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A nose job sometimes works wonders for the appearance.

It certainly has for Infiniti, where the top-of-the-line Q45 sports a new schnoz and the addition of a grille and fog lamps for a midyear entry of its 1994 version.

In an attempt to instill some freshness in a line that’s five years old, Infiniti also added larger headlights, new bumpers and fenders, revised door mirrors and chrome exhaust tips to the Q45.

Nothing earthshaking, but enough cosmetics for a slightly younger appearance.

The folks from Nissan also boast of 70 other enhancements to the car, including the addition of dual air bags, an upgraded audio system, softer leather for the seats, wood accents and cupholders in the console. In the Q45a model, traction control and a trunk-mounted compact-disc changer player were made standard.

There’s lots of attention to details, such as automatic power mirrors that tilt down when you put the gear selector in reverse so you get a better view of the curb and any objects near it when backing up; and a sun visor with push-button controls so you needn’t fight to remove the visor from a holder and leave it hanging in your way when not in use because you can’t get it back into the holder.

Also, there are automatic seat and steering-wheel controls so the seat powers backward and the wheel up and forward to allow added exit room when you turn the ignition off-and then return to their former positions when you re-enter and turn the ignition on; and a fuel-filler door-release button under the armrest that’s easy to use.

Also, you need only press key-fob buttons to lock and unlock the doors, release the trunk lid, lower the windows or, should you spot a stranger nearby, set off the alarm; plus, you get 24-hour roadside assistance in the event of a breakdown and free loaner cars with scheduled service appointments.

You want pampering, Infiniti gives it to you.

And the Q45 leaves no doubt as to whether it has sufficient power to handle a full complement of passengers or steep hills. The 4.5-liter, 32-valve, 278-horsepower V-8 engine teamed with a four-speed automatic transmission doesn’t lack energy. The 0-to-60 m.p.h. time in this rear-wheel-drive sedan is 7.1 seconds. Unfortunately, the price you pay for leading the pack is a 15 m.p.g. city/21 highway fuel-economy rating and a $1,000 gas-guzzler tax.

We test-drove the Q45t. The “t” stands for the addition of a touring package to the regular Q45, including such features as four-wheel steering, alloy wheels, performance tires, rear deck spoiler, front and rear stabilizer bars, speed-sensitive power steering and heated front seats.

Ride and handling are above average, and the Q45 sits flat in the corners, with no perceptible lean or sway, thanks to the suspension, the four-wheel steering and optional ($1,500) traction control. The latter was especially helpful when water cov ered the pavement. Traction control gets you moving in a straight line without loss of steering control regardless of road conditions, just as anti-lock brakes bring you to a secure stop. Anti-lock brakes are standard in all Q45s.

The combination of traction control, anti-lock brakes and dual air bags is an all-encompassing insurance policy.

That’s not to say the Q45t is without flaws.

The most annoying are the stiff-as-a-board seat backs for driver and passenger. Some Infiniti insiders said owners didn’t want mushy, sofa like seats because they don’t allow aggressive driving. Hogwash. You can have a firm, supportive seat without stitching leather over a block of granite. Sitting in the Q45t seats was as comfortable as trying to sit on a step stool while watching a Bulls game on the tube. The seat stiffness was out of place with Infiniti’s luxury image.

The biggest irritant, of course, is the price. Here’s a car that was unveiled in Nove ber 1989 as a 1990 model with a hefty, $38,000 price tag. Just a few model years later the Q45 is a $47,500 machine, and the upgraded Q45t starts at an even heftier $50,600, which includes the gas-guzzler tax but not the 10 percent luxury tax you’ll have to pay on the portion of the transaction price that exceeds $30,000.

History hints price has played a role in the Q45’s fortunes. Sales in 1990 totaled 13,908, while last year sales stood at 12,216. Infiniti says 1992 sales were down because people were waiting for the newly styled ’93. We can’t help but think, however, that the rising value of the yen against the dollar and the subsequent price increases by Japanese automakers have had an impact.

For ’93 Infiniti is counting on Q45 sales rising to 16,000 as evidence that price is no object and that what buyers have been waiting for is new styling. Time will tell.

Standard equipment also includes a power sunroof; power, heated outside mirrors; tinted glass; power seats; carpeted floor mats; air conditioning with automatic temperature control; cruise control; power windows; power door locks; rear-window defroster; AM/FM Bose stereo with cassette and power antenna; prewiring for a cellular phone and CD changer; dual trip odometers; and an analog quartz clock that looks like it was lifted from a Jaguar instrument panel.