AZCentral.com's view

The Infiniti Q45 has a whole new image, more sophisticated and less sporting, closer to mainstream luxury cars and away from the macho performance of its former self.

What was wrong with the old image, the big, fast, muscular sedan in the spirit of Jaguar and BMW? Nothing. Except for mediocre sales.

In this high end of the luxury car market, the Q45 hasn’t kept up with the Joneses, in particular, archrival Lexus LS400.

Despite the acclaim from driving enthusiasts and magazine writers, the old Q failed to muster the kind of response from the public that the flagship Lexus has experienced. Where the Lexus had become a fixture among the well-off, the Infiniti remains slightly offbeat. So, if you can’t beat ’em . . . Which is why the ’97 Q45 comes to us in a kinder, gentler guise, with a softer suspension and traditional styling.

It moves closer to the formula that made the Lexus so popular. There still is a “touring” version, the Q45t, with stiffer ride and sharper handling at a higher price.

Now slightly smaller and lighter, the Infiniti has improved gas mileage compared with last year, and it costs a bit less. Traction control, anti-lock brakes and 16-inch wheels now come standard.

Despite its toned-down nature, the top-shelf Infiniti is a fine luxury machine, with a beautiful interior in the British tradition, right down to the classic appearance of the gauges and the dark wood accents.

With a squared-off shape and high door sills, the styling is conservative but with enough of an aggressive stance to keep it from being stodgy. The designers were too heavy-handed with the chrome trim, though, especially the massive door handles.

Even though a preproduction prototype that supposedly wasn’t screwed together as well as the final version, the test car was tight and rattle-free, even over the harshest pavement.

The rack-and-pinion steering was fairly light, but with good feedback through its thick, leather-rimmed wheel.

Though the ride is exceptionally cushy, it’s not accompanied by excessive wallowing or body sway. In a drive to Prescott, the Infiniti felt relaxed and competent at highway speeds, taking the long incline on Interstate 17 past Black Canyon City with quiet ease. Returning the back way through Yarnell, the sedan took the sharp turns on the mountain road with surprising aplomb – well-balanced and easily controlled – and smoothed out the rough stretches of pavement.

Though the dual-cam V-8 engine is smaller and less powerful at 266 horsepower, the new Q45 is lighter and feels just as responsive as the old Q, which had a 4.5-liter engine delivering 278 horses. The 4.1-liter mill runs very smooth and strong, its exhaust note heavily muffled. Shifting is smooth and seamless, almost undetectable.

The automatic’s electronic controls keeps right on top of things. The lush interior, conservative enough to be almost retro, is roomy and comfortable. The leather seats are firm and supportiv e, and there’s decent leg room front and rear.

A big plus is the superb eight-speaker stereo with CD. With the nearly soundproof interior, the Q makes a fine concert venue.

One klinker is the small trunk space, especially for a large car. In this car, which cries out for extended road trips, this could be a hassle.

Newspaper and magazine reviewers have faulted the dulling of the Q45’s personality, but Infiniti is playing catch-up, forcing it to edge closer to the mainstream. There’s still plenty of value, even if the target has shifted.

1997 Infiniti Q45

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, rear-wheel-drive. Base price: $47,900. Price as tested: $49,000 (approx.). Engine: 4.1-liter V-8, 266 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, 278 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Transmission: Four-speed automatic. Curb weight: 3,879 pounds. Length: 199.2 inches. Wheelbase: 111.4 inches. Safety features: Dua l air bags, anti-lock brakes. EPA fuel economy: 18 mpg city, 23 mpg highway. Highs: Silky, smooth ride Lush interior Strong, flexible engine. Lows: Dated styling Personality loss Small trunk