The Infiniti Q45 Was An Admirable Failure (Documentary)

Infiniti tried to break the mold with the Q45. It did away with a lot of the ornamentation that was typical in luxury cars. The Infiniti Q45 doesn't have interior wood trim or swaths of chrome. It doesn't even have a grille. Infiniti believed that their car would stand out because of what it didn't have. The Q45 did separate itself from its contemporaries, for better and for worse.
SOURCES
Barchetta.co/infiniti-sources
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 INTRO
1:09 HORIZON (CONCEPTION)
5:03 RIPPLES (DESIGN)
9:37 TEMPEST (ENGINEERING)
14:30 INNERVISIONS (ADVERTISING/RECEPTION)
22:59 SUNSET (DECLINE/LEGACY)

[@Sunseeker888]

I owned a ‘93 jdm Q45 with active suspension and white interior. The way it drove was far sportier than its looks suggest, with very direct steering and that amazing crazy suspension. The speeds with which it entered a corner were unbelievable and the ride was very comfortable. The VH45DE is a true masterpiece in every respect and far more powerful than the claimed 278bhp output (due to the known gentlemen’s agreement among Japanese manufacturers) . I think all of them have lsd and share their rear axle with the 300ZX twin turbo.

[@RoyalAbundance]

Thank you for this masterpiece! I grew up with a '91 Q45 and '90 Maxima SE in my family. These machines and the engineers behind them don't get enough credit! Nissan's cars of that era had a certain intangible quality that unfortunately faded over time because consumers didn't appreciate it. Not to mention poor leadership. I appreciate you for taking us back to the golden age. Bravo!

[@MrKormmodity]

Couldn’t have said it better

[@Ss31994]

Back in the day I would definitely say Nissan had it together, Altima was a game changer, but now a days it’s terrible CVT sucks, engines aren’t the most powerful, not talking about the GTR.

[@ddk1422]

I am driving a 2002 qx4, still love it!

[@CRAPO2011]

89-94 maxima was the best generation

[@RoyalAbundance]

@@ddk1422 I love those!

[@zoidzoid87]

I had a fully loaded 02 Q45 that could keep up with the best of the cars built in 2022. It's one of my favorite cars to this day, very underrated.

[@WSNO]

Sounds boring

[@zoidzoid87]

@@WSNO To each his/ her own.

[@joshuamast5128]

I have one right now it’s technically a 2001 preorder fully loaded with the options available at the time

[@Oliver2020.]

@@WSNO how?

[@jesserdo9963]

@@Oliver2020. I got a 03 with reclining seats in the back. Heated seats as well. Ventilated seats in the front and heated seats. Rear view camera.

[@Berserked]

I drive a 280k mile 2000 Infiniti Q45. First luxury car I've own even though its 20 year old tech, it still is super comfortable. Definitely worth the $800 I bought it for lol. Just trying to get it running right.

[@liblib89]

Great car

[@royamit2139]

😂😂😂

[@WSNO]

Old luxury cars are the only ones worth owning unless you have a fetish for impossible to upkeep trash tech and insane repair bills

[@ragingbull94mtx]

Great video! I was too young to remember the introduction of the original Q45, but I vividly remember the excitement surrounding the launch of the 3rd Gen Q45. That car left a huge impression on me - the advertising campaigns, the website they built for it, the "gatling gun" headlights, the class-leading 340-horsepower rating, voice-activated navigation etc.

[@matthewbowen5841]

Accelerating the future

[@negativeindustrial]

Great car but the Lexus LS was better in every way except it was always 10% down on HP from the Q

[@wj6107]

Your channel is severely underrated. When it comes to covering Japanese autos, you truly have an informative and fascinating coverage of underreported cars. Biased here, but maybe you could consider covering the Lexus GS, especially the 2GS or 4GS if you are so inclined, as those 2 models revolutionized the Lexus lineups and in general the GS line is another underappreciated aspect of Japanese engineering.

[@Barchetta]

Thank you. It is an interesting car. I’ll be sure to cover it in the future.

