Infiniti Q45 Owner's Review - Japan's Finest Luxury Sedan of the 2000's

Infiniti Q45 V8 4.5 Litre Review 3rd and Final Generation - Japan's Finest Luxury Sedan of the 2000's

Introduced as a concept at the 2000 New York Auto Show, the Q45 was completely redesigned for 2002, as was the JDM Cima and the President. This Q45 focused on performance again with a new 340 hp (253 kW) 4.5 L VK45DE V8 engine, HID headlights, and revised styling. The car featured a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

Development began in 1996, with exterior designs under Mamori Aoki frozen in 1998 and patented in March 2000. It was the first Infiniti with laser autonomous cruise control system.

1129 Q45s were sold in the United States for 2005. This Q45 has received praise from Car and Driver, Edmunds and Consumer Guide.

The 2003 model received a revised security system, numerically higher final drive ratio (for better acceleration - decreased highway fuel economy), reprogrammed TCU, and a mid-year satellite radio option. The CD changer could load CDs directly at the dashboard head unit. The 2005 Q45 received revised front and rear fascias, hood, grille, trunk lid and headlights, integrated fog lights and LED taillights, contoured double-stitched seating, white luminescent gauge markings, chrome accents, dark maple trim, recalibrated transmission and new 18" alloy wheels.

Standard equipment included all leather interior, power sunroof, 8-way power front seats, remote keyless entry, rain-detecting wipers and side curtain airbags. Standard electronics include: CD, 8 speaker Bose audio system, trip computer, rear view parking camera system, and voice-activated navigation system. The 2002 Q45 was the first vehicle to ever offer voice-activated navigation controls and a reverse parking camera outside Japan, following the JDM 1991 Toyota Soarer. The car seated five passengers and was offered at MSRP of CAN $85,800 (equivalent to $109,000 in 2022).