Falling
in Love Again
Meet
the
2002 Infiniti Q45
by
BJ Killeen
Falling
in love isnt something we women take lightly. We are at first
cautious, then willing, and finally totally immersed in the relationship.
On the other hand, we also believe in love at first sight. We know
many couples who met and married quickly and still enjoy a long, happy
relationship. My experience with the new Q45 from Infiniti was definitely
love at first sight, and after driving it, I think we could be quite
happy together.
Seeing
the great styling and hearing about how much power and features the
vehicle had was akin to finding a single doctor who had just won the
lottery. The Q45, much like that doctor, has it all.
Although
the Q45 has been around as long as the Lexus LS430, it hasnt
achieved the same amount of respect, mostly due to its dismal advertising
introduction; if you recall, the ad campaign showed rocks and trees,
not the vehicle. The sad part was the first Q-ship was a truly wonderful
vehicle, with handling and styling that made it a worthy adversary
to the Lexus, Mercedes, and other luxury makes of the day.
Im
happy to report that the 2002 Infiniti Q45 not only is more fun to
drive than the first iteration (which is saying a lot), its
also chock full of luxury features and technological innovations that
make it worth every penny of its $50,000 price tag.
The
new Q is instantly recognizable by its unique headlights: a cluster
of seven high-intensity-discharge (HID) units in the shape of a gattling
gun. It not only provides ample light on the road at night, but also
helps deliver the bionic cheetah look Infiniti was aiming
for. As a matter of fact, the headlights are so efficient, fog lamps
are no longer necessary. The headlamp assembly blends nicely with
the Qs overall design: sleek, compact, and contemporary. For
2002, the new Q is wider with a longer wheelbase to provide more comfort
and room inside the cabin.
And
while were inside, check out the luxury features: birds
eye maple wood, leather, Infinitis beautiful signature analog
clock, a Bose sound system, audio and dual climate controls for front
and back seat passengers, and even adjustable seats for those riding
in the back as well.
Infiniti
has done an excellent job of defining quality and luxury, and we would
be quite happy spending hours in this cabin. Just think of it as a
five-star hotel on wheels. But as soon as you turn the key and hit
the throttle, the luxury part becomes secondary, and fun jumps to
the forefront.
The
Q is powered by a 340-horsepower 4.5-liter V-8 engine that produces
333 lb-ft of torque. Its the most powerful V-8 in its class,
and features titanium valves and other high-tech mechanical and electronic
parts. All this power helps move this Q quickly down the road. No
waiting for a turbo to spool up; just stomp on the throttle and take
off.
The
Qs ride is tuned slightly more toward sport than luxury, which
I prefer, meaning the chassis responds quickly to driver input, and
offers excellent balance and stability at higher speeds. Of course,
we did our high-speed driving on a racetrack, so dont try this
at home.
What
is most impressive about the Q, though, is that this is a 2002 model
that actually belongs in the 21st century. Voice-activated commands
will adjust the climate, audio, and optional navigation systems, meaning
less time with your eyes off the road. Its quite Jetsonian,
and we loved it.
The
other futuristic feature is the optional backup camera. While other
manufacturers give you just an audible beep that something is behind
you, the Qs system is actually a small camera mounted at the
rear that projects the image onto your view screen. This is something
RVs have had for a while, but in this execution, its brilliant.
It also paves the way for the future when we rid ourselves of those
pesky side view mirrors and just rely on the cameras eye to
see whats in the world behind us. No more accidents from vehicles
hiding in our blind spots.
Its
almost not worth mentioning all the safety features, because if its
not in here, it probably doesnt exist yet. Everything from dual-stage
airbags to the Vehicle Dynamic Control system is standard.
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