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

W J Agreed!!! Gs300 Gs400 1st & 2nd gen beyond those I think the "driving force" behind it was a bit diluted.

[@wj6107]

@@averyparticularsetofskills Well I agree with you on the 3GS, but the 4GS is hugely underrated. It was the first Lexus developed after the LFA, and it shows. It has the stiffest suspension setup of any Lexus bar F-models (pre-facelift 2013-2015), and handles insanely well for its weight. Check out Motortrend’s 2014 comparison test where it placed first against contemporary BMW 5 series, Audi A6, and Infiniti M37.

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

@@wj6107 I might have misunderstood what you mean by 4gs ...what years are you referring to? Then no way I can be confused(wishful thinking lol) Edit: Okay your talking about the 2013-2015 right ...my bad I didnt read far enough

[@350zlover2]

​@Barchetta Kudos for covering the Q45. I would love for you to cover the Acura Legend and the Mazda luxury vehicles from the 90's. Those were some game changers!

[@556m4]

My friend had a 1993 Q45 that was officially rated at 278hp (due to the Japanese manufacturer gentleman’s agreement) and we put it on the dyno one day because it was suspiciously fast. It came back as 342 hp to the wheel. Most Japanese manufacturers lied about their cars hp ratings in that period and it was definitely true here.

[@liblib89]

Yeah it's known that the official numbers are somewhere closer to 300 at the crank, but I'm not surprised by your buddy's numbers

[@lexman8678]

What a liar no way would it have 342 hp at the wheels stop the cap

[@556m4]

@@lexman8678 If you were ever around a number of these cars you’d understand that its entirely possible. The later models had the same displacement engine and was rated at 340hp.

[@lexman8678]

@@556m4 I know all about those engines they had them in jdm fugas and cimas in nz and they make no where near 342 at the wheels the 3.7 v6 fuga is actually faster and that only makes about 240 whp so stop the bs

[@556m4]

@@lexman8678 Like I said you clearly don’t know because it makes way more than 240. It was under rated at 278 and that’s a known fact.

[@fearandloathingmedia2051]

In 2001, my mom had gotten a raise and we had become middle class, she wanted to celebrate and upgrade her 96 Honda Accord. We went to a Lexus, Acura and Infinit dealer in Central Florida. The Lexus dealer kept trying to convince her to buy a used Lexus and made it seem a new one was impractical (maybe needed used car sales quotas?). The Infiniti dealer, she found it hard to get anyone to even give her the time of day. We asked for help at the front desk and after waiting for like 5 to 10 minutes with no sales help we went to the Acura dealership. We fell in love with a San Marino Red 2001 Acura CL Type-S. Acura won my affection that day.

[@Barchetta]

That really sucks to hear. I'm glad everything worked out for you guys in the end.

[@kj64gaming19]

Oof. I'd have never forgiven my parents for getting a Honda. After driving a front wheel drive car for a year, buying my LS400 was the best decision I could have made.

[@LlyleHunter]

I absolutely thought that this car was brilliant and beautifully outfitted. Composed solid and beautiful. It drove incredibly and the details were amazing.

[@joseCalderon1976]

The Q45 is very underrated. It was a masterpiece of engineering. I really like the G37 too. I had to an M37 that got totalled. Very nice car too. Another underrated Infiniti indeed. Amazing video as always

[@Greatdome99]

The suspension as you described it came right out of a Citroen. Rolls Royce used their system as well, which explains the high cost.

[@btbcc12859]

I remember the major issue was luxury meant having a grill. Instead of holding their ground they folded and put a grill on it and it didn't help

[@antoniotula262]

That one thing took it down.

[@WSNO]

Literally nobody ever said that. In fact that's the dumbest thing i've ever heard. Not only that but Ford and Mercury sold a hell of a lot of grille-less cars at the same time, including their pinnacle sedans which Infiniti would be in the same market as

[@btbcc12859]

@@WSNO Check your history again? Ford did a quick refresh of the Crown Vic with...a grill!

[@mottom2657]

@@WSNO Ford/Mercury wouldn't compete with Infiniti, that would be Lincoln. And this is from a US perspective. Your statement would be more correct in Europe.

