2011 Infiniti M56 At-A-Glance

The all-new 2011 Infiniti M56, which was launched at Infiniti retailers nationwide in March 2010, embraces the essence of all things Infiniti – style, performance, luxury, craftsmanship and technology – taking each to the highest levels ever for Infiniti’s halo sedan.

The 2011 Infiniti M is available in M37 and M56 model designations, with rear-wheel drive or Infiniti’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. The M37 features a 330-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine – with increased power and fuel economy versus the previous generation M35’s 3.5-liter V6. The M56 also offers more power and better fuel economy from an all-new 420-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 (versus the previous generation M45’s 4.5-liter V8). Both the M37 and M56 engines feature Infiniti’s advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) system and all models are equipped with a standard 7-speed automatic transmission. A special Sport Package, offered on rear-wheel drive models, offers 4-Wheel Active Steer (4WAS), sport-tuned suspension, Sport Brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires.

The new M is also a showcase for Infiniti’s advanced, user-focused technologies, carrying on the tradition of the previous generation M. New technologies include Infiniti Drive Mode Selector, a four-mode driver-selectable control of throttle and transmission mapping that helps optimize vehicle performance; Active Noise Control, which reduces undesirable engine harmonics, providing a quieter cabin; Blind Spot Warning (BSW), which helps alert the driver if another vehicle is detected in the blind spot area; Blind Spot Intervention™ (BSI), a world’s first system that, in addition to the Blind Spot Warning, helps the driver return the vehicle back toward the center of the lane of travel in the event of unintended drift; Forest Air™ system, which helps reduce the intrusion of unpleasant odors into the cabin and provides natural “breeze-like” airflow; Eco Pedal, which provides driver feedback to encourage eco-driving behavior; and Active Trace Control, which adjusts engine torque and the control of braking at each of the four wheels to help enhance cornering performance.

The 2011 M also offers a next-generation Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System, Bose® Studio Surround® premium audio system, Intelligent Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems, Distance Control Assist (DCA), Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Front Pre-Crash Seat Belts.

The M’s dramatic, sports styling provides a coefficient of drag of just 0.27 Cd, while the roomy, comfortable interior environment features standard leather-appointed seating, standard Japanese Ash wood trim or available silver powdered genuine White Ash wood trim and available premium audio and climate control systems. Key standard features include Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition, XM® Satellite Radio, Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and power sliding glass tinted moonroof.

Highlights of the 2011 Infiniti M include:

Body

Sleeker, more expressive exterior design with unexpected cabin roominess

Stable posture with long wheelbase (114.2 inches), wide track and short overhangs

Lower, wider, longer body dimensions versus previous generation M (length 194.7 inches/+0.6 inch; width 72.6 inches/+1.5 inches; height 59.1 inches/-0.3 inch)

Low, aggressive hoodline providing a sporty, powerful silhouette; deeply sculpted fenders and doors, signature Infiniti double-arch grille

0.27 coefficient of drag

Advanced unibody construction with a high level of torsional rigidity

Lightweight aluminum doors and hood 

Unique sport front fascia with dark finish grille and dark headlight housings (Sport Package)

Standard automatic on/off High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional Xenon headlights with windshield wiper interlock; available auto-leveling headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) with auto-leveling headlights

LED taillights

Rain-sensing variable intermittent front windshield wipers

Power sliding tinted glass moonroof with one-touch open/close tilt feature and sliding sunshade

Power-folding outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature

Front door handle courtesy lights

Dual exhaust with polished tips

Eight available exterior colors: Malbec Black, Liquid Platinum, Platinum Graphite, Blue Slate, Storm Front Grey, Black Obsidian, Moonlight White and Harbour Blue

Engine and Driveline

Front engine, rear-wheel drive or Intelligent All-Wheel Drive

Enhanced FM (Front Mid-ship) platform 

M37 and M37x feature a standard 3.7-liter VVEL, 24-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V6 producing 330 hp @ 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm (+27 hp and 8 lb-ft torque vs. previous 3.5-liter V6) 

M56 and M56x feature a standard 5.6-liter VVEL, 32-valve, DOHC, Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG™) aluminum-alloy V8 producing 420 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 417 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm (+95 hp and 81 lb-ft of torque vs. previous 4.5-liter V8) 

Modular cylinder head design, lightweight pistons, Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS), variable length induction system

