Birchwood Infiniti Blog

By: Myron Love

Wasabi Sabi on Taylor Avenue was the venue for the introduction of the all-new 2011 Infiniti M this past Wednesday evening. Birchwood Infiniti Nissan sales manager Daniel Adelman reports that about 100 guests turned out to view the new models and enjoy the sushi and refreshments.

The Infiniti M, Adelman notes, is available in either the M37 model with a 3.7-litre V6 engine or the M56 version with its 5.6L V8 direct injection engine. Both feature all-wheel drive; rear-wheel drive is available for the M56 model as part of the Sport package.

“The M has been completely redesigned,” Adelman says. “It’s a true sport sedan.”

The styling — with low front end and sculpted fenders — is modelled on Infiniti’s Essence concept car, he notes. “The M’s stance is like a cheetah in motion,” he adds.

“The interior is pure Infiniti,” Adelman says. “The M has a beautiful, spacious cabin, a Forest air conditioning system that filters out pollen and other irritants, superb audio, and leather seating. Semi-analine leather is an option with the Deluxe Touring and Technology package.

“It’s almost like being in your own living room.”

One new safety feature is the Blind Spot Intervention System, which detects cars coming up along side you when you are attempting to change lanes. The system will pull your vehicle back into your current lane should it detect another car in the next lane.

The Adaptive Control system allows you to drive in different modes depending on your mood and the road conditions.

The Eco-Mode system improves fuel economy by warning the driver to ease up when he pressing too hard on the accelerator.

The base price for the new M37 starts at $54,900 (plus freight and pdi). The fully-loaded M with V8 engine sells for $73,800.

Adelman reports that Infiniti sales have been “robust.”

“We tied our record for yearly sales last year,” he says, “and this year, we are on pace to exceed that record.”

He credits Birchwood Infiniti’s success to “competitive leasing and finance rates” as well as to a 72 per cent customer retention rate — the highest rate among Infiniti dealers in Canada.

“We treat our customers right,” he says.

By: David Booth

Updated: December 11, 2009

It’s definitely Japanese, but something tells me designers of Infiniti’s new M sedan spent a little time in Italy. Maybe even took in a little opera.

Certainly, they studied the curves that are so endemic to the classic Italian sports car. At the very least, they are big fans of Steve McQueen’s 1971 classic Le Mans.

Whatever their influence, there’s a sensuality to the new M’s curves not seen in any previous Infiniti sedan (though the FX sport-brute has a certain feline look to it). What’s also immediately obvious is that Infiniti definitely wants to rekindle the excitement that surrounded the launch of the last-generation M in 2005, which diminished as the car aged.

Like all Infinitis, the base 37 version sees an upgrade to the company’s new 3.7-litre V6, essentially the same engine powering various guises of the G37 and Nissan 370Z. In this form, it’s good for 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Like the other variants of this engine, the M’s 3.7L uses the automaker’s Variable Valve Lift and Event (VVEL) variable valve timing system that, for all intents and purposes, eliminates the need for a throttle, benefiting fuel economy to the tune of about 5 per cent, says Nissan.

The big noise this year, however, sees a complete revamp of Infiniti’s 5.6L V8 workhorse. Not only does it get the VVEL treatment, it’s also treated to some new direct fuel-injection technology. By feeding the fuel directly into the combustion chamber rather than the intake manifiold, Infiniti has been able to raise the compression ratio to a whopping (for such a large motor) 11.5:1, increasing both power (up to 420 hp from 345) and fuel economy (by 10 per cent) compared with the 5.6L currently used in other Infinitis. It is also up 95 hp up on the outgoing M45, says Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada’s director of corporate and product planning.

Also aiding fuel economy — and performance — is a new, paddle-shifted, seven-speed automatic that can be hooked to either rear- or all-wheel drive with both engine configurations. Also featuring heavily in the quest for better fuel economy is Infiniti’s EcoPedal system that monitors speed, acceleration, etc., and determines the best throttle setting for optimum fuel economy. Unlike other such economy-seeking systems, however, the EcoPedal pushes back against the driver’s foot, reminding him or her of his or her overly leaden driving.

Keeping all this power in check are some serious chassis upgrades as well as enough electronic gizmos for Infiniti to challenge Mercedes as the new king of auto-related acronyms. The Sport version of both Ms, for instance, gets new 20-inch wheels and sticky P245/40R20 radials for the ultimate in grip.

The same package also sees the M’s brakes upgraded to huge 14-inch discs up front (13.8 in. in the rear) and powerful four-piston calipers squeezing them. On RWD models only, the Sport package also includes Nissan’s 4-Wheel Active Steering (4WAS) that, depending on the vehicle speed, can steer the rear wheels in phase with the front tires.