[@MegaTechpc]

I always loved the Q45 myself. It was just different and far less conservative than the LS400 which quickly appealed to traditional luxury car buyers (eg: elderly people). The Q was fresh and new which appealed to young people like me at the time. But the problem was that older people have the disposable income for such vehicles while the young demographic does not. In the end Lexus’s strategy was an overwhelming success even if it’s cars were not necessarily superior. Don’t get me wrong, I love the LS as well, but the Infiniti Q really stands out in my memory from the time as being something truly fresh while the LS was basically selling traditional MB qualities but with that legendary Toyota quality and reliability. Both cars are among my favorite 90’s imports but for far different reasons. Great video!

[@kirkericson2722]

I remember seeing both this and the LS400 at the auto show when they came out. I even took home some product literature with the "rocks and trees" ad campaign, as Car and Driver called it back then. Back then I thought the Q45 was the more compelling choice, but every successive redesign moved the Q further away from desirability. Lexus, on the other hand slowly evolved towards what I consider to be the best LS they ever made, the 2001-2006 model (particularly the 04-06 models). Of the 3 Japanese luxury marques introduced in the late 80s, only Lexus has managed to become an accepted luxury peer of Mercedes, BMW, and Audi (and honestly, it got there before Audi in the US). Both Acura and Infiniti made their best products within the first 10 years of their existence, never really knowing what they aspired to be.

[@earlscheib7754]

Acura messed up by not keeping the nsx true to the original, not making a rwd sedan and reaching out to the LGBTQ community recently, it's a car not a lifestyle brand.

[@bandombeviews6035]

@@earlscheib7754 how does supporting a community make a product worse?

[@earlscheib7754]

@@bandombeviews6035 by alienating the masses. Chick fil a proved your little rainbow brigade is of no consequence.

[@mottom2657]

@@bandombeviews6035 Subaru caters to that community, have Subaru sales dropped massively? Nope.

[@mottom2657]

@@earlscheib7754 Catering to LGTV would not be a problem. Look at Subaru. They're doing fine.

[@ryanpatterson9526]

My mother had a white ’91 Q45 and the thing was an absolute beast! What an amazing engine!

[@uptownsamcv]

they sold them for 17 years, doesn't sound like a failure to me 🤔

[@atomant830]

That was well done. I'm a Lexus fan and that brought me to your channel but, the quality of your documentaries have kept me coming back. I just recently became aware of the 2003 - 2003 Infiniti M45. I think a documentary about why it was only offered 2 years would be interesting. Again, great work.

[@liblib89]

That car was also another story of Infiniti trying to be different and it not catching on. Poor sales due to unconventional styling. Great car though! I happen to like it's looks. I own the next model though.

[@atomant830]

@@liblib89, I agree. I like the look of it as well.

[@RoyalAbundance]

I loved the first gen M45! I tend to lean more into less popular models. I remember all of the marketing and promo materials Infiniti mailed to me. It was dubbed as a muscle car with brains.

[@350zlover2]

Those 03-04 M45s were some nice rides plus they were fast as hell!!!

[@Nitroitis2]

Well all I can say is "I Love My 94' Q45" I'm the original owner since new and it has 43k on the clock and it has a rare color combination.... Mulberry Frost (Lavender) with Cream Leather & Cream carpet and stickered for $50,050!

[@lailahcharliedemiliofan1268]

Sounds beautiful, Let me know if you ever want to sell her. I have both a Berry on White and White on White/Shamu interior 1990 Q’s.

[@2006gtobob]

When this car came out, I was 18. Between the Lexus LS400 and the Infiniti, it really was a toss up between the two. I liked the power and design of both. Infiniti, as I recall was quicker, more performance oriented. Lexus went straight towards comfort and isolation. I really think it came down to proper marketing and Lexus just was better at getting the word out, and it's ability to remove the interior from the outside world was just a bit better and that's what Americans seemed to want.

