certified by the 2013 Guinness Book of Records edition)

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Infiniti M
Manufacturer: Nissan
aka: Infiniti Q70 (2013–2019), Nissan Fuga (SWB; 2009–2022), Nissan Cima (hybrid LWB; 2012–2022)
Production: 1989–1992 (M30 coupé), 2002–2019 (M sedan)
Predecessor: Infiniti I, Infiniti J30
Successor: Infiniti Q70 (renamed to)
Class: Executive car
Body style: 4-door sedan
Platform: Nissan FM platform

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1662408CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infiniti_MCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1369880728 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2011_Infiniti_M56S_1_--_06-16-2010.jpgPublic domain · Photo: IFCAR · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.