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When we think of competitors for the BMW 5-Series, things like the Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF, and Audi A6 come to mind immediately, and sadly, the Infiniti M is casually overlooked in most cases. This was mostly due, in part, to an anemic V-8 mill, out-of-date interior materials and technology, and old styling. This all changes, though, as Infiniti has just debuted the sexy new M -- in both M37 and M56 flavors -- at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

As the names suggest, the M will be available with Infiniti's trusty 3.7-liter V-6 engine that we've fawned over in the G, as well as a new 5.6-liter, direct-injection V-8. The six is good for 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, while the larger engine increases those numbers to 420 and 417, respectively. All M models come standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is optional. Additionally, an upgraded sport package adds four-wheel active steer, a sport-tuned suspension, larger brakes, and twenty-inch wheels. This package is only available on rear-drive Ms, though.

Visually, the new M is a bit larger than the model it replaces, and features a sloping roofline and high rear end, giving it an almost coupe-like shape. (We've seen this trend before, no?) Moving inside, upgraded leather for the seat is on hand, as well as a boat-load of technological features to make the M more competitive within the mid/full-size luxury segment.

We'll have pricing information closer to the 2011 M's on-sale date, but in the meantime, scroll down to read the full press release with all of the details.

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Infiniti announced its first production hybrid. Based on the 2011 M line, the M35 hybrid will likely be sold as a 2012 model.

While Infiniti has not released performance numbers, driving range, or what transmission it will use, the automaker has promised that it will focus on driving performance. With rear-wheel drive, a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, and design cues taken from the Essence concept we saw at the Geneva show, the M35 hybrid, Infiniti should easily make good on this promise.

The electric motor, which can propel the vehicle on its own under certain driving conditions (we imagine a similarity to the EV mode of the Toyota Prius or Lexus HS250h), it also delivers extra power to the V-6 when necessary. When not in use, the electric motor acts as a generator to charge the lithium-ion battery pack.

See the Infiniti M35 hybrid in the gallery above, or scroll down for the press release.

For some time now we’ve been doing brief, direct comparisons of test cars at the request of our readers. Naturally, anyone considering a car will have a short list of other cars that are considered competitive. We think the information requested has been helpful, so we’re formalizing the idea in a new series called Showdown. This is the first article in this series, so let us know what you think, in comments.

Someone shopping for a convertible around the $40k mark would probably have at least one of these cars in mind. Since these three cars are full of surprises, we thought it would be useful to cover them in Showdown format as a way of highlighting the choices buyers face. Note that to keep these three cars within shouting distance of each other, we tested the Mustang GT Premium with manual transmission against the base G37 and the base 328i convertible (which was only available for test with an automatic). 

Overall Involvement:

Mustang: 90

This is one of those cars where the parts are good, but the whole really gels into a something better than good. This is a genuinely fun car for everyday driving on real roads. Not only that, the Mustang seems special, in part because it is iconic, but even more because the design and materials are so well done.

G37: 85

The G37 is a car where the driving experience is less than the sum of the parts. When you drive the G37, nothing seems really wrong because nothing is horrible and plenty of things are well done. But a multitude of little annoyances add up to an insipid drive.

328i: 89

With BMW spitting out more variants of its cars every year, some of them are bound to be less than good. The 328i convertible isn’t one of those. With the smoothest BMW six in years and a typical well-sorted BMW chassis, traditional BMW virtues are on offer. That said, this is a good BMW, and a very pretty one, but not one of the great driver’s cars because the weight overmatches the engine’s output.

CLICK HERE to continue reading Showdown.

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The mid-size luxury sedan wars are heating up, what with Mercedes-Benz's latest E-Class strutting its stuff, BMW's 5-Series on its way, and Jaguar's XF doing well in its second year of production. And while the Infiniti M was always a good contender in this class, the all-new 2011 M will be a much-welcomed addition to a booming segment of fine cars.

It's obvious to see that the M's design is an evolution of the Infiniti Essence Concept shown earlier this year. We like the curvy, elegant lines, and notice that (from the dead-on side profile), it almost looks like a larger, more robust G sedan, which isn't a bad thing. The M will be available in two flavors, M37 and M56, the latter of which is expected to produce more than 400 horsepower.

The 2011 Infiniti M will hit dealerships starting in the Spring of 2010, and we'll be sure to post more photos and details from the car's official debut later this year. For now, click through the post and read about what Infiniti has to say about the M right now.

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Our team in Austin, Texas, just took delivery of Infiniti's new droptop G, and they'll be enjoying some warm-weather, top-down driving for the next week. The new G37 Convertible will surely give the BMW 3-Series Cabriolet a run for its money, and we'll give you our full report in a future issue of Winding Road.

In the meantime, head over to our Ask It forum and post whatever questions you have about the G37 Convertible. We'll do our best to respond, as well as post some driving impressions throughout the week.

