For model year 2008 Infiniti's M series gets some sporting upgrades. Firstly, the M45 gets slapped with an “x” designation like its M35x fraternal twin. That ever mysterious letter “x” means the 4.5 liter V8 gets all-wheel-drive in addition to some revised interior and exterior styling, front and rear bumpers, headlights, grille, trunk lid, taillight design, rear quarter panels, new wheels and new chrome accents.

The M sport sedan on the other hand gets replaced with a Sports Package which includes its own unique front and rear bumper styling package in addition to side sills and colored headlamps. Rear Active Steer (RAS), 19-inch wheels and tires round out the package.

In brief, here are the details at a glance:

• New M45x AWD model with intelligent ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive

• Production debut of Infiniti’s Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system

• Revised front and rear fascia, headlights, grille, rear decklid and taillight design, rear fender panels, new chrome accents

• New wheel designs

• Available Sport Package with unique styling, Rear Active Steer (RAS), 19-inch wheels and tires

• Increased differentiation between Sport Package and non-Sport Package vehicles with unique bumpers, side sills, headlight color and wheels

• Rain sensing wipers

• Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System with touch-screen, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback and available XM NavTraffic® (requires active XM® subscription, sold separately)

• Revised interior and revised aluminum and wood trim

• Standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) (optionally available on M35 AWD)

• Standard climate-controlled seats

• New Stone interior color

• New white instrument panel lighting with violet accents and white and violet interior lighting

• Standard XM Satellite Radio (requires XM® subscription, sold separately)

• Six new exterior colors (out of eight total)

Further details on the following pages.

Press Release

Overview

2008 Infiniti M Receives Major Upgrades, Including First Available Production Lane Departure Prevention System

Just two years after its highly successful introduction, the Infiniti M receives major upgrades for 2008 that include the first-ever availability of Infiniti’s intelligent ATTESA™ E-TS all-wheel drive system on the 4.5-liter V8-powered M45. The new model, designated M45x, joins the M35x to provide buyers with two choices in all-climate AWD performance.

Other enhancements for 2008 include revised interior and exterior styling and added luxury amenities and technologies, including the production debut of Infiniti’s newest safety technology, the Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system.

The exterior enhancements for 2008 include revised front and rear fascia, grille, rear fender panels, rear decklid and taillight design, new chrome accents and new 18-inch and 19-inch sport aluminum-alloy wheels.

Inside, the new 2008 Infiniti M includes an upgraded Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System with touch-screen, 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for digital music storage and playback and available XM NavTraffic® (requires active XM® subscription, sold separately), as well as new white instrument panel lighting with violet accents and white and violet interior lighting, standard XMâ Satellite Radio (requires XM® subscription, sold separately) and a revised Stone colored interior.

Also for 2008, the previous M35 and M45 Sport models have been replaced by an available Sport Package, which includes significant visual differentiation from non-Sport Package models – including unique exterior and interior styling, Rear Active Steer (RAS) and 19-inch sport wheels and tires.

In addition to the advanced navigation system, other available M technology includes Bluetooth? Hands-free Phone System, an Infiniti Information Display with 7-inch LCD screen and easy-to-use controls, Infiniti voice recognition and RearView Monitor.

“The Infiniti M is an expression of power, refinement, technology and design – all the things that make Infiniti owners’ hearts pound,” said Mark Igo, vice president and general manager, Infiniti. “The M captures the soul of the Infiniti brand, expressing it in invigorating, forward thinking ways.”