Test drive Infiniti Q45 2001 - 2006 sedan
Japanese American in Russia
The great love of some Russians for American cars has long been known and a lot has been said. This bright feeling sometimes applies to Japanese Americans, who (like many purebred Americans) are not officially delivered to our country. The main favorites - of course, Lexus (recently they moved to another category - sales in Russia began on April 5), Acura (Honda) and Infiniti (Nissan) brands are less known. The last, in the person of Infiniti Q45, and dedicated ...
When I got the task of getting to know the Infiniti Q45, besides the fact that this is a big sedan, I knew nothing about the car. Rummaged in reference books. It turned out that this is the third generation of the model. The first was produced since 1989 (with intermediate modernization in 1993), the second-from 1997. For the first time, the new Infiniti Q45 was shown in New York in 2000. In Japan, where the car is produced, it acts as Nissan Cima. Sales on the American market began in April 2001. Lexus six months before, put a new generation of LS430 on the conveyor, except for it, the main rivals of Q45 can be classified by the Mercedes S430, BMW 7th series, Cadillac Deville, the remaining classmates do not reach the price (in the USA Q45 costs about $ 60,000).
Infiniti Q45 is a really large sedan - five centimeters longer than a rather big Nissan Maxima and three to six hundred Mercedes. In addition, the classic layout, with a drive on the rear wheels and longitudinally located 4.5 liters V8. The box, of course, is a machine gun, and, of course, a five -speed with a manual mode. The suspension is pneumatic, active. Everything is in an adult way.
The color is silver - the car seems even larger. It seems that even 18-inch wheels are not large enough for such a solid body. You can’t call the original design - with the world on the thread: Audi is visible in the rear lights, in the mirrors with turn signals - the 220th, in the profile - Chrysler LHS, in window outlines - BMW. Behind - undoubtedly Nissan (Maxima, for example). Japanese traditions are observed - competently, modern, complete lack of familiarity. Nevertheless, the views attracts no weaker than the new Bavarian seven ...
But on lighting equipment, the Japanese came off. The headlights are huge, visually even slightly overload the front of the car. Under the smooth fairings, as many as 9 lamps were located. Those that are larger are highlight and dimensions. The near light, of course, xenon - in each headlight there are seven lamps, grouped as the trunks of the gatling machine gun. The view is awesome ...
The company claims that the infiniti Q45 headlights are the most powerful in the world, and shine a quarter brighter than Mercedes S -class. Middle light can be adjusted in height from the driver’s place (four positions), and the light flow is formed so that the need for fogging disappears.
Inside is a combination of black Italian skin and light brown tree. The salon is spacious, not so immense as in the good old 140th, but not as clamped as in the seven. (In numbers - if we compare the comparable - it looks like this: the internal volume of the Infiniti Q45 interior is 2891 liter, Lexus LS430 - 2888 liters, Mercedes S430 - 2820 liters.) Crome and anatomy resemble the Mercedes, only now the control buttons are located not very convenient - Downstairs on the pillow, the distance between it and the sheathing of the door is not enough. The control range is more than enough. The steering wheel is adjustable along the length of the column and the angle of inclination in an electrical way. I stelain switches - in Japanese spirit. A large speedometer in the center of the dashboard is digitized in kilometers and miles, on the right is a tachometer, on the left is an indicator of the engine temperature and fuel level in the tank. All this shines white - very beautiful. To the right, the climate control system and a 300-watt Bose stereo system with nine speakers, a subwoofer and a CD changer are located. Management of some functions is duplicated on the steering wheel. Information about the work of systems is displayed on a large full -color monitor in the center of the front panel. For example, tire pressure. A useful thing, it’s a pity that you won’t break it, what number to which tire belongs.
Air conditioning and musical system react to voice commands, but they need to be previously learned, moreover, in English. A noble design element - oval chrome hours in the center, above the radio. The armrest cover has two opening axes - both to the passenger and the driver. Under the armrest, a box with swing doors is a funny performance. Most of the glove compartment is occupied by a cd changer. Pockets in the doorway folding.
The representative class of the car is emphasized by the performance of the rear of the cabin - with a special care for the passenger. A large armrest with cup holders, here is the climate control panel and audio system, handrails on the backs of the front seats, autonomous backlight, mechanical perforated curtains on the doors and electric on the rear window. The legs are enough and with the front seats completely shifted back. Outside, it is already clear that the trunk is not small (however, the Lexus LS430 has a third more), access to it is only with pressing the button on the driver's door or from the key -key keychain. The button on the lid would not hurt.
Under the hood - an even plastic table, the engine is not visible at all. Honestly, it is not clear why to make an engineering space on such machines. Who will get there?
A working engine does not show itself - silence and no vibrations. Low Start - Infiniti cries a little on the rear wheels. The rubber screeched and - a smooth, assertive acceleration with a pickup above 3000 revolutions. Excellent noise-vibro-insulation hides passport 340 forces and 6 seconds to hundreds, you seem to be in zero gravity. Switching is leisurely and smooth. The machine is reluctant to switch to a reduced gear - you need to push the gas pedal deeper. The manual regime corrects the situation, but I constantly do not want to use it - the wrong car.
Active pneumatic suspension has two modes - ordinary and sports. The difference between them is small - both in the other and another preference is given comfort. The Q45 is reluctant, with a noticeable (compared to the usual, non -representative car), the roll is included in the turns, with an increase in speed, the demolition of the front axis is observed out of the rotation - it is treated with gas discharge. With disconnected electronics (the machine is equipped with a stabilization system) with a sharp increase in the gas in the bend, when the machine gun will figure out and do what is required from it, the rear axle breaks down, and the turn is fan - everything is still smooth and safe. You can even cut the movie piles with real smoke from under the wheels.
A rectilinear movement at cruising speed gives more pleasure, while on a not very good road the suspension swallows literally everything - from joints to tram tracks, despite low -profile rubber. The steering wheel is excessively light, with slurred zero and insufficient feedback. The brakes are such that and should be effective, with understandable reverse action, ABS intervenes on the verge of locking when they begin to scream the tires. Brake force regulator, of course, electronic; There is a subsidization system, including when the ABS is triggered. Unlike the Mercedes Brake Assist, which, during emergency braking, completely takes control of itself, in Q45 the system simply reduces the effort required on the pedal. The reduction in the brake route is 10-15% (company data).
As for visibility, the mirrors are very distorted by reality, you need to get used to it. It is not easy to feel considerable dimensions of the car - the corners are not visible. Yes, and there is no parknone. True, you can order a rear view camera with automatic inclusion and display of the image to the central monitor - a useful thing, given the solid rear overhang.
Here it is, the largest Nissan - Infiniti Q45. A Japanese American, aimed at rivalry with respectable Europeans. This is not Drivers-Car, this is a machine for comfortable and carefree movement. Do not load yourself - just set the direction, she will do everything herself. For about $ 80,000. Many? But this is a representative class.
Text: Sergey Yakubov
A source: Magazine Motor