All trim levels also benefit from new double-piston shock absorbers (that surprisingly escape acronymization) that offer different damping circuits for low- and high-speed damping. The low-speed circuit provides for firm damping over small bumps for optimum handling, while the high-speed version lessens the compression damping for greater comfort over large bumps.

As for harnessing all that power, besides the revised all-wheel-drive, electronic stability control and traction control systems, the Ms boast something Infiniti obliquely calls Active Tracing Control (one presumes because its pinpoint accurate steering allows the M to trace a perfect line through corners). According to Infiniti, ATC distributes both engine torque and braking force to each wheel individually, thus increasing steering precision.

Nor are all the new electronics limited to controlling the engines power; the Ms also offer a new, industry-first, camera-based system called Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) that aids the driver in returning the vehicle back toward the centre of the lane if it detects another vehicle in the blind spot area. Not one to miss an acronym, Infiniti includes a warning system for the same miscue called Blind Spot Warning or BSW. These systems work in conjunction with Infiniti’s Lane Departure Warning system (you guessed it, LDW) that alerts the driver whenever he or she is drifting into the next lane (without signalling, of course).

Not all of Infiniti’s newfangled technology is quite so logical, however.

The new M37 and 56, for instance, include a new technology branded Forest Air. A step above the normal air conditioning system, I’m not quite clear how the system works, but, according to Forsyth, it creates within the cabin a soft, gentle breeze of fresh air similar to what one might find in the middle of the forest on a perfect spring day. Among other things, the system includes a Plasmacluster Ion generator, a humidistat that keeps the cabin’s moisture content between 35 per cent and 55 per cent and a special grape polyphenol element that is claimed to filter out gasoline and farm odours.

There’s a whole bunch more new technology I could talk about in the newly revitalized M37 and M56, but, in all honesty, despite a two-hour private seance with Infiniti’s product planners, I still didn’t manage to catch it all. Suffice it to say there are many more wondrous gadgets inside the new Infinitis, all, of course, with their own acronyms. Quite how Infiniti’s salespeople will remember them all, or how they will convince prospective customers to sit still for an explanation of the long list of features, is a question I dared not ask.

What is apparent, however, is that with the Q45 no longer in Infiniti’s lineup, the M, and especially the much-reinvigorated M56, is now the flagship of the lineup.

– Canwest News Service

http://autos.winnipegfreepress.com/index.php?action=reviews&step=review&id=2144

JEREMY CATO

From Thursday’s Globe and Mail

May 14, 2009 at 11:17 AM EDT

LOS ANGELES — The seats push cool air to keep you from getting sticky in the summer sun. The audio system is loud and clear with the roof folded and tucked away (13 speakers overall, including a 10-inch speaker in the front door and headrest speakers). And the ride and handling are athletic for a car without a permanent roof.

This is the Infiniti G37 and it’s about time. Infiniti has been in need of a sexy flagship for – well, pretty much forever. And with a June on-sale imminent, the G37 convertible is it.

“It’s not an old person’s car,” says Infiniti Canada planning boss Ian Forsyth.

Forsyth and his pals are being coy about pricing, what with the muscular yen making a mess of price tags on exported models from Japan. But look for numbers in the mid- to high-$50,000s, which will make the G37 convertible competitive with BMW’s 3-Series Cabriolet ($55,600-$65,600).

Enlarge ImageThe G37 convertible goes on sale next month. (NISSAN)

That’s the point.

Infiniti sees itself as something of Japan’s answer to the Bavarians. Sporty styling, racy handling and all that. And that’s why the engineers put so much effort into making sure the G convertible is rigid, solid.

They beefed up the chassis with more structure behind the rear seats. They strengthened around the A-pillar (that supports the windshield).

It all worked, though the A-pillar’s design can make entering and exiting tricky if you’re not careful. Visibility to the side and rear is not quite ideal, either.

That said, the Sport version – the stiffest model – is quite the handler. You can carve corners happily here, boxing around the standard six-speed manual tranny or paddle-shifting the seven-speed automatic. The less aggressive, more luxurious Premier G37 has only the seven-speed autobox, by the way.

And the car looks good, too – not fat and bloated at the rear end, which can happen with these convertibles with the hardtops that fold into the trunk. All that sheet metal has to go somewhere, right?

Yet the designers and engineers managed to stay almost completely within the dimensions of the G coupe. The convertible is only 10 mm longer than the coupe and about 40 mm wider at the rear. Not a bad trick for a car with room for the roof in the trunk.

