Is the M56 really the successor to the previous Q45?

[Milesblue42]

I say yes

It appears to be what I have wanted INFINITI to do for
replacement to the Q45....in some ways.

When i first glanced over the specs, I wasnt really paying attention. Then i read over "400 hp" and then looked at the size of the motor....5.6 liters?

This seems over the top for a M45 replacement. Would a Q45 replacement have a 7.2 liter engine? It seems like INFINTI can lure those that loathe the passing of the Q45 with this 5.6 Four Hundred plus horsepower beast set to hit the ground later this year or early next year. If the mega motor destroyer is less than 4100lbs the acceleration numbers should be lower than Chrysler's sales gains before C4C

The M37 should produce more horsepower than the previous V-8 powered 325 horse M45

I’m going to say that the M56 is the replacement for the previous Q45. The wait is over the successor to the F50 Q ship has arrived

[NissLover]

I really hope there will still be a Q down the line. Infiniti needs that car purely to gain a spot in peoples minds a top tier luxury brand. With this New M, and the soon to be mid-life refresh of the G, Infiniti has a very solid line-up, but its still missing that one car the REALLY represents the brand. Everyone knows of the Lexus LS, MB S-class and BMW 7-Series as the "Big bodies." Infiniti needs one of those with no identity issues to complete the brand as a whole and be its status car. Also, the M just doesnt have the size to fill in that spot.


But I still think they could have tuned the 5.0 liter to be the V8 in the M. Its pushing out 390 hp and 369 lb.ft. of torque WITHOUT DI, so I am sure it can be tuned to about 415-420 hp alone and with DI it could kick it up to 450hp with about 380-385 lb.ft.

Then you would have the M-Line with the M37/M50, and then the Q could debut with the base engine being the 5.0L and then an upgrade, possibly a LWB version, with the 5.6L. So then you would have the Q-Line consisting of the Q50 and Q56. And THEN, you would have this:

G-Line
-G37 Sedan(x)
-G37 Coupe(x)
-G37 Convertible
-(When redesigned also add G Hybrid)

M-Line
-M37(x)
-M50(x)
-M Hybrid
-(possibly M5 competitor with M56 and possible M Coupe)

Q-Line
-Q50(x)
-Q56(Long Wheelbase)
-Q Hybrid

EX-Line
-EX-37
-(Possible EX Hybrid)

FX-Line
-FX37
-FX50
-(Possible X5M competitor FX56 and FX Hybrid)

QX56

With all of that Infiniti would be complete. Thats alot of options with only 3 engines and the Hybrid system adapted to the VQ37 and VK50.

So you may be right in that the M56 may be replacing the Q, unfortunately. For some reason if there was a Q coming, I think it would have been the M50, even if they are trying to One-Up BMW in HP with the 5-Series. The 5.6L can probably push out around 500 Hp to keep up with the M5.

[gt_performah]

It isn't a replacement and it really does not matter whether or not the M is replacing the Q or not. Infiniti is trying to become a Tier 1 brand. One of the problems they face is a lack of vehicles in each segement.

The M can technically never be the flagship if you don't have a Mid level luxury vehicle. Even if they moved the M up to flagship status, you have no mid level luxury vehicle. Let's say they moved the G to a mid level staus, you then have no entry level vehicle. Either way you slice it they have a gap in their line up that needs to be filled.

Remember, they didnt stop production on the Q because this was a new direction they felt would be more efficient. They Q fell too far behind. It was probably hurting their image more than helping.

[4U4ME]

Originally Posted by gt_performah

It isn't a replacement and it really does not matter whether or not the M is replacing the Q or not. Infiniti is trying to become a Tier 1 brand. One of the problems they face is a lack of vehicles in each segement.

The M can technically never be the flagship if you don't have a Mid level luxury vehicle. Even if they moved the M up to flagship status, you have no mid level luxury vehicle. Let's say they moved the G to a mid level staus, you then have no entry level vehicle. Either way you slice it they have a gap in their line up that needs to be filled.

Remember, they didnt stop production on the Q because this was a new direction they felt would be more efficient. They Q fell too far behind. It was probably hurting their image more than helping.

IMO, since M has good reputation as mid level luxry, its better to stay where they at... and build good flag ship, with 5.6L V8 only and 5.0L V8 Hiybrid

[M_TYPE_X]

The M is a lot of car ... but is it "enough" ?? This is the question.

[dana_abboud]

I'd rather have an M than a Q... little smaller and more sporty... the next Q, if they make one, will be bigger and compete with 7 series and S-class... like it's been said, they need a flagship... and the M doesn't fit the bill... which is fine, because it is great at what it already does.

- Dana Abboud

[da mayor]

the flagship Q won't fit in right now w/ the economy in this state. INfiniti is smart-- they rather concentrate on improving what vehicles they have now...especially the G

[ZYAL8R808]

All this talk of a flagship but what about a true entry-level vehicle for the mass market. Flagships are cool but not high volume sellers. Infiniti could use a competitor for the 1-series and TSX just as much, if not more than a flagship.