[@earlscheib7754]

Not many 18 year olds were the demographic for either the Q45 or LS400

[@stuchbrosmnore8627]

@@earlscheib7754 Age doesn't always matter

[@irishuwould5185]

I’m 41 and since I can remember as a kid I always loved bigger luxury cars and never cared about speed. I’m still that way and have owned nothing but bigger sedans.

[@costamesa22]

Very well said

[@matthewbowen5841]

20 years ago when I was in high school, I bought the hardcover book Infiniti published to coincide with the launch of the Q45. Tons of pictures, in that late 80s motoring book style, with info panels and descriptive text on alternating pages. And the cover had some sort of crushed styrofoam beads adhered to it, dyed to look like a pebbled finish. They sure don't do that kind of promo stuff anymore. I looked at it so many times, the (probably not terribly rugged) pebbled finish started to wear in a few areas. Still stored away somewhere. I loved this car. The active suspension, HICAS, high top speed and impressive power, beautiful cast intake plenum, neat radio control panel that hid away, silly analog clock, Poltrona designed seats, and awkward front badge. It was all so much misplaced attention to detail. Fascinating. Modern conceptual art expressed as a brand of transportation devices that had no brand equity to draw from. From a total marketing perspective, Toyota handled Lexus incredibly well, while Nissan let the crazy creatives control most of Infiniti's launch in a most Japanese way. We all know the rest of the story.

[@raging_carnut]

Thank you for no background music and just plain voice. Kept me glued to the video

[@kevinmcadams805]

Thank you so much for that doctoral level presentation of a forgotten great! The Q45 has always been one of my favorite cars and it was really great to learn a few things that I didn’t know about it. Thanks again for taking the time to develop this great presentation.

[@1995RangeRover]

I was in college when the Q45 came out and it was a totally different luxury car than I'd ever seen before. The ad campaigns were bizarre though.

[@Jwdude123]

Not necessarily a bad ad campaign here we are talking about it 30 years later

[@mottom2657]

@@Jwdude123 Bizarre doesn't mean bad.

[@Fluffy65]

I'll never forget how solid and heavy the exterior door handles feel in operation. Definitely satisfying to use!

[@mikeisaacs2314]

I had a 1994 Q45 first year with the grill and I enjoyed the car the dash look amazing and everybody loved the analog clock. Hard to find part for it and when you did they were expensive.

[@HueWave]

Your channel is amazing, the way you tell the story, the soundtrack, the editing and imagery is something else i really dont see that often on youtube, please keep this style of storytelling its so unique and i wholeheartedly love it

[@dannyc8617]

I was fascinated with the Q45 as a young teen when it came out, much more than the Lexus. Time has chosen the clear champion, but I can't help but favor the Q

[@TheTallMan50]

I remember those first Infiniti commercials. They were unique and mysterious. Next episode: The Mitsubishi Diamante

[@antjeeismann4684]

Videos like this are the reason why i love the Automobile side of KZbin.

[@advantist]

I own a pretty low mileage 1990 Infiniti M30 (77,000 miles) and I can pretty much say it's like Nissan designed and engineered both the Q45 and M30 backwards. Some things are just so bizarre it almost seems like Nissan forgot to implement it until the last minute

[@andydhillon1977]

The M30 could've been a pretty cool car with just a few changes. I would love one with an S13 240SX suspension, 5-spd manual transmission, and the Z31 Turbo engine.

[@95blahblahhaha]

Wow, one hell of a documentary on a car brand!! Amazing! I owned a red FX35 a one year only color 2003 ane I just loved it. A crossover based on the Nissan Z350. Drove NOTHING like the FWD Lexus RX and I loved it for that. Definitely an overlooked brand.

[@ezqqez717]

I loved that this video is seperated with chapters and all visuals period accurate looks

[@aldovermiglio8667]

Wow! Exquisite analysis and description of the market dynamics. Impressed. This should be a 500k channel. Subscribing now!

[@Barchetta]

Thanks for watching

[@T.Lspitz]

Id love it if you made a video about the 90's battle of the inline 6 cylinder engines. Specifically the process and history timeline. Another video about odd but successful engines such as volvo's inline T5 ect.. would be an interesting watch as well.