+ NextAutos Forums: Ask It: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible

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4/23/09

In our fleet this week, we have the 2009 Infiniti G37 sedan. Now is your chance to ask us whatever you can think of about the vehicle. We’ll do our best to answer any questions you have.

Follow the link to our forum thread, and feel free to browse or forums for other topics while you’re there.

+NextAutos Forum: Ask It – 2009 Infiniti G37

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While the Geneva Motor Show is only part of the way through day one, the Infiniti Essence Concept is surely one of the more stunning vehicles that will be found on the show floor. While the idea of a gas/electric hybrid sports car which can produce nearly 600 horsepower may seem a bit far fetched for the current state of our economy, this Infiniti show car is indeed sleek, sexy, and would surely be a blast to drive if it was put into production.

Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 3.7-liter V-6 which produces 434 horsepower. Additional power comes from a lithium-ion battery pack in the boot which pumps out an additional 158 horsepower, all of which runs through the Essence's rear wheels. Infiniti says that this should yield a combined fuel economy of 8 liters/100km (almost 30 U.S. miles per gallon).

The two-seat interior boasts a very driver-oriented cockpit, with all controls pointed directly towards the driver, only leaving a blank (yet luxurious) space for a passenger. Leather, alcantara, and hand-painted wood is found throughout the cabin, along with hand-stitched materials throughout.

Click through the post for Infiniti's official press release, and be sure to scroll through the gallery of images above to see the sexy Essence Concept in all of its glamour.

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PROS

• Vibrant V-6 and great seven-speed automatic
• Firm, well dialed-in suspension
• Inviting, exciting interior

CONS

• Not nearly as space efficient as it could be
• Suspension might be a little too stiff for confirmed luxophiles
• Limited rear quarter visibility

CAR SUMMARY
For most SUVs, the term “sport” typically means, “this boat can haul you and your buddies to go watch a sporting event…” But happily, Infiniti’s FX35 AWD is different; it puts the Sport in SUV in four important ways.

• First, the FX35 comes with a powerful (303 horsepower) and responsive variant of Nissan’s classic V-6, with one added plus; it has a baritone exhaust note so fine it would have made Beethoven weep for joy.
• Second, it’s got a slick, smooth shifting seven-speed automatic that has an uncanny knack for always being in the right gear (you can shift it manually if you want to, but we found the transmission typically made better and quicker choices than we did).
• Third, and this is the part we didn’t see coming, the FX35 has a firm, beautifully damped suspension that makes it as well if not better suited for spirited motoring than many so-called sports sedans. Go figure.
• Fourth, the Infiniti has well-weighted steering plus seats that split the difference between luxury car comfort and panache vs. sports car grip and support (but with lots of emphasis on support).

Luxury and technology touches abound, some of them gimmicky, but the majority of them clever and genuinely useful. The Utility side of the FX35’s SUV equation is good, but not great (space utilization could be better). Styling is curvaceous and dramatic and for that reason, perhaps, an acquired taste (but judging by reactions in our offices, it’s a taste a whole lot of people have acquired). Bottom line: this is an SUV for drivers -- one that evokes strong (and usually positive) emotional responses, while winning over SUV skeptics.

Read more about the Infiniti FX on the vehicle's buyer's guide page, where you'll find our driving impressions, previous road tests, galleries, and more. You can find buyer's guides to other vehicles in the NextAutos car search database.

When we originally reported that certain automakers would be pulling out of the 2009 North American International Auto Show, we wondered what the floor at Cobo Hall would look like without the absence of key players in our marketplace. However, in a late breaking change of plans, we have learned that local dealerships will be footing the bill to have Nissan, Infiniti, and Mitsubishi products make their way to the NAIAS floor.

To be clear, though, there won't be any models, fancy displays, or high-wattage lighting; but as Joe Serra, NAIAS co-chairman says, "The cars are going to be the stars." This will surely be a big hit with enthusiasts hoping to see some of their favorite Japanese products in the flesh. The extra space was originally going to be filled with displays from Chinese exhibitors, so we'll have to wait and see what this change of plans will do to the Detroit show's layout.

+ The Car Connection: Nissan, Infiniti, and Mitsubishi Back At Cobo Hall

Nissan is reportedly phasing out some of its aging larger vehicles, namely the Armada and Infiniti QX. These vehicles are currently produced in Nissan's Mississippi plant, but the production team down there will instead be focusing on a new large vehicle based on the NV2500 Concept. There's no official word that Nissan will be completely killing its full-size SUVs, but poor sales have caused the automaker to rethink their product strategies moving forward.

Nissan could be shifting production of these models to other plants, but Armada and QX sales are down significantly compared to last year's sales. We're not sure what's on the production front for the NV2500, but Nissan is looking forward to joining the commercial vehicle segment. Us? We're already plotting out our comparison test between the NV2500 and the Dodge Sprinter.

+ Motor Authority: Report: Nissan phasing out production of Armada and Infiniti QX56 SUVs