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Infiniti is trying to get its big flagship back in the limelight, completely revamping the Q45 for 2002 with an emphasis on performance. That, and a cool set of headlights. In some ways, the big Q succeeds in its performance mission. The V-8 engine is first rate, turning this sedan into something akin to a ’60s muscle car. Quiet and smooth with a distant howl under hard acceleration, this sparkling mill yanks the heavy sedan up to illegal speeds in a flash.

But it’s going to take more than a hot engine to make the Q45 competitive against the top-echelon sedans in the $50,000-plus market. Think Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, Jaguar, Cadillac and archrival Lexus. Is the Q45 distinctive enough to cut it against that bunch?

Stylistically, the new Q is a good boost above the last model, though it doesn’t really break any new ground. There’s a nice muscular look to the rear quarters and roofline, but overall, the top-drawer sedan of Nissan’s luxury division fails to achieve its own distinctive look.

Those Gatling-gun headlights are certainly striking, though, with their seven individual, jewel-like facets. They also have a unique four-way adjustment feature, but only the highest setting can be used for normal driving. Any lower and you can’t see far enough ahead. The lower settings are practical for driving in fog or a snowy whiteout, but neither of these is much of a problem in Phoenix.

Fit and finish are nice, and the tester Q looked classy and rich in a dark metallic blue. Huge 18-inch custom-looking modular rims and low-profile performance tires give the Q45 a custom-tuner look. The wheels alone turned many heads, maybe some who would have liked to steal them.

Getting back to performance, there are some problems. First off, the steering is way too light for a car with sporting pretensions. The steering felt more like something out of a ’75 Buick than a modern performance sedan. The suspension is awfully soft, too, even in the sport setting. In the normal setting, the Q45 wallows like a barge. The sport setting stiffens things up, but not nearly enough for the intended purpose.

The interior of the Q is pleasant and roomy with lots of desirable power and convenience features. The back seat is spacious and the trunk commodious. But there’s a bad problem in the center of the dashboard. That center binnacle, with its video screen for audio, climate control, map and, in the future, rear-vision TV is a real mess. It’s hard to get used to switching selections every time you want to access the stereo or climate control. It takes too much time with your eyes off the road to manipulate the controls. Switches and knobs are haphazardly and illogically arranged.

The Q45’s attractive signature analog clock is still present, but instead of occupying a highly visible location at top center of the dashboard, it’s relegated to a position under the electronic-controls binnacle, where it’s hidden.

One thing for the Q45, it is packed with features. Here’s a short list: vehicle dynamic control to improve handling and safety; laser-guided cruise control for pacing a vehicle just ahead; run-flat tires with a tire-pressure monitor; a voice-recognition system for the stereo and other functions; the upcoming rear-view monitor for a televised view to the rear when backing up; DVD-based navigation system that covers the entire nation; and a monster 300-watt stereo with scads of specialized speakers.

Good stuff. The test car included a $1,500 sport package with those 18-inch wheels and tires, sport-mode suspension, lovely “smoke-tone” wood trim and blue-tone backup lights; an automatic sunshade package for $500; heated front seats for $450; a full-size spare for $120; and splash guards for $120. Here’s a rarity: no charge for floor mats. So Q45 turns out to be a mixed bag. To get it right, Infiniti engineers need to home in on the erformance objective or just go with a straight-up luxury craft.