2012 Infiniti M56 At-A-Glance

The Infiniti M performance luxury sedan enters its second year of production in 2012 with the addition of a new Infiniti Hybrid model and minor refinements to the popular M37 and M56 models.

As Infiniti’s first-ever hybrid, the 2012 Infiniti Hybrid delivers V8 performance with 4-cylinder fuel efficiency. Powered by the Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid™ System, the Infiniti M Hybrid is the first V6 true luxury performance “driver’s” hybrid – and the only such vehicle to offer more than 350 horsepower (360 net horsepower) and 32 mpg fuel economy. Estimated fuel economy is 27 mpg City, 32 mpg Highway, with Combined fuel economy rated at 29 mpg.

For full details on the 2012 Infiniti Hybrid, please visit the M Hybrid section at InfinitiNews.com.

In addition to the M Hybrid, the 2012 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, while the M56 offers a 420-horsepower 5.6-liter V8. Both 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 Infiniti M is also a showcase for Infiniti’s advanced, user-focused technologies, including an 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; 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 2012 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 (0.26 for M Hybrid), 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 (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and power sliding glass tinted moonroof.

Enhancements for the 2012 model include the addition of a new 18-inch Wheel Package, the combining of the previous M56 Sport and Sport Touring Packages into a single Sport Package, and the availability of the Graphite interior for models equipped with the Deluxe Touring Package (a total of four interior colors – Stone, Java, Wheat and Graphite – are offered depending on model).

Highlights of the 2012 Infiniti M56 and M37 include:

Body

• Sleek, expressive exterior design with unexpected cabin roominess
• Long wheelbase (114.2 inches), wide track and short overhangs
• Low, wide, long body dimensions (length 194.7 inches; width 72.6 inches; height 59.1 inches)
• Low, aggressive hoodline providing a sporty, powerful silhouette; deeply sculpted fenders and doors, signature Infiniti double-arch grille
• 0.27 coefficient of drag (0.26 for M Hybrid)
• 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)
• 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
• Seven available exterior colors: Malbec Black, Liquid Platinum, Platinum Graphite, 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
• 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
• 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)
• Available 18-inch tri-split 5-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with P245/50R18 V-rated all-season performance tires

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 Graphite, 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® Survey 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 sensorsand occupant classification sensor
• 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 five models: M37 RWD, M37x AWD, M56 RWD, M56x AWD and M35h RWD with 3.5-liter Direct Response Hybrid™ System
• Assembled by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. at Tochigi, Japan