[@Barchetta]

I really appreciate your suggestion. Thanks for your support.

[@T.Lspitz]

@@Barchetta I genuinely enjoy all of your videos. Honestly i enjoy your videos more than most Hagerty videos. Your channel as well as Dust Runners Automotive Journal are entertaining as well as very in depth and informative. Keep up the great work 👍

[@user-tl7de9dd1p]

Currently owning a 3.0T Q50, love the car. But other Japanese luxury brands have a lot more to offer. Thinking of switching brand to Lexus.

[@tonywellington7854]

terrific video love the approach you take and very well researched

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

That was _incredibly_ well done! I experienced the fantastical Q45, I've owned one as well as two of the Lexus. I liked the Infiniti A LOT!! I LOVED the Lexus.

[@kj64gaming19]

That makes a lot of sense. You know, the Infiniti being a Nissan, it's pretty good, but Lexus has just enough of an edge over other cars to be simply better. I love my LS400.

[@averyparticularsetofskills]

@@kj64gaming19 Exactly!! Nissan makes a very good product, but Toyota isnt the largest auto manufacturer on earth by accident, they lead the pack while most of the others blindly(& wisely)follow. Their really not the best at any _one thing_ , they're just really good at _everything_ , and all of that shows in every one of their machines. Enjoy that beautiful LS! Be Well ✌ Stay Safe

[@ikywal9626]

T5 5jt

[@DavidHall-ge6nn]

I absolutely loved the first generation Q45, and shamelessly envied my well-heeled friends who had them. Excellent video! This is the first time I've seen your channel, and I'm both impressed and subscribed. Can't wait to binge your content!

[@e46m54nissansr20937]

This Q45 documentary was very well done an extremely detailed. I learned some new facts. Even the videos on the Infiniti KZbin channel about the Q45 are not this detailed. Great job.

[@aurorajones8481]

I was 16 when I had a "friend" who had a new Q45a... you could absolutely tell it had that suspension. I was amazed. The car was so impressive to me i always wanted one until by the time i was able to Infiniti lost everything. I drive an LC500 now. haha

[@parkj6]

Really appreciate this. You can't imagine how fascinated with this car growing up.

[@jlcii]

I personally love the first generation infinity q45, and think it's one of the best cars ever made. But unfortunately, the general tastes of the American luxury consumer tends to lean more towards gaudy, hyperflashy, loud, and imposing, which this car isn't any of these things. It's just a very good car with some good performance qualities.

[@SavageScientist]

Great channel i just subscribed i watched you entire Lexus series.

[@ubiased23]

Your channel it is a fantastic channel and very educational. Love the documentary approach as if I am watching an award winning documentary. Love the old achool clips and the history of the topic that you talk about. You just gained a subscriber! Infiniti was trying to have a blend of BMW sportiness and Japanese luxury. That confused the buyers because infiniti have targeted the luxury car buyers. The reason Lexus LS400 did so well because it did not only build a fantastic luxury car, but it was so good to the point that it outdid the competition. Basically, lexus built a luxury car that defeated the competition at their own game. Kind of sad to see Infiniti to go that way and no longer see the Q45. My favorite one it is the 2006 Infiniti Q45, i think it is a very good looking car. Infiniti on the other hands tried to change strategy with 2002 Infiniti q45. It was the first car in the world had the backup camera, and fantastic headlights. However, it was too little and too late to keep up with it's main competition like the Lexus LS.

[@gerardoarellano7698]

I remember the Infiniti’s introduction in the 80s. I remember how bad the early commercials were. They didn’t actually show you the car. They were just a pretty scene with voiceover telling you that a new kind of car was coming.

[@AshtonCoolman]

I had a 1994 Q45 back in the 1999-2000. It was one of the best cars I've ever driven, let alone owned. I have an R32 GTR nowadays and I still miss my Q.

[@andrewlee88]

subbed, great intro with the tv !