The engineering team at Germany’s Karmann Group helped a lot here. Yes, this is the same Karmann that filed for bankruptcy protection last month in Germany.

In any case, the Infiniti-Karmann partnership is moving ahead, regardless. It’s worth noting that Infiniti has never worked with Karmann, yet what the engineers did is pretty slick: the G’s roof panels shuffle and invert for more efficient trunk stacking. The roof is all gone in about 30 seconds or so.

“It’s not just a coupe with the roof removed,” Forsyth says.

I like the drive, but I love the cabin. The leather in my tester was just soft enough, but not mushy or gooey to the feel. Lots of back, thigh and lumbar support, too. The materials look and feel upscale but not ostentatious or showy. And the controls make sense, unlike a lot of high-tech cars these days.

Alas, all is not ideal. Daylight glare makes the instrument panel lights nearly unreadable. If you’re wearing sunglasses – a must in a convertible – you’ll struggle.

Infiniti needs this convertible in its lineup to jazz up a pretty basic portfolio of sedans, coupes and SUVs. It’s a halo car designed to cast a favourable shadow over the rest of the models. So the fact Infiniti might sell less than 1,000 in a good year is not the point. Brand-building, image-building, that’s the point.

And so it’s important for Infiniti to get this car right. Well, power is good from the 3.7-litre, V-6 engine: 325 horsepower.

The packaging makes sense, too. The Sport model has 10-spoke, 19-inch aluminum wheels with performance tires, sport-tuned steering, Brembo brakes, sport seats, aluminum pedals, power and memory front seats, leather interior and magnesium paddle shifters. The usual and expected electronic stability control and all the airbags are standard.

The Premier Edition comes in only one colour: Diamond graphite. It’s really metallic grey, if we’re being honest. The red leather upholstery is trimmed in real maple. The front seats are climate-controlled, there is a navigation system and the front grille is black.

If you want navigation on the Sport, you’ll need to opt for the Hi-Tech package and also pay for voice recognition, “Music Box” audio, intelligent cruise control, adaptive front lighting and pre-crash seatbelts.

The Sport model’s adaptive dual-zone climate control is pretty trick, I’ll give Infiniti that. When it’s colder outside, the system speeds up the fan to warm the cabin; when it’s hotter, more cool air is pumped into the cabin.

Then there’s the trunk. It’s a good size when the roof is up, but of little use when loaded with the folded lid. So use the back seat for your golf clubs; it’s not exactly ideal for real adults to sit, anyway.

What Infiniti has here is a great looking open-air car with excellent handling, loads of power, a rich cabin and some very smart features. Sure, we’d all like better visibility, a bigger trunk and a roomier back seat.

Then again, if we’re going to get all practical here, note that Infiniti’s residual or resale values are the best among luxury brands in Canada, according to Automotive Lease Guide.

That’s one more sensible argument in favour of this car.

****

2009 INFINITI G37 CONVERTIBLE

Type: Premium two-door convertible with folding hardtop

Price: (estimated) $55,000 and up

Engine: 3.7-litre V-6, SOHC

Horsepower/Torque: 325 hp/267 lb-ft

Transmission: Six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic

Drive: Rear-wheel-drive

Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 12.0 city/7.8 highway; premium gas

Alternatives: BMW 328i/335i Cabriolet, Audi A4 Cabriolet, Saab 9-3 convertible, Mercedes-Benz CLK350 convertible

****

Like

• Upscale, but not over-the-top, interior
• Excellent sound system
• Climate control with heating and cooling seats
• Slick folding top
• Handsome look without a big rear end

****

Don’t like

• Visibility in some directions
• Lack of useful trunk space when top down
• Small, small back seat
• Instruments tend to disappear in daylight, with top down

https://autos.winnipegfreepress.com/index.php?action=reviews&step=review&id=1336

By: Clare Dear

BEVERLY HILLS — The G series has become the volume leader for the Infiniti brand in Canada, with the second-generation G37 sedan and coupe delivering an appealing combination of advanced technologies, attractive styling and a high level of performance.

The one final piece needed to complete the lineup, says Ian Forsyth, Infiniti Canada product planning director, was a convertible — and now he’s getting his wish.

Infiniti is adding a droptop model to its G line with the 2009 G37 convertible, arriving in Canada in June. Before you assume this new model is simply a topless coupe, let me assure you it’s all new from the windshield pillar back. The body panels are different, the track is wider, the rear suspension has been reworked — even the tail lights have been redesigned.

