2002 Infiniti Q45 Review

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An all-new, third generation Infiniti Q45 made its world debut at the New York International Auto Show in April, giving consumers an early preview of its unique combination of powerful and exciting performance, contemporary and luxurious interior and innovative technology. It is a combination designed to set a new standard, including one of the segment’s most powerful standard engines and one of the most powerful headlight systems - in the highly competitive premium luxury class. The new Q45 is scheduled to go on sale in April 2001 as a 2002 model at more than 150 Infiniti retailers nationwide.

“The new Q45 captures the original passion of Infiniti and will bring it to life for a whole new generation of buyers,” said Tom Orbe, vice president and general manager, Infiniti division of Nissan North America, Inc. “This Q, like the very first Q45 when it was introduced a decade ago, is a powerful expression of everything we’ve learned so far. It’s guaranteed to make the industry and driving enthusiasts alike sit up and take notice.”

The concept for the creation of the 2002 Q45 was to rebalance the performance - luxury scales, with a definite emphasis on the performance side. For example, the new Q45 develops 340 horsepower (an increase of more than 25 percent from the current Q45) from its all-new 4.5 liter V8 engine design - powerful enough to produce estimated zero to 60-mph acceleration times of 5.9 seconds (nearly two seconds faster than the 2000 Q45)

“The 2002 Q has all the luxury amenities and then some that you’d expect in a premium luxury sedan,” said Orbe. “But when it came down to deciding between, say, rear seat coolers and racing-type titanium valves, we put the development resources under the hood.”

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Bold New Exterior Design

The serious nature of the 2002 Q45 is immediately evident day or night with one glance at the Q’s large, multi-lens projector high intensity discharge (HID) headlights. Seven individual lenses and a free-surface reflector design combine to provide a wide distribution beam pattern utilizing a large luminous flux, creating what should be the most powerful headlight system available in the world. Using this new technology (the first adoption of its type), the beam area is wide enough that additional fog lights are unnecessary.

The new Q’s distinctive and dynamic exterior form is wider and taller than the current Q45 and the wheelbase has been stretched nearly tow inches, though overall length remains the same as the 2000 model. Exterior styling highlights include a large, Infiniti-style front grille, a sculpted hood, integrated front bumper, a high-class silhouette, raised rear deck, large taillights and a choice of 17-inch or 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with wide performance tires. Door handles and emblems have an understated matte finish, designed to blend with the new Q’s palette of eight deep, rich metallic colors.

Other exterior features include a power glass sunroof with tilt/slide feature and sunshade. The sunroof also offers “one-touch” auto-open/close with safety reverse feature for ease of operation. The Q45’s body-color, power remote-controlled heated outside mirrors with memory feature now include turn signal indicators in the mirrors and an automatic dipping feature (when reverse gear is selected) for enhanced visibility when parking or backing up.

“The attention to detail in this design - all focused toward the creation of a more enjoyable driving experience is exceptional,” said Orbe. “There’s everything you’d expect, yet nothing gimmicky or extraneous.”



Enhanced Driving Control and Comfort From a Stylish New Interior

The 2002 Q45 continues the Infiniti tradition of combining a true driver-oriented ****pit with a seemingly endless list of luxury amenities in a design that is both boldly original yet classically elegant.

Designed to create a sense of a personal 4-seater (five adults can be comfortably accommodated as well), the new Q offers more total interior and trunk volume than its predecessor. Special attention was paid to the rear, with additional rear knee room, power adjustable rear seats, rear audio controls and an oversize rear center console providing added comfort for rear passengers.

In the front, the designers sought to enhance the Q’s legendary driver oriented ****pit through utilization of large, round-shaped instruments with electro-illuminescent illumination, an integrated switch system for easy operation and use of a new Vehicle Information System with center multi-function display. The system’s seven-inch LCD touch screen video display is located at the highest position on the instrument panel for better visibility and greater operability. The Vehicle Information System integrates and displays vehicle operation information ranging from climate control and maintenance updates to vehicle settings such as auto door lock and headlight delay.