[@jayjuggrnaut]

"Breeze thru in the Q/45 by my side, lyrical high..." - Biggie Smalls

This channel is about to grow exponentially... I know a good youtube recommendation when I see it

[@ryancraig2795]

The kind of people who bought sports sedans like BMWs were a hard sell. Lexus made the smarter choice targeting the Mercedes/Cadillac buyers, who appreciated the kind of luxury they were used to at a lower price and with legendary Toyota quality and reliability. And then Nissan got bought by Renault and had struggled to produce a good vehicle ever since.

[@TheValrbrock]

Awesome information as always.

[@Barchetta]

Thanks again!

[@Sal834]

I have a 96' which is the best of both worlds. The power, the engine and the handling. All original and mint condition from a retired person. It beats hands down the 96' STS I owned. Great video!!!!

[@joeseeking3572]

In 1990 we were deep into the Audi phase of family preference, having had a couple of 5000 CS / 200CS quattros. But I was very interested in the Q45 (not at all into the LS400) and gave it a strong look. Eventually chose a probably overpriced Audi V8 - but nowhere near sticker. The AWD sold it, and it was a very competent car, with top flight interior (though again, the odd Audi steering wheel position from that era that I never liked) and very good overall performance. Still, I wouldn't mind an early Q as a throwback sedan - problem is they all have very high miles now - perhaps a testement to their overall quality/solidity, though enough to give me pause whenever it's time to consider what might be the next quirky, interesting and still fun 'toy' (Then again, I cherish the present one - an old 5 series, with about 130k that still, knock wood, brings smiles and remains reliable, if expensive to maintain) It's a shame they lost the mission and now, despite some good years, they're back to where they started, and Lexus outsells them 5 or 6 to one.

[@vicfrom47]

What a great channel. The algorithm has done it again.

[@35ze4ir]

Awesome videos

[@user-yw9gj7ns6t]

I was 19yo and my first Infiniti was a FX35 AWD, I LOVED it because it WASN'T based on Nissan's Murano crossover but off of the 350Z sports car. I've had 5 Infinitis since 💕

[@LastCallSRT]

My parents had a 1995 Q45 Touring. I was a kid. I’m 37 now. I still to this day want that car back. Hunter green with Enkei’s.

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

OMG YES! Infiniti. Mine’s sitting in the driveway with seized strut cartridges. It’s a great reliable car until something breaks. Then it gets expensive.

[@jamesengland7461]

get some used parts and get that beast back on the road!

[@jacobrzeszewski6527]

Yeah, not as easy as it sounds. There’s none on eBay and pulling a used one off a doner car is like wearing someone else’s used underwear.

[@Berserked]

@@jacobrzeszewski6527 Yep. And the only replacements are aftermarket and you completely lose all comfort even at the softest settings.

[@mikeisaacs2314]

I had a 1994 and oh boy great car until it was time to get repairs was expensive and hard to find parts

[@jasperdilincoln2341]

Keep up the good work. Is Acura going to be next?

[@Barchetta]

I plan to do so eventually. Right now i'm in the process of finding sources and seeing what's out there. It's looking to be a good one, based on what I've got so far. Thanks for watching!

[@jasperdilincoln2341]

@@Barchetta yes please keep up the good work. I miss the forgotten Luxury Cars of the late 80s and 90s. 👍

[@danielversion1.035]

I always wanted a Q45 back when i was too young to afford one... then Infiniti left Australia, until the early 2010's... and a few years back when i heard Infiniti were exiting Australia AGAIN due to poor sales, i jumped at the chance to buy a Q70... really cheaply... and have never regretted it 👌

[@tqswagga]

Amazing video , can we get one of the maxima ? Possibly starting from 1st generation or a style video like this one ?

[@scotty9605]

I had a 92 Q45. Definitely underrated! Smooth powerband through the rev.

[@dannyreed7600]

amazing video man

[@crooney82]

My uncle had a q45 about 20 years ago. I think it was an 02 model. One of the best vehicles I’ve ever driven.