Most of the changes were made to accommodate the retractable steel roof and its storage. The roof consists of three panels that fold away in a movement that takes about 25 seconds to complete. This design enables the G37 to have a shorter overhang and lower hatch lid. With the top up, the G37 has a stylish coupe look. Push a button on the centre console and a well-orchestrated transformation begins, with panels opening, folding, moving and closing. Once the roof is stored, the G37 assumes a clean look with no hint of the tall rear deck design seen on many competitive hardtop convertibles.

Infiniti engineers were able to achieve this lower profile by using a clamshell storage configuration for the roof, rather than the typical “stacked” design.

One issue the engineers haven’t resolved is how to find storage space for a roof plus personal items. Cargo capacity is almost nonexistent with the roof folded — just two cubic feet in a narrow trough between the stored panels and rear fascia. Forget even an overnight bag, and golf clubs will have to ride in the rear seat. Even with the top up, there’s just 10.3 cu. ft. for luggage.

Space is not a concern elsewhere, at least if you’re riding up front. The two front sport seats are heated, power adjustable and very comfy.

The G37 will be offered in Sport and Premier Edition trims. There’s just one colour combination for the latter — a graphite metallic exterior and red leather interior with handcrafted maple accents. This package also includes a navigation system with a seven-inch touch-screen display, voice recognition and 9.3-gigabyte hard-drive Music Box system augmenting the standard Bose Open Air audio system.

Standard equipment on the Sport model includes, in addition to the Bose sound system with its 13 speakers (including a pair built into each front headrest), a power tilt and telescopic steering column that also tilts the instrument cluster, adaptive dual-zone climate control that responds to changes in vehicle speed and whether the top is up or down, as well as ambient temperature, vehicle stability and traction controls, an intelligent key fob and push-button start/stop. Safety concerns are addressed by six air bags (front, seat sides and doors) plus pop-up rear rollover bars.

The Sport model also includes a brake upgrade, with larger ventilated rotors and four-piston calipers up front, twin-piston calipers in the rear.

There’s just one engine offered — Infiniti’s award-winning 3.7-litre V6, which also drives the G37 coupe and sedan. It features variable valve timing and lift, boosting response and performance while reducing emissions and enhancing fuel efficiency. It’s rated at 325 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 267 pound-feet of torque at 5,200 rpm.

Buyers have a choice of transmissions — a close-ratio six-speed manual or an electronically controlled seven-speed automatic that features a manual mode with rev-matching downshift function and magnesium paddles on the steering wheel.

– Canwest News Service

As seen in: “Newest models arriving for spring”

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/articles/general/story/4142834p-4733514c.html

By: Myron Love
Updated: April 2 at 03:32 PM CDT

…Birchwood Infiniti Nissan officially introduced the newest Infiniti model, the EX 35, as well as the G37 coupe on Wednesday at a special-event evening at the Pointe West Auto Centre dealership. About 800 guests were invited to drop in between 5 and 9 p.m. to enjoy some wine, hors d’oeuvres and music and become acquainted with the models.

The EX 35 has actually been in since the beginning of February and the coupe since November. “We wanted to wait until spring to formally introduce the coupe,” says Birchwood Infiniti Nissan general manager Greg Flom.

Sales manager Phil Chow says the coupe has been totally redesigned. The sport coupe has a 3.7L engine with 330 hp and comes with either an automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

Chow points out that the interior has been extensively revamped, with several additional luxury touches incorporated in the new look.

The base price for the G37 Coupe is $51,897, including freight and pdi.

The EX 35 retains its predecessor’s ATTESA AWD system. The big new things, Chow says, is that the model has cameras imbedded all around to help with parking in close quarters and moving in reverse. The model also offers a quieter drive, touchscreen navigation, iPod compatibility, push-button start and intelligent keyless entry.

The new EX 35 has a 3.5L V-6 engine that puts out 297 hp. The base price is $42,000, including freight, pdi and AWD, and is $51,700 fully loaded.

All nine dealerships unveil new service

By: Myron Love (Updated: August 1 at 02:25 PM CDT)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/subscriber/autos/story/4206947p-4799299c.html

The Birchwood Auto Group’s nine dealerships have become Winnipeg’s newest Wi-Fi hot spots.

“MTS normally focuses on places such as restaurants and libraries for its Wi-Fi service,” says Kevin McNeill, director of information systems for the Birchwood Group. “We are the first auto dealers to offer the service.”

McNeill reports that there was some demand for the Internet service, particularly from customers from luxury vehicle stores (such as Birchwood BMW MINI, Woodhaven Lexus Toyota and the combination Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover store all at the Pointe West AutoPark in Headingley). “We decided to roll out the program at all of our stores,” McNeill says.

Birchwood customers are now able to bring their laptops with them when they bring their vehicles in for servicing, get the access code and go online for up to 60 minutes at a time while waiting for their vehicles.