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2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport Photo Gallery

Infiniti finesses its flagship

AS
by Autobytel Staff
October 18, 2005
3 min. Reading Time
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Infiniti understands the recipe for big luxury sedan success in the U.S. – rear-wheel drive and a V8 engine. True, there has to be plenty of luxury and technology heaped on top, and it’s gotta wear the right badge to satisfy the image-conscious, but under it all has got to be at least eight cylinders capable of spinning the rear tires. In terms of luxury, the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport has the bases covered. Inside are seats covered in rich leather, a standard navigation system, a thumping Bose sound system, and lots of heated this and power that. Visual and engineering upgrades for ‘06 include 19-inch alloy wheels and rear active steering derived from the M35 Sport, a rev-matching automatic transmission (also first used in the M), and a sport-tuned suspension. Under the hood, however, is the same 340-horsepower V8 currently used in the Q45. And, because of that, the 2006 Q45 provides a feeling of underwhelming power, especially with that Sport moniker in mind. During our brief test drive of the Q45 Sport, it was obvious that this large sedan could move out with authority, but at the same time, the 340-horse rating rang of optimism – maybe they’ve all been chewing on a little too much hay. However, looking past the engine character, drivers will surely notice the tighter handling and its ability to turn sharp highway on-ramps and twisty two-lanes into good fun.

Photo 2 -- Wheel

What you see in the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport’s wheel wells might look familiar – they’re the same wheels and tires that come standard on the Infiniti M35 Sport. These titanium-finished alloys measure 19 x 8.5 inches and are finished off with Bridgestone Potenza P245/45R19 high-performance tires.

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Photo 3 -- Taillight

Among the technologies borrowed from the smaller M model for use in the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport is Rear Active Steering. When heading into a turn, the rear wheels turn slightly (up to one degree) in the opposite direction of the front wheels to help the car take a proper set in the turn. When exiting a corner or making a lane change, the rear wheels turn slightly (again, up to one degree) in the same direction as the front wheels to help accelerate in the intended direction.

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Photo 4 -- Exterior Front

All 2006 Infiniti Q45 models ride on a fully-independent, sport-tuned suspension, with struts, coil springs, and a stabilizer bar fitted up front. The rear uses a multi-link setup, also with coil springs and a stabilizer bar. Like the 2005 model, the 2006 Q45 allows the driver to control the ride by selecting different suspension modes.

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Photo 5 -- Engine

Power for the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport comes from the same all-aluminum 4.5-liter, 32-valve V8 found in the regular Q45. This powerplant features dual overhead cams and continuous variable valve timing, with a horsepower rating of 340 at 6,400 rpm and 333 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.

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Photo 6 -- Exterior Front

While the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport’s 340 horsepower and 333 lb.-ft. of torque may sound substantial, the 4,154-lb. curb weight is a lot of heft to motivate. Off the line acceleration is impressive, but the Q45 Sport has a tendency to feel a bit overweight and underpowered, especially when compared with other V8-powered premium sedans. The Sport model carries a 67-lb. weight penalty over the base Q45, yet it offers a slightly improved weight distribution. Sport models carry 53 percent of the curb weight up front and 47 percent in the rear, whereas base Q45’s carry 56 percent up front and 46 percent over the rear drive wheels.

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Photo 7 -- Exterior Rear

Fuel economy for the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, with premium-grade gas being recommended. That compares with the base Q45’s 17 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. The slight drop in efficiency is likely due to the Sport’s higher curb weight and larger, high-performance tires.

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Photo 8 -- Gearshift

Another feature adopted from the M sedan and used in the 2006 Infiniti Q45 is a five-speed, manually interactive automatic transmission. Engineers have added a rev-matching feature that blips the throttle when the manual shift mode is being used. When downshifting, for instance, that blip of the throttle will raise the engine speed, or rpm, to the appropriate level for the lower gear. The result is a smooth transition between gears while using the manual mode of the transmission. This feature is standard on all Q45 models.

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Photo 9 -- Exterior Front

In addition to the 19-inch alloy wheels and sport-tuned suspension, the 2006 Infiniti Q45 Sport also comes standard with a full-size matching spare located in the trunk. Among the features shared with the base Q45 are a navigation system with a seven-inch center screen; power, heated front seats with driver’s side memory; genuine maple interior trim; a 300-watt Bose sound system with a six-disc CD changer and AudioPilot Noise Compensation; a power sunroof; and an integrated Bluetooth phone system.

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Photo 10 -- Dashboard

Though they share a number of standard features, the jam-packed Premium Package has been reserved only for the 2006 Infiniti Q45 base model. Included in the package, and therefore not available on the Q45 Sport, are a lane departure warning system and intelligent cruise control, among other items.

Photos courtesy of Infiniti North America

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