[@epi2045]

I was a valet for Nieman Marcus back in the 90’s. I had the opportunity to drive and park several Infiniti Q45 and Lexus LS 400/430’s. The Lexus was clearly better right down to the optical electro-luminescent instrument panel. The Lexus LS made everything European and domestic feel old. The Q45 while nice, it just couldn’t compete. All of my fellow valets always jockey’d to drive the Lexus LS.

[@rpsmith2990]

An additional element in what happened to Infiniti in its first years could well have been the number of dealers involved and their location. I remember that the first time I went to look at Infiniti, the nearest dealer was in the Washington, D.C. area. A friend of mine joined me for this adventure, and with some big plans with the company I was then working for, I figured I could show some actual plan to own a M30 coupe, which was what I ended up taking for a test drive. It was a nice car, but I really dreamed of the Q45. Even when Infiniti was available near where I lived, the nearest dealer was about 40 miles away, in Virginia Beach. Lexus, on the other hand, was in Virginia Beach immediately on launch, or nearly so, and after a few years, they were also in Newport News. One now has to drive to Chesapeake for an Infiniti. It was several years before I got to sample the delights of driving the first gen Q45, and I'm glad I didn't buy that car, as it spent several months parked in front of a transmission shop. If you can find one of these, and can afford it, buy it. It was unique when new, and is even more so now. And when was the last time you saw a M30 in any form? This was a well thought out telling of the Infiniti story, and definitely thought provoking. In a way, it almost makes a case for not having strayed from their original intentions like they did. There is, after all, a market for those of us who don't want exactly what everyone else wants...

[@char1737]

I love my 1998 Infiniti Q45 based on the JDM Cima. And if you look closely at the movie Thinner the main character drives a Q45!

[@wiscosmakenbreak]

I was an Infiniti tech for a while and I always felt like they were such an overlooked brand.

[@fernandobarajas3157]

The emblem in the grill always reminds me of a belt buckle..

[@lordwalker71]

I preferred the look of the Q45 when they came out, the Lexus looked like an S class knock off but I guess that’s what people wanted.

[@bartscanland9415]

On the nose.

[@michaeldimaggio6367]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@ka24de-t]

great video. the front end of the 1st gen Q45 was hideous and i believe was a reason why the LS400 beat it in sales

[@lonetrader1]

Hey now! I got 2 of these(one I put the vk56 in) and these are fantastic cars!

[@jayethompson3414]

My mom had a very early Q45a in pearl. Since it was an “a”, with active suspension, it rode like a Jeep Wrangler.

[@moonman_8935]

I've got a Lexus IS500 V8..but long time ago had a 2007 Xterra. I miss the 2000s Nissan & Infiniti era.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

0:00 Mazda’s Amanti division is proof that you can be remembered for what you don’t do. Interestingly Hyundai answered Nissan’s Infiniti with Genesis; the Genesis Coupe was a direct response to the G37 Coupe. It is honestly fascinating that Infiniti, Lexus, and Acura eventually defeated Mercury, Pontiac, Saturn, Buick, Lincoln, and Cadillac.

[@e46m54nissansr20937]

I wonder if there is a way to get the Q45 Infiniti badge on my Q50 3.0T always loved the way it looked

[@mark_u]

Good video. It's sad to see Infiniti languishing of late. If only they had launched production versions of the LE, Emerg-e, and the Q50 Eau Rouge then maybe they would have much higher brand cachet. But they let their vehicles wither on the vine with barely any updates. Also, Johan de Nysschen will always be at fault with the implementation of his awful, terrible, no-good naming scheme in the early 2010s.

[@CigaraStCistar]

1994 Q45A Hunter Green w/ PButter interior w/ the V8 ilegal/legal engine lol IYKYK. Tested n true. S/O to the Q45 Online Community, fun times on the chat and great owners w/great vibes unlocking hidden features for these beautiful beasts. Miss my babe,great memories

[@Ben77788]

I had a 1997 Q45t back in the day. It was a fantastic car. Only issue was with an O2 sensor I can never figure how to get fixed. Caused terrible gas mileage. It was great otherwise!