The Q45’s new DVD-based “Bird View” navigation system utilizes the same video screen, as does and a new Rear View Monitor system. With the aid of a small camera mounted near the rear license plate, a back view is automatically displayed when the driver selects “reverse” with the automatic transmission shifter lever.

Luxury features include soft, high quality leather seating surfaces in a choice of three colors, genuine wood trim, a stylish wood and leather steering wheel, Infiniti’s signature analog clock, rear sunshade and a 288-watt Bose premium audio system with digital architecture and eight speakers. The audio system includes the adoption of Bose AudioPilot” Digital Processing, a new standard in noise compensation.

An Engine and Suspension Designed to Thrill

Without even opening the hood, the new Q45 offers clues to the power and purpose within - dual exhaust, a gate-type 5-speed automatic shifter with manual shift feature, fitted leather and wood shift knob and serious P225/55R17 or P245/45R18 tires. But these items only scratch the surface.

The Q’s all-new, standard 4.5-liter 32-valve DOHC aluminum V8, based on technology developed for the award-winning VQ-series V6 engines found in the Infiniti I30 and QX4, is simply far and away the most powerful engine in class. With 340 horsepower and 333 ft-lbs of torque, it provides exciting, yet surprisingly smooth performance.

Mated to totally new high-torque capacity, electronically controlled 5-speed automatic, the engine provides sub-6.0 second 0-60 mph acceleration, yet it weighs less and is projected to provide equal fuel economy to the 2000 Q45’s 266-horsepower 4.1 liter V8.

Among the advanced features utilized in the new Q’s engine design are nodular cylinder heads, titanium valves, lightweight pistons, torque demand powertrain control, continuous variable valve timing control, variable intake system, super silent single-stage cam drive chain, microfinished crankshaft and dual mode variable capacity muffler.

Every 2002 Q45 also comes equipped with a new 4-wheel independent suspension design including an all-new multi-link rear suspension. Rear suspension weight has been reduced 10 percent and front suspension weight by five percent over the current Q45 through extensive use of aluminum castings. In the rear, shocks and springs have been separated to help reduce rear suspension friction by almost 40 percent. Major improvements in camber and steering stiffness and a 40 percent increase in body torsional rigidity help provide handling, stability and steering feel that inspires driver confidence.

The new Q also features Vehicle Dynamic Control, which improves vehicle stability by controlling brake pressure and engine torque automatically in understeer, oversteer or slippery road surface situations. Every 2002 Q45 also offers standard Traction Control System, 4-wheel power-assisted vented disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System, and vehicle speed-sensitive power rack and pinion steering.

New for 2002 are several additional advanced technologies designed to provide responsive and exciting performance. A Brake Assist System provides natural pedal feel in normal usage and reduces pedal effort in hard or panic braking situations. Electrical Brakeforce Distribution provides better braking effectiveness by controlling front and rear brake distribution depending on the load condition (passengers and cargo) of the vehicle.

A new Adaptive Cruise Control system uses a sensor to measure distance to a vehicle ahead. The system uses this information to control throttle and brake actuators to maintain a preset following distance.

State-Of-The-Art Safety, Security And Features

The 2002 Q45’s standard safety features dual front-seat supplemental air bags, new inflatable side-impact SRS curtain/thorax air bags for head and chest protection and active head restraints.

Other innovative systems include an electronic key system and run-flat tires (17-inch only), which allow the driver to drive up to 55 mph for a distance of 50 miles after puncture.

“This new Q is a quantum leap forward for the Q45 line - capturing the performance and innovation soul of the original and building on the luxury aspects of the current car,” said Orbe. “This is just the first of many new performance-oriented luxury vehicles on tap for Infiniti in the years ahead. The Q45, as our flagship sedan, is leading the way into a new dimension of driving enjoyment and advanced technology.”

Contributed by: Nissan News