Infiniti Q70 soldiers on with V6, V8, Hybrid for 2016

Former M sedan gets luxe Premium Select Trim

   The 2016 Infiniti Q70 luxury sedan -- the one formerly known as the M35/M45, is now on sale. Nine main trim packages range from the Q70 3.7 ($50,755 including destination) all the way up to the Q70 5.6 AWD, which will ring in at $67,955.

    New for 2016 is the Premium Select Edition that comes with dark chrome trim, a darkened lower rear bumper finisher, rear spoiler, specific 20-inch wheel design with dark chrome finish and sport brakes. Inside buyers get a choice of two exclusive semi-aniline leather colors, stone and graphite, along with contrasting seat piping, suede-like headliner, laser-etched aluminum trim, illuminated kick plates, unique floor mats with contrasting piping and aluminum badging. That package tacks on $3,300.

   For power, the Q70 gets either a 3.7-liter V6 making 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque or 5.6-liter V8 delivering 420 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. The V6 has sequential multi-port fuel injection while the V8 gets direct injection. Both use a seven-speed automatic with rev matching and manual shift mode to send power to the rear or all four wheels.

   The Q70 Hybrid gets a completely different powertrain setup. Here, the older VQ35 3.5-liter V6 makes 302 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque and is supplemented by a 64-hp, 214 lb-ft electric motor and a 50 kW lithium-ion battery. Total system output, says Infiniti, is rated at 360 hp. The Hybrid only comes with rear-wheel drive and can travel on electric power alone for 1.2 miles, up to speeds of 62 mph.

   All Q70 models are held to the pavement with a double wishbone front suspension and multilink rear, both with coil springs. Surprisingly, the setup is not adjustable. The standard brake rotors measure 12.6/12.1 inches, front and back. Add sport brakes for rotors measuring 14.0/13.8 inches, front and back.

   Inside, the 2016 Q70 comes standard with Infiniti’s Drive Mode Selector that controls the throttle and transmission, Active Noise Control, which reduces undesirable engine harmonics, blind spot warning and blind spot intervention. It also features the Eco Pedal, which encourages economic driving by making the throttle harder to push. It only operates when driving in Eco mode and it can be adjusted through the main menus.

   The Q70 will probably bump up against the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series and maybe the Lexus GS as competition. The current E-Class starts at about $53,000, the GS at $46,000, so the Q70 seems right in line with those established players. The Q70 has a long way to go, though; Infiniti only sold about 8,500 units last year, while Mercedes sold more than 49,000 E-Class sedans.