[@cristianmolina8148]

I love this era, where the japanese built cars started in the luxury full size cars market; honda/acura legend, lexus ls400 and infiniti q45..all of them were so well built..even the 90`nissan maxima 3.0 and the toyota cressida were amazing...great era. btw, hit the jackpot today with this channel..subcribed

[@mbaer5]

Please do a Merkur Scorpio video. I'd love to see that!

[@bartscanland9415]

I think maybe Nissan was counting on customer loyalty in regards to their minimalist advertising, making the assumption that their clientele would be aware of Infiniti's origins.

[@WoolfJ35]

One thing I've learned about most consumers is that they like to follow the crowd different is almost a sin

[@WillemHuber]

Can you do one of these excellent videos on the 2nd Generation Dodge Ram? The story of how it came to be is quite interesting, and the legacy that truck had is still felt today in every automaker's pickups.

[@earlscheib7754]

Infiniti in the early 90's became the discount brand. The Q45, J30 and G20 were all sold well below list in my area. Lexus was still full price and in some cases MSRP+ addendum.

[@stephenmoore7388]

I remember the j30 nice car

[@earlscheib7754]

@@stephenmoore7388 they were great cars, but interior room and trunk space were extremely limited

[@leightonfarms4962]

I've got a 91 q45. Time to start restoring it.

[@johnabel5943]

I had a 1993 Q45 and I still say it's the finest car I've ever owned. It looked a little weird, but it was SO damn well made and engineered. It was as close to perfect as any luxury car I know.

[@SvenQ45]

Saw this video a while ago and now I´ve watched all of the Z videos and now coming to this. @1:32 True! Especially in the 90s - 1991 was maybe the craziest year - but not only luxury cars. It´s amazing how many they had back then. And yeah the aproach was the problem especially with traditional buyers. But that´s always the case. New things are always tough and it could be a hit or miss.

[@DSRQ1]

A case can be made the first Infiniti Q was a better car than the original Lexus LS, esp after the LS's initial quality problems. Yet Infiniti rolled out an ad campaign designed to NOT sell cars! And it worked! The weird, off-putting haikus of Infiniti vs "The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection" of Lexus? It was never a contest which would win.

[@kevinmoney4847]

I have a 1997 Q45 this car runs good its hard as hell finding parts for this thing

[@carsandallaboutcars2939]

This car was a sleeper to be honest. Build quality was excellent & the materials used were top notch. I thought the design was a bit too radical for the times. You either loved it or hated it. Also coming on the heels of the fantastic LS400 it was a tough sell. I dont see that many on the roads these days

[@Aikynbreusov]

The Lexus stacked-up wine glass commercial is legendary.... it's the MOST recognizable ad ever..... even today, people still associate the ad with Lexus

[@fredeb67]

The Infiniti was more performance oriented than the Lexus. It was faster and more nimble than the top Toyota. However, Lexus paid more attention to the details and quality that the Nissan could not match. When it came to styling, the Infiniti was different but still looked luxurious and athletic. The Toyota styling wasn't as risky and looked like a Mercedes S class sedan with cleaner and more technical lines. The materials used in the cabins of the Toyota was outstanding as some of the cars are still on the road with very good interiors still holding up over the years.

[@bundy26]

I still have to this day, the catalogs and the VCR tape Nissan would provide to potential customers.

[@alekpd2940]

Looks like a Ford Escort to me, btw, great video

[@Kenyon712]

I still love it the most. Now infinitis look like all the other cars.

[@elmayimbe5094]

The first gen Q45 could handle better than its competitors and it would certainly outrun them for sure. The first gear in this Q45 was so slow. My dad with his 1985 Buick Lesabre would always run my uncle in his Q from a dig. My dad would get out for like 2 seconds and then that was it.

[@TalooshDaBoss]

sounds super underrated, I knew nothing about this car unlike the ls

[@dexburwell]

Still have my 1994 Q45a. got it in 2009 for $1000- had to do some minor mechanical (tune up) and some interior bit n bobs . Only seen 2 M30 ever… 1 is 30mins from my house- in excellent condition- owner “never” selling it. 🥴