7-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and manual shift mode with Downshift Rev Matching 

Available solid magnesium paddle shifters (with Sport Package)

Standard Infiniti Drive Mode Selector (Standard, Eco, Sport and Snow modes)

Suspension, Steering and Braking

Double-wishbone independent front suspension

Refined multi-link independent rear suspension 

Available 4-Wheel Active Steer (Sport Package-equipped models)

Front and rear stabilizer bars

4-wheel vented disc brakes with 4-channel/4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA)

Available Sport Brakes with 14.0-inch front/13.8-inch rear rotors with 4-piston front/2-piston rear opposed calipers (Sport Package)

Electronically controlled vehicle-speed-sensing variable-assist power rack-and-pinion steering system 

18-inch, double 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with P245/50R18 V-rated all-season performance tires

Available 20-inch, split 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with P245/40R20 summer performance tires (Sport Package)

Interior Features

Inviting interior with genuine Japanese Ash wood trim

Large cabin space, able to fit five adult passengers comfortably 

Standard leather-appointed seating, available in two colors – Wheat and Graphite

Available Deluxe Touring Package includes semi-aniline leather seating surfaces (available in Stone and Java), premium soft-touch material for armrests, door inserts, center console and knee pads, genuine White Ash silver powdered wood trim, suede-like headliner 

Standard 10-way power driver and front passenger’s seats, including 2-way power lumbar support

Sport Package includes sport-bolstered and trimmed front seats, sport steering wheel and aluminum pedal accents

Dual occupant memory system for driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors (linked to individual Intelligent Keys)

Entry/exit assist system for driver’s seat and steering wheel

Standard heated front seats, available heated steering wheel

Available climate-controlled front seats

Advanced “Fine Vision Meters” electroluminescent gauges 

Sequential welcome lighting illuminated entry system

Rear console-mounted vents and rear floor heater ducts

Center console with dual level storage and 12-volt power outlet

Rear center armrest with storage

Dual front and rear cupholders, dual front seatback pockets

7.0-inch vehicle information display (audio, climate control, vehicle settings)

Available Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System with 8.0-inch WVGA color touch-screen display, XM NavTraffic® with Real-Time Traffic Information, XM NavWeather™ with Real-Time Weather and 3-day forecast (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Zagat® Restaurant Guide, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth® and 9.3GB Music Box® Hard Drive

Standard 6-speaker, 160-watt audio system with in-dash CD auto changer, MP3 and WMA compatibility 

Available Bose 2-channel premium audio system with 10 speakers and Audio Pilot™ 2 Noise Compensation

Available Bose Studio Surround™ audio system with digital 5.1-channel decoding, 14-channel digital amp and 16 speakers, including two personal speakers mounted in the shoulders of each front seat 

Standard XM Satellite Radio (XM® subscription required, sold separately) 

USB Connection Port for iPod and other compatible devices

Infiniti Intelligent Key system with illuminated Push Button Ignition 

Enhanced Intelligent Key memory stores an occupant memory position and the last used audio, climate control and navigation settings

Available Infiniti Voice Recognition for audio, navigation and vehicle information system

Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System

HomeLink Universal Transceiver 

RearView Monitor 

Available Intelligent Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range)

Infiniti analog clock

Power windows with one-touch up/down and auto-reverse feature, power trunk release

Available power rear sunshade

Available Forest Air™ system with Advanced Auto Recirculation, Breeze Mode, Plasmacluster™ air purifier and Grape Polyphenol filter

Safety and Security

Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant classification sensors

Standard front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags 

Standard roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection

3-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors; driver’s seat Emergency Locking Retractor (ELS) and passenger’s side ELR and Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) 

Second-row 3-point seat belts with ELR and ALR

Available Front Pre-Crash Seat Belts

Front seat Active Head Restraints with 4-way manual adjustments

Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)

Available Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems

Available Blind Spot Warning (BSW) and Blind Spot Intervention™ (BSI) systems

Zone Body construction 

LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren)

Vehicle Security System with Infiniti Vehicle Immobilizer System

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with individual tire pressure display

Auto-Hazard Warning Signal

Models and Manufacturing

Available in four models: M37 RWD, M37x AWD, M56 RWD and M56x AWD

Exterior and interior designed at Nissan Technical Center (NTC) in Atsugi, Japan

Assembled by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. at Tochigi, Japan