2008 Infiniti M35 RX35

Vehicle Overview Infiniti's midsize sport sedan comes in M35 and M45 versions, denoting the 3.5-liter V-6 and 4.5-liter V-8 engines, respectively, that power them. Where previously all-wheel drive was offered only with the V-6 in the M35x, for 2008 there is an M45x with AWD. Another notable enhancement is that the optional Lane Departure Warning system which previously sounded an alert when the car began to wander out of its lane is now Lane Departure Prevention: It strategically applies individual antilock brakes to steer the car as necessary to keep it in its lane. The system uses a camera to recognize lane markings, and it calculates the vehicle's speed and its distance from them. Yes, it can be switched off. An extensive list of other changes for 2008 includes exterior and interior styling and new or newly standard features. Exterior The new model year brings substantial styling changes including the grille, headlights, taillights, front and rear bumpers, rear fenders and chrome accents. The Sport Package has more-unique bumpers, side sills, wheels and headlight color to better distinguish it from the other option packages. Six of the eight paint colors are new this year, along with new wheel designs. All-wheel-drive models ride on 18-inch wheels. The Sport edition gets 19-inch rims. Aside from the badging, there are no exterior differences between the M35 and M45. Infiniti promotes the M's low, aggressive hoodline [that] flows into the anchored shoulders. The body has short overhangs and a long, 114.2-inch wheelbase. Lightweight body components include aluminum-alloy inner and outer door panels, hood and deck-lid panels. A rear spoiler is available. Interior The M sedan seats five in a well-appointed interior that for 2008 features revised wood or aluminum trim. A Stone interior color, white gauge lighting and white-and-violet cabin lighting also are new. Heated and cooled front seats are standard on the M35 as well as the M45. Heated power reclining rear seats, a rarity in this car class, are optional. Standard equipment includes leather-appointed seats, an Intelligent Key with push-button start, voice recognition, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, an in-dash six-CD changer with MP3 playback capability and XM Satellite Radio (subscription sold separately), a 10-way power driver's seat and a Vehicle Information System with a 7-inch LCD screen. Options include Intelligent Cruise Control, a 14-speaker Bose Studio Surround system that plays 5.1-channel DVD audio discs, and a backseat video entertainment system with an 8-inch roof-mounted screen. Also new is the Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System, which adds a touch-screen where before there was only knob-based control. Real-time traffic information comes with the XM subscription option. The hard drive refers to the 9.3GB Music Box drive that stores digital music. Under the Hood The 3.5-liter V-6 produces 275 horsepower and 268 pounds-feet of torque. The M45's 4.5-liter V-8 develops 325 hp and 336 pounds-feet of torque. Both drive the rear or all four wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission equipped with a selectable manual shift mode. Optional only on rear-wheel drive models is Infiniti's Rear Active Steer system, which attempts to improve handling by changing the geometry of the rear suspension according to steering input and the car's speed. Safety The M sedan has been rated Good (the highest) in frontal and side-impact crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Standard safety equipment includes front-seat-mounted side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags to protect front and rear occupants. All-disc antilock brakes, an electronic stability system and a tire pressure monitoring system are also included. Brake-operated precrash front seat belts, which tighten under emergency braking in anticipation of a crash or an evasive maneuver, are optional. Combined with the optional navigation system screen, RearView Monit