THE SHINING
Infiniti’s balancing act with the Q70s 5.6

By Mark Dorman The Infiniti Q70s 5.6 has to be one of the most interesting cars that I have had the opportunity to review. Competing in a segment with industry giants like the BMW 550i, Mercedes E550, Audi A6, and Lexus GS, it’s not exactly a shoe-in as my favorite luxury sedan.

Walk around On first impression, there is a lot to like about the Q70s. It has a fresh and modern styling that is unique to Infiniti and itself. Although it does not overwhelm you with aggressive or overly modern styling, Infiniti did a good job finding a balance of stylish curves, muscular proportions, and modern accents—giving the Q70s a sporty and luxurious look. Equipped with factory 20 inch wheels, low profile tires, and factory equipped sport brakes, the car has a lot of the right ingredients to compete in this segment. The interior of the Q70 is one of its best features. The layout is beautiful, logical, and classy. When you get into the car, you feel like you've sat down in a true luxury sedan, surrounded by supple leather, soft touch surfaces, and technology. Though not as high tech as the Infiniti Q50 (the Q70 is a rebadged M56 with some updates), it still has enough gizmos and gadgets to make most tech-savvy owners happy without confusing them.

Driving Impressions While driving around in the Q70s, this author never felt out of place around other luxury sedans roaming the street of Orange County (a definite BMW and Mercedes hot spot). If anything, having a Q70S makes you stand out from the crowd as you don't see many of these on the road. The car does not lack power. The VVEL 5.6 Liter V8 motor puts out gobs of torque (especially in sport mode), and the top end horsepower keeps you moving ahead of most cars on the road. As much as everyone loves turbos and hybrids, there is always something about the roar of a V8 that just puts a smile on one’s face. Handling is impressive for this size of a car as well. Don't misunderstand, it’s not sports car, but for a two-ton luxury sedan, the Q70s is quite sporty. In quick transitions, it does tend to wallow a bit and leans a little more than some of its German rivals. However, it makes up for that with a more supple ride that a lot of the sedans in its class.

Overall You really can't go wrong in this market with so many great options. The Q70s does not shine above the rest. On the other hand, it does fill a void that is in demand for this segment. Looking for something a little less common, yet still very comfortable, classy, and sporty at the same time? Go test drive a Q70s and see what you may have overlooked. For more information about Infiniti products, go to www.infinitiusa.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name of vehicle:
 I2014 Infiniti Q70s Price:
 $70,800 as tested with the "s" sport package (base $62,100) EPA fuel economy ratings (miles per gallon):
 16 city/24 highway Engine Type:
 All-aluminum 5.6 liter 32 valve V8 Horsepower:
 420 hp Torque:
 417 pound-feet Drive Configuration:
 Front-engine, rear-wheel drive Transmission:
 Electronically controlled 7-speed automatic with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC). Driver-adaptive learning algorithm senses driving style and adjusts automatic shifting accordingly. Manual shift mode Steering: Vehicle-speed-sensitive power steering Suspension Front: Independent, double-wishbone with coil springs over double piston shock absorbers, stabilizer bar Rear: Independent, multi-link with coil springs over double piston shock absorbers, stabilizer bar Brakes Four-wheel disc, four-channel ABS Front aluminum 4-piston opposed front calipers with 14.0 x 1.3-inch ventilated discs Rear two-piston opposed rear calipers with 13.8 x 0.8-inch ventilated discs Dimensions Overall length: 194.7 inches Overall width: 72.6 inches Overall height: 59.1 inches Curb weight: 4,004 lbs