A technological tour de force, the 2011 Infiniti M-line offers an outstanding array of new features, even more performance, and better fuel economy. Taking many design cues from the highly acclaimed Infiniti Essence concept, the flagship 2011 Infiniti M cars elevate Infiniti’s game considerably.

Right off the top, two new engines bring more power to the model range, without introducing fuel economy penalties. The 3.7-liter V6 powered M37 enjoys 330 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 270 ft-lbs of torque at 5200 rpm. While these represent increases of 27 horsepower and eight ft-lbs of torque over the outgoing M35, fuel economy also rises by one mpg in the city and one on the highway for both rear and all-wheel drive models.

The M56 uses a 5.6-liter V8 to command 420 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 417 ft-lbs of torque. Compared to the M45, this represents a 95 horsepower gain and 81 ft-lbs of torque. Yet, for rear-drive models, city fuel economy remains unchanged at 16 miles per gallon. Highway fuel economy actually increases to 25 miles per gallon, up from 21 with the 4.5-liter V8. The all-wheel drive M56 delivers 16-city and 23-highway for a fuel economy increase of two miles per gallon in the city (up from 14) and a three-mile per gallon increase on the highway (up from 20).

Performance with these new efficient engines is greatly improved as well. Infiniti’s V6 remains one of the smoothest motivational tools out there and with it, the luxurious sedan accelerates quite smartly. In fact, if all you ever drove were the V6 model you’d be more than satisfied with it. However, once you tip into the throttle of the direct injected M56, you’ll be spoiled forever. One reviewer expressed concerns about altering the rotation of the earth when allowing the M56 to accelerate at full throttle. Both engines are paired with a seven-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

As wonderful at the engines are, the look of the car gave this scribe a bit of pause initially. Fluidly curvaceous, at first glance the design seems a bit busy and the nose struck me as a bit heavy. However over the course of the day spent with the car, the new design did start to grow on me.

Infiniti’s M cars have never been exactly conventionally styled and these new models are certainly no exception in that regard. The good news is cars that don’t strike you as beautiful immediately have a tendency to age gracefully. This bodes well for an owner who likes to keep their cars for five years or more. There’s a distinct possibility this Infiniti will still look fresh five years from now.

The interior of the car, on the other hand gave no cause for pause whatsoever. Absolutely gorgeous, the M-line’s cabin accoutrements are absolutely first class in every way. Rich, luxurious leather, finely crafted woods and nicely traditional touches like Infiniti’s signature analog clock telegraph the tastefulness of the driver’s choices to all of their passengers. I particularly like the redundancy built into the multi-media interface, each function has several methods of activation, allowing the driver to use the most intuitive method for them.

Other available 2011 Infiniti M features include a Bose 2-channel 10-speaker premium audio system or the up market Bose Studio Surround sound system with digital 5.1-channel decoding and 16 speakers (including two personal speakers mounted in the shoulders of each front seat). Naturally, a heated steering wheel, climate-controlled front seats, and semi-aniline leather are part of the package. One feature I really appreciate is the White Ash wood trim, enhanced with real silver powder. The wood actually sparkles when sunlight interacts with it.

The M-line’s feature set is equally strong, with features like Active Noise Control, and the innovative Forest Air climate control system The Infiniti M also introduces Blind Spot Intervention to help move the vehicle back toward the center of the lane of travel away from another vehicle. Active Noise Control listens to the interior of the car and generates sound waves to counteract any undesirable sounds. The Forest Air system neutralizes unpleasant odors, bacteria, mold, viruses and allergens.

Happily, Infiniti’s M cars also still go down the road like true sports sedans. Displaying wonderful balance and an almost manic willingness to change direction quickly, the cars are now faster, more agile, and even more entertaining to drive. With these new M cars, Infiniti has remained true to the core performance values of the brand, while reaching even farther into the realm of advanced technology and fuel efficiency.

Pricing starts at $46, 250 for the 2011 Infiniti M37 and $57,550 for the 2011 Infiniti M56.