What If Infiniti Built an M Coupe?

[HighestOfHigh]

The latest generation of the midsize Infiniti M sedan is sleek and curvy with more than a little styling inspiration from the even sleeker and curvier Infiniti Essence concept coupe. Sources close to Infiniti tell us that that a production coupe is under serious consideration among Nissan executives.

The sketches being traded around the higher ranks of the company depict an upscale two-door that looks a great like the Essence -- and a great deal like the coupe in these renderings. The 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 sedan already have the nose of the Essence, and on the coupe, designers are doing their best to preserve the concept's other provocative styling cues -- the scalloped rear quarter windows and the unusually shaped fender vents.

Look for Infiniti offer both an M56 coupe (as shown above) and an M37 coupe (after the jump), likely with a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. The company's seven-speed automatic transmission would be standard across the board, and you can count on Infiniti offering a sport package with a stiffer suspension tune and larger wheels and brakes.

While having a midsize coupe in the lineup might seem like a frivolity in the current economy, it's a niche that Infiniti will eventually need to fill to increase its market share in the luxury class. The Infiniti M37 and M56 would go toe-to-toe with the Audi A5/S5, BMW 6 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupes, with pricing most closely matching the Benz.

Of course, all these model lines include a convertible as well, so if Infiniti does go ahead and build an M coupe, a four-seat, drop-top version can't be far behind.

- What If Infiniti Built an M Coupe?

 

[Mr Robert]

The nicest thing about it is it's name... and I think it will be stripped of that.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

To be honest, Infiniti should have been mad a coupe to the M sedan. I'm sure it will be a hot seller if it looks good. Nothing like that horrible Altima coupe.

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Infiniti Working on M Coupe?

Infiniti's ability to build an attractive range of sedans and coupes off of a core platform has proven highly successful over the past two generations of the G, and now it looks like the larger, more luxurious M may get similar treatment--and it may even be joined by a convertible variant.

Styling is expected to draw from the Essence concept car shown last year at the Geneva Motor Show, in particular the highly stylized kink at the side of the B pillar. Front-end treatments could also include Essence-derived styling hints, such as fender vents and a different front fascia than the sedan.

The move to an M coupe would put Infiniti nearly on pace with its German competition, as well as Cadillac's CTS range. Both the 3.7-liter V-6 M36 and 5.6-liter V-8 M56 would be candidates for the chop, offering a range that's more in line with the standard CTS, E-Class and upcoming 6-Series than the V, AMG, and M end of the spectrum.

We'll probably have to wait at least a year to see the car in the sheet metal, putting Infiniti a bit behind the 2011 E-Class, which is already available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon formats. BMW's upcoming 6-Series is expected to get a four-door variant in the form of a production version of the Concept Gran Coupe, in addition to the existing coupe and convertible.

- Infiniti Working on M Coupe? - MotorAuthority

 

[Merc1]

If it isn't going to look like this, then don't bother.


M

 

[HighestOfHigh]

^Lol, I'm sure it will probably look more like a two door M then the concept. Something like what we see with the G coupe.

Wouldn't mind seeing an Infiniti "CLS" as well.

 

[Shining Star]

The Infiniti M already looks stunning; I certainly would like to see a coupe variant sometime in the future, and maybe even a slightly more upmarket convertible (something I doubt, however). If this car were to be made, the rear would probably be the most different from the current renderings, the Essence rear wouldn't make it on; more like a stretched version of the M sedan's rear.