The muscle car is quintessentially American. Manufacturers worldwide have attempted to produce their interpretations of the muscle car to varying success: British automaker, Jensen employed Chrysler V-8 engines to build the famous Jensen Interceptor; Holden relied on its affiliation with GM to produce the Holden Monaro. The Monaro and the Interceptor deservedly made our list of the 10 best non-American muscle cars.
One car that unluckily missed the cut was the Infiniti M45. It lasted only two model years – 2003 and 2004 – and wasn’t a sales success. Therefore, it’s easy to see why it flew under the radar. Looking at it now, however, it’s somewhat surprising that a mid-size luxury car from Infiniti, that came with a loud V-8 upfront failed to capture the American public’s imagination. Here’s everything about the forgotten V-8 Japanese sedan that combined muscle and luxury.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Autoweek, Forbes, MotorTrend, and classic.com.
The Infiniti M45 Was Quicker Than Its Pricier Sibling, The Infiniti Q45
Infinitifound itself in a challenging position in the early 2000s, still working to define its luxury brand identity while riding a wave of improved sales from 2001 to 2002. The automaker decided to strike while the iron was hot by launching the M45, a mid-size sedan designed to fill the gap between their compact G35 and I35 models and the larger, more expensive Q45 flagship.
The M45’s main attraction was its robust 4.5-liter V-8 engine tucked beneath an elegantly stretched hood. Interestingly, Infiniti made a bold decision by using the exact same powerplant found in their top-tier Q45, without any detuning or power reduction. This meant customers could get flagship-level performance in a more affordable package, though it created an unusual situation where Infiniti’s cheaper sedan could potentially outrun their premium showcase model – a risky move that threatened to blur the lines of their carefully structured lineup.
As expected, the lighter M45 outperformed its heftier sibling, clearing the 60 MPH dash 0.2 seconds faster than the Q45. The new car completed the quarter mile in 14.7 seconds at 96 MPH, while the grizzled Q45 covered the same distance in 15.2 seconds at 93.5 MPH. The M45 was faster partly because it weighed around 130 pounds less than the Q45.
The M45’s V-8 paired with a five-speed automatic with manual shifting was tuned to upshift at predesignated speeds. It might have performed better in a straight line had the slushbox held onto gears a bit longer. The vehicle’s high-performance rear tires sometimes suffered as they tried to provide traction for hard acceleration.
Infiniti’s decision to use a V-8 in its mid-size sedan made sense. Few, if any, luxury sedan automakers offered a V-8 mill at the Infiniti M45’s price; the best you could get at that price was an inline-six mill. The M45 was, therefore, an affordable way for buyers to get a luxury sedan with a V-8 engine.
Performance Specifications
|
Engine |
Naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V-8 |
|---|---|
|
Horsepower |
340 horsepower |
|
Torque |
333 pound-feet |
|
Transmission |
Five-speed automatic |
|
Driveline |
RWD |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.7 seconds |
|
Top Speed |
146 MPH |
The M45 Featured Multilink Rear Suspension And Independent Struts Upfront
For 2002, the M45 was rapid in a straight line. It also had the hardware and tech to perform well around corners. It featured fore-and-aft anti-roll bars to minimize roll during cornering; standard stability control helped drivers maintain a steady course during performance runs and on tricky road surfaces.
Unlike in modern Infiniti models, you could disable the stability control completely in the Infiniti M45. Without the onboard computer holding you back, you could engage in as much sideways action as the tires could take. However, the M45 didn’t offer the driving dynamics of a sports car: it was too heavy, with the front axle bearing most of the car’s mass, and its steering was too vague, as reported by Autoweek.
The Infiniti M45 Had A Tech-Filled Luxury Interior With Many Standard And Optional Features
While the V-8 engine grabbed headlines, the M45’s cabin proved equally impressive with its thoughtfully designed interior and comprehensive feature list. Infiniti clearly invested significant effort in creating a space that would redeem the brand after earlier missteps.
The automaker had good reason to focus on interior quality. Their previous M-series attempt, the M30 from the early 1990s, had been a disaster – a cramped, outdated coupe that served as little more than a placeholder until the J30 arrived in 1992. This time around, Infiniti wasn’t taking any chances.
The M45’s cabin showcased genuine leather appointments complemented by rich graphite-colored maple wood trim throughout.
Amber-hued lighting created an upscale ambiance around the performance-focused gauge cluster, while a seven-speaker audio system with six-disc CD changer provided entertainment. Standard equipment also included automatic dual-zone climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Infiniti’s signature analog clock, and a high-mounted LCD display.
What set the M45 apart from typical luxury sedans was Infiniti’s decision to make most desirable features standard rather than optional. This approach bucked industry trends where manufacturers typically use à la carte pricing to keep base prices attractive while driving up final transaction costs. The M45 offered buyers a rare opportunity to get a well-equipped luxury sedan without the usual parade of expensive add-ons.
Infiniti M45 Optional Features
- Upgraded LCD display
- Intelligent cruise control
- Climate control seats
- Voice recognition system
- Natural-color maple wood trim
- Sunroof
The M45’s Understated Styling Was Its Achilles Heel
The Infiniti M45 not only sounded like an American muscle car, with its performance exhaust amplifying the V-8’s roar, but also looked like one. Yes, looks are subjective, but featuring a beveled front and rear, bulging fenders, a long hood, and a lengthy overhanging tail, I feel that the M45 looked like a product from Detroit.
The M45 Was Based On The JDM Nissan Gloria Sedan
Most Infiniti offerings during the brand’s early days were slightly restyled JDM cars with an Infiniti badge on the grille. The M45, for instance, was based on the Nissan Gloria, a rather dreary yet striking V-6 sedan used to ferry executives in Japan. The M45’s retro-inspired styling set it apart from its competitors – nothing else in the segment looked and sounded like it did.
The M45’s Looks Impacted Sales
The M45’s unique, retro looks were polarizing. Despite standing out, the M45 was a sales failure, partly because of the way it looked. With its conventional styling, the next-gen M model was infinitely more popular than the M45, suggesting that the luxury sedan buyers in the market for mid-size offerings weren’t impressed with the M45’s long, retro-inspired body.
You Can Buy An Infinite M45 For As Low As $3,800
The M45 is definitely is one of the best sleeper cars on the market, but it’s used pricing does vary drastically. While you can find some examples as low as $3,000, Classic.com claims the average used market price to be $6,866, and some more recent sales from this year on Bring A Trailer see it going for as much as $12,000 or more in great condition.
Infiniti Sold Around 8,000 M45s
Infiniti sold 8,067 examples of the 2003 and 2004 Infiniti M45s stateside, making it quite a rare car; chances are that most people you encounter while driving the M45 won’t recognize it. The M45 was a sales disaster for Infiniti. Despite having the tools to become an unqualified success, it became an abject sales failure.