Lights
play along the surface of Infiniti's Q45 almost like a caress.
They graze the deep, sculptured creases of the hood, then
curve in an extended sweep along front fenders, up under
the beltline, finally to fade into the rear fenders that
frame a high rear deck. The changes throughout give a surprisingly
lean, lithe look to this large, flagship sedan.
Grace
and power are just two of the elements Infiniti built into
the mid-cycle redesign of the Q45 for '05. Inside, with
a roaring red among tantalizing grabber colors, is a decadent
offering of luxury leather sport contoured seats, recalibrated
five-speed automatic shifter with manual mode for improved
response, restyled clusters and controls, and a standard
high-rise DVD navigation system with available rear-view
camera.
Infiniti
adds other luxury, handling and safety enhancements. Performance-tuned
active damping suspension with normal or road-sensing sport
modes becomes standard. So do wipers that gauge rain or
vehicle speed. Among amenities are Intelligent Cruise Control,
plus sunshades and heated seats that recline for more rear
passenger comfort. Night-piercing high intensity headlamps
disburse light through seven individual lenses. And a high
security key system is almost impossible to copy, according
to Infiniti.
Models
now include a meld of the previous Luxury and Journey packages,
and a new Premium level model sporting authoritative, chrome-plated
18-inch wheels. Every Q45 rides on a powerhouse 4.5-liter,
340-HP V8, with continuously variable valve timing for smoothness
and the guts and control to take curves and straight-aways
in rear-drive stride. Prices in the mid-50s solidify its
luxury status.
With
new exterior colors of Lakeshore Slate (a medium blue) and
Beryllium (a medium brown) offsetting the Premium's flaming
Firebrick interior, we think it has to be called "cool
sizzle."
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