NICOclub Home Page NICOclub staff, History and Advertising eMail NICOclub Webmaster Advertising on NICOclub NICOclub main online forums
 
Infiniti M37 Review


Real time in a M37x - Part 2

Technology (Continued from page 1)

Forward Collision Warning System
FCW utilizes the same sensor as ICC, requires a minimum of 10mph, and when activated will warn you of getting too close to vehicles which are ahead. While testing this system I would intentionally sneak up on a vehicle in my lane, the Vehicle Ahead indicator would light and eventually it would chime. This is just a warning system and is not connected to any of the braking systems in the car so do not count on this system to perform any braking.

Blind Spot Intervention System
When engaged, the BSI system will notify you via a light within each mirror should a vehicle be in your blind spot. During testing this function worked quite well. Another system that goes with BSW is the Blind Spot Intervention system. Should there be a vehicle in the blind spot and you engage the blinker for a lane change, they system will automatically caution you and will brake until the vehicle is safely out of the way. As I did not want to cause someone to freak out I did not put this to the test.

Drivability
There was no rhyme nor reason for the road test and I did not have a planned map. The test did include highway, blacktop, straight line, curvy back roads, smooth and
bumpy roadways. Pretty much, everything I could get in contact with while I had the vehicle. As I have detailed some of the tests above I will concentrate more on handling, drivability and comfort.

Upon entry of the vehicle it was setup time, which in the M is relatively easy as it's all electronic. Adjust seating height, seat location, steering wheel angle, and mirrors. Very easy and quite adjustable. The M is currently Infiniti's largest sedan so in comparison to the G37 it is a bit wider and more roomy. In general, seating position was comfortable with the seat and steering wheel heaters making things quite toasty.

The drive started by maneuvering some suburban 2-lane blacktop roads to get a feel for the vehicle as I had not driven the M with the VQ37. At first it felt only somewhat responsive, not what I was expecting from a 330hp v6 and much different than even the G37x's I've driven in the past. The answer seemed to be to my right within the console....

Infiniti Drive Mode Selector
The Drive Mode selector, located on the console between the seat heater knobs, is an integrated controller which allows up to 4 settings dependent on the mood of the driver or road conditions. The four modes are: Standard, Eco, Sport or Snow. Each mode adjusts throttle sensitivity and transmission mapping to help optimize required performance. When starting the test the vehicle was in the Standard mode and while there was plenty of power the vehicle was much more tame
than I'm used to with my own Infiniti G37 coupe. Even moving the gear selector to Manual Mode resulted in "less than expected" results in this mode. Once I changed the controller to Sport mode I received the performance and the more aggressive manner I have come to love out of the 3.7L VQ engine. Throttle response is quick, you have downrev- matching when slowing for corners, and you have a bigger smile on your face. I do appreciated what Infiniti is offering via the Standard mode as Sport mode may be a bit too aggressive on a daily basis to those who purchase the M. Snow mode, which lowers throttle response and starts the vehicle off in 2nd gear, was not tested and I was a bit confused by Eco mode. 2011 Infiniti M37x Drive Mode Selector

Eco mode takes all performance out of the equation as a means to increase MPG, I assume as a way to meet EPA requirements. When Eco mode is engaged the vehicle is a snail with 0-30 mph taking what seemed to be a 1/2 mile to achieve. You can get the vehicle to accelerate faster in Eco mode by putting your foot to the floor but the system is designed to fight you via pedal pressure. When going through the Infiniti setup menu there is a Eco mode setting for pedal feel. Pedal options are soft, standard and off. Soft seems to be the pedal feel of choice as there is less feedback. Regardless, using this option for daily city driving will result in people road raging behind you. I did not test it on the highway but feel it would be fine if you live in a flat state but a pain if you have to deal with hills. For a mid-$50k vehicle, who will really use it?

Normal Driving Conditions
By normal I mean "standard mode" and following traffic laws. In reverse the rearview camera works quite well and having the side view mirrors automatically adjust to a lower angle is quite helpful. The 7-speed transmission is smooth for the most part although at times it can seem like it's hunting gears. The ATESSA AWD platform is smooth although at times you can feel a slight heaviness in the steering when turning. Steering was nominally tight and the car tracked quite well. I did not notice any tramlining, or the tires trying to follow ruts in the road, during my driving experience.

One thing that needs to be made abundantly clear. Infiniti cars, even though they are the luxury side of Nissan, tend to be more on the sport side of the equation. If you are wanting a Bently or Cadillac DTS-style ride then Infiniti is not going to please you. Road feel is transmitted through the steering wheel and you can feel medium to large bumps. These vehicles do not "float" on the roadway. The driver is always "in tune" with conditions. As I hate feeling disconnected while driving I appreciate the feel of these vehicles.

2011 Infiniti M37x Rear View Performance Driving
All "performance" driving was performed on a closed course.....or something like that. Well, that's what street racing videos usually say. Anyway, I did put the car through some tests in as safe a manner as possible. I did not attempt to do timed performance stats as you see via car magazines but would like to in the future if someone wanted to loan me a local track (hint, hint). First were some straight line tests to 60mph. With the Infiniti Drive Mode set to Standard the vehicle was pretty quick to 60. The vehicle tracked straight and there was no noticeable wheel spin. In fact, I did not even
notice the vehicle being assisted via its electronic controls during the majority of testing or the "slip" light blinking when I disengaged VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control...aka: Traction Control). Next, in sport mode, the more aggressive nature of the M could be felt. Performance to 60 was quicker, shifting was more crisp, and with Traction Control disabled I was able to feel slight rear wheel spin and the transition of power from the rear wheels to the front to accommodate the slip. Controlled, fluid and as expected.

M37x AWD Review Page 1 , M37x AWD Review Page 3


Do you like? Please Share This Article
Digg
Digg
Delicious
Delicious
Twitter
Twitter
StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Reddit
Facebook
Facebook


Information Copyright 2000-2011 by Matthew Moody
All rights reserved.
Material may not be copied or reprinted without written permission.
Google



Infiniti G37 news and information


Nissan Sport Magazine Forums
Nissan Infiniti Events and Shows Nissan Infiniti Road Tests and Reviews
Nissan Infiniti Related Articles Nissan Infiniti Technical Information Articles
Car Finance Advice Nissan Infiniti News Archive
Nissan Infiniti Online Forums


The life of a car enthusiast

From The Desk Of:
The Hitman

From The Desk Of:
audtatious






Main Nissan and Infiniti Articles My car audio information Nissan Maxima information and how-to section My 2008 Infiniti G37 site Nissan and Infiniti websites Nissan Infiniti Car Owners