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4-corners generica.... and dumpiness.

Liked the circa '03 stopgap model's Merc-esque blocky styling better.

No one buys the M45- I certainly don't see this turning that around.

Meanwhile, at Cadillac...

I don't know what but, you kinda get addicted to looking at it. Kind of like art, everytime you view it again you see something different. That component of the design as well as the Audi-esque tail remind me of... Audi. I love these designs. Seductive curves is what sportlux is supposed to be.

It's much more of a looker than the current one. It does look a bit melted down, but unlike the Elantra where the blobs are random, you can see what the designers were aiming for. There's a nice hump around the rear wheels, like a cheetah about to pounce.

I like it.

Very sharp...I like the lines, nice and curvy. And nice RWD proportions. Great interior.

Looks pretty decent actually. But something about every Nissan rubs me the wrong way for some reason I can't quite put my finger on; something to do with their overstyled and bizarre interiors I think.

I liked the M45's body more

It's ok, but the design is too busy, the front fascia is not very attractive, and I don't like the BMW M-series-like flappy ground effects.

Now that I think about it, this is the vibe I'm getting from the front

Edited August 15, 200916 yr by mustang84

It has a Hyundai-esque vibe. I feel like it should look better than it does. Weird. I think the designers got a tad bit carried away. Or maybe the design may be too modern for us to fully appreciate right now.

I certainly do not like the grille. It's like Nissan is trying to make their Infiniti grill distinctive, so they just made it huge. It looks like it belongs on the QX.

On another note, it looks like Inifiniti was the first of the Japanese 3 luxo makes to make their website global. Going to http://www.infiniti.com now takes you to a global site and you have to select your country. Way to go 'progress'! I hate splash pages, but at least it's an attractive splash page.

It's ok, but the design is too busy, the front fascia is not very attractive, and I don't like the BMW M-series-like flappy ground effects.

Now that I think about it, this is the vibe I'm getting from the front

Funny, I was thinking this for the rest of it:

I like it.

I liked the M45's body more

It's ok, but the design is too busy, the front fascia is not very attractive, and I don't like the BMW M-series-like flappy ground effects.

Now that I think about it, this is the vibe I'm getting from the front

Ha! I feel the same way. Although I think the rear tail lights are less Hyundai Azera and more 1999 Mazda Millenia/ Mercedes CLS.

I'm really not digging these new generation Infinitis. Their designs are becoming very bland and derivative. The G35 was watered down and I just can't get myself to like the new FX35/45. They took a very attractive SUV and gave it a shark snout. Don't even get me started on how boring the EX35/45 is to me. This styling issue isn't just a problem with Infiniti but with Nissan as well.

Nissan was really on a roll a few years back. Now they're getting inconsistent and a little ugly. The 370Z and the GT-R are exceptions but the new Maxima has a love-it or hate-it design and the Murano is only good from certain angles and the front is definitely not one of those angles.

Edited August 16, 200916 yr by Cadillacfan

It looks like a hyundai tiburon had sex with an altima. Its ugly - A rare miss for Infiniti.

Meanwhile, at Cadillac...

Meh, say what you will, but I'd rather have an STS than an M, though the pictured STS is wearing some ugly rims. And I agree with balthazar, I preferred the tauter '03-'05 M45 to the softer '06+ models.

At first glance, I hated it. At second glance, I found some appreciation for the organic and fluid appearance of the design. The glasshouse, however, makes the rear of the car look stubby and the low beltline makes the sides of the car appear too tall. It has its strengths but it also has its weaknesses.

I think the redone G35 was more successful than this design. The swoopy lines and curves are a bit much. The taillights are curious because they are more generic than the rest of the design.

pass. bleh.

I like it, its a very fluid design.

in its own bubble its prob a nice car. but what is the MSRP? then, compare it to everything else you can get at that price. i don't think it has an identity compared to what else is available in that arena.

Its looks Korean. I'd almost have to go with the Acura really lame (RL) over this.

actually, this is one car where the hoffmeister dogleg kink on the rear window should have been done different. i think avoiding this now passe c pillar treatment on this car would have helped a lot.

the sculpting of the front end is not bad, but after the firewall the rest of the car loses me.

Edited August 16, 200916 yr by regfootball

I like it, its a very fluid design.

+1

Also the Infiniti grille is distinctive at this point, if a little similar to Audi's.

I like it.

+3

I like it.

+4, for the most part. Need more pics.

Oh, and a new Q.

Meanwhile, at Cadillac...

The STS U have pictured wasn't just an update of the STS that was introduced at the same time as the current M35/45. Hell the STS still looks great IMO... and it's a lame duck, due for replacement in 2011.

BUT WHOOOOAH... doesn't the CTS actually compete with the M??? I mean the M competes with the 5series. The CTS competes with the 5series, so I'm guessing that Cadillac has the leg up on this one considering the fact that what I'm seeing from this M is essentially a larger version of the G35 sedan already in production. HELL.. at first glance I actually thought that they had uploaded a G35 pic instead of the new M.

I will say that Infiniti does have an advantage over Cadillac due to their willingness to put their V8s in there mid-size Luxo offerings. 400HP coming outta a 5.6L DOHC is cool, but probably in a BIG and heavy package. Cadillac could easily raid the GM engine bin and grab the light, and petite 6.2L with 430HP and make a great deal of us happier.

scrape the emblems off and what is it?

I'll still take the STS thanks.

The exterior has a melted appearance to it. There needs to be some angular elements added to the exterior design to offset the extreme "curviness". It isn't ugly, but it's not exactly the most balanced design either.

Like others have said, it looks melted, at least in the pictures. I'm sure the lines will translate much better in the flesh.

I'm still not sure whether I like it or not. I will say that that the lines and cues of the Essence didn't translate as well onto them M as the designers would have liked.

I'm still not sure whether I like it or not. I will say that that the lines and cues of the Essence didn't translate as well onto them M as the designers would have liked.

I am feeling the same way. It seems like a job unfinished. Something old GM would do.

It lacks a sense of tautness to give it some definition. It is simply a series of curves that sort of dissolves into a melted looking blob. I think the overall concept is fine, it just needs some shape defining angular elements. If Infiniti were to "clean it up" and refine it a bit, I think it could be a cool looking car. I agree with Z-06; it looks a bit "unfinished" or like a concept that hasn't yet been refined.

Edited September 11, 200916 yr by cire