Infiniti would not take a step back with a close to $30K entry-level car and they would appeal to more people.

[InfiNissan Lover]

Originally Posted by ZYAL8R808

All this talk of a flagship but what about a true entry-level vehicle for the mass market. Flagships are cool but not high volume sellers. Infiniti could use a competitor for the 1-series and TSX just as much, if not more than a flagship.

Infiniti would not take a step back with a close to $30K entry-level car and they would appeal to more people.

I agree. The problem with Nissan/Infiniti is just that...they think as Nissan/Infiniti. They believe that Maxima and 370Z sales will be cannibalized by an entry-level near luxury sport vehicle with the Infiniti name, service and care to it.

If Nissan operated as Nissan with its CVT stuff and then let Infiniti be Infiniti with AWD high horsepower sporty vehicles then there wouldn't really be so many vehicle class issues. Nissan is mostly FWD, ill-suited CVTs and the majority of Infiniti vehicles are AWD with now 7-speed auto. I'd say that Infiniti is getting closer to being more like Audi instead of BMW.

I also agree with Nisslover. Infiniti should ready a flagship vehicle so that it can gain name recognition & status from now. The vehicle will need the added benefit of actually existing for some time in order to be considered as a true flagship. The Lexus LS is definitely one of the most well known Japanese flagship luxury sedans. It has been with the Lexus brand for a long time now and people know it because of that.

On a side note, I think that Nissan should start looking at how to incorporate the technology of the new V6 engine found in the GT-R for Infiniti vehicles along with creating a more efficiently refined V6 for Nissan vehicles and maybe retire the VQ series V6 engines.

[NissLover]

Originally Posted by InfiNissan Lover

I agree. The problem with Nissan/Infiniti is just that...they think as Nissan/Infiniti. They believe that Maxima and 370Z sales will be cannibalized by an entry-level near luxury sport vehicle with the Infiniti name, service and care to it.

If Nissan operated as Nissan with its CVT stuff and then let Infiniti be Infiniti with AWD high horsepower sporty vehicles then there wouldn't really be so many vehicle class issues. Nissan is mostly FWD, ill-suited CVTs and the majority of Infiniti vehicles are AWD with now 7-speed auto. I'd say that Infiniti is getting closer to being more like Audi instead of BMW.

I also agree with Nisslover. Infiniti should ready a flagship vehicle so that it can gain name recognition & status from now. The vehicle will need the added benefit of actually existing for some time in order to be considered as a true flagship. The Lexus LS is definitely one of the most well known Japanese flagship luxury sedans. It has been with the Lexus brand for a long time now and people know it because of that.

On a side note, I think that Nissan should start looking at how to incorporate the technology of the new V6 engine found in the GT-R for Infiniti vehicles along with creating a more efficiently refined V6 for Nissan vehicles and maybe retire the VQ series V6 engines.

WHAT!!??!??!?!?!? Kill the VQ!!!!!! You just lost all credibility with that statement!!!!!!! LOL, J/K, but still! Nissan has a LONGWAY to go before they can get rid of the VQ. And I am sure they can get anything they want out of it, including better effeciency, which is not bad in the first place. But think about it, EVERY(If Im wrong, make it 98%) V6 in Nissans and Infinitis lineup is a version of the VQ. From the 2.5 overseas to the 4.0 in the SUV lineup here in the states. Thats a long way off to see them rid of it.

But by ALL MEANS if this new V6 is better in everyway than the VQ, I'll take it!


But back to the Q, Infiniti now has enough credibility to justify the Q. Most people know what a G35/37 and a FX is, and the M has held a pretty good reputation in its class. And as pointless as it may seem, the QX has brought alot of attention to the brand. Will a new Q fly off the lot like a Lexus LS, probably not, but if they plan accordingly for a low to mid production car, then there should be no problems.

If you think about it, there really shouldn't be that much in cost of building and engineering the car. I would imagine the new FM platform can be stretched to be a little bigger than the M. They have two engines in the 5.0 and the 5.6 V8s. The technology is also exsistant in the CURRENT lineup. Pretty much all they would have to do is focus on the luxury of the car, a few more tech features, and design. And it could still be "Competetively priced" and still be somewhat profitable for a car in that class. So technically speaking, its REALLY not a hard car to build(I know its STILL easier said than done.). They have pretty much all they need to build a car worthy of the Full-size Premium Luxury car class to take Infiniti to the next level.

[G2FX2EX]

I think in these economically slow times, no Q45 successor has been identified yet. I bet that it is still an open option for Nissan at this point. I do not think at all that the Fuga/M series is a successor to the Q.

[NissLover]

I agree, now is not the time, but the car needs to drop AS SOON as we come out of these times.