Concept Car: 2003 Nissan FUGA
 

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A Future Infiniti M45 in the Making?

Upon release in America, the Infiniti M45 was heralded as the return of the muscle car - a bizarre concept considering that this most compelling rear-drive V8 powered machine comes from nowhere near Detroit. It had, and still has the credentials to do hold up to this brawny image, a big burly engine, relatively large stature, handsome upright sedan exterior with clean-cut edges, long overhangs trimmed out with an intimidating, chromed grille. Sounds like a muscle car to me.

The body is essentially borrowed from the Japanese-domestic market Gloria and Cedric, but the M45 we know features a hulking 4.5 liter V8 that serves up a massive 340 horsepower. What's more it is a wood-trimmed and leather-lined muscle car, fitted with the best of Infiniti's accommodations. But despite its power and opulence the Gloria/Cedric/M45 architecture has aged remarkably quickly with the introduction of other new large luxury sedans from Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, but also including the threat of Infiniti's own G35.
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Nissan's response to these new rivals was recently unveiled at this year's Tokyo motor show. And the Fuga might just be the car that's shapes the automaker's future luxury face. From the outside, its stylists have penned an evolutionary theme to the structured and slightly boxy M45 design. The muscular attitude of the Fuga is expressed successfully by the use of heavily arched fenders that peak to a delta shape before flowing down to the bulging hood. The chromed, slightly bulbous grille has grown in size, and is thinly capped at its top and bottom.

This tasteful styling accent has also been reflected in trim lining the lower front valance, side trim and the arch that spans the roofline starting at the base of the A-pillars and ending at the rear fascia. It encloses the car's crystal-clear reverse lights as well. From this rear end view the new concept continues the modernized muscle car theme with a smooth roofline that ends with a swift drop to the car's flush rear bumper, highlighting integrated exhaust tips.


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Love the great headlights... reminds me of the Japanese Godzilla/Kaiju (monster movies). It's also a more refined look than the current non-descript M35.

I really like the look and stylinh of the exterior. Simple, Elegant, Refined, and yet Sporty as well. Also love the nice large powerplant its receiving. For the most part the interior is really nice too, but im not feeling those doors or that wierd white roof thing. Dig the exhaust and front end styling, but those lights are just TOO blue. I like hte design, but that color hasta go. I have never seen decent HIDs that are THAT blue.

In the words of the new McDonalds campaign: I'm lovin' it.

The first picture screams aggressive, at least for a sedan. The interior looks pretty good, though I'd have to see the roof thing to make a decision. The lights are too blue also.

i'm diggin' the blue headlights and the shifter

I like this car verry much, great interior and headlights

It looks like a Nissan that's been attacked by Picasso. The tail is horrible, and the interior looks like a cross between a Star Trek shuttle and a "car of the future" from Epcott center. The car has some really good potential, but they'll need to massage it a lot to make it look really good.

I like this new agressive look...
And the interior looks comfortable enough ;)

Great look for a Nissan

Nice Infinity. I like the look of the dash area, steering wheel aside.

Looks like a redesign of an Infiniti G35 sedan. The current one they have is too bland compared to the coupe, so if they stick with this, I can see Nissan/Infiniti in my future.

outstanding. Though i'd kill for it to be a 2 door and to dump some of the luxury stuff. Personally i dig more spartan interiors, but I can see the appeal of how it is now.

Hotness... 340 horses?? That things gonna be a beast... Any prices ??? im thinking atleast 35k

current infiniti M45 MSRP is $42,300.00

Horrible name, and not my style of car, however, if i was 20 years older, i would so drive that!

exterior looks like its been done before... maybe audi or something.

but that interior is ringing my bells... thats very cool... sexy even...

i like.

Maybe it's just me, but the exterior also looks pretty similar to the G35's exterior.

It also seems like the FUGA would compete with the G35, so it doesn't make sense (to me at least) for Nissan to create it.

Wow that frnt end is badass, and the blue lights is sweet, back end not that bad.........I like it!;)

So true Bundy, it very much resembles the audi a8 or a6

I dig it! The lines, the shape, and the grill (including the headlights), the profile is elegant and the rear is sexy. The translucent sunroofs/grills are a bit extreme and probably wouldn't last to production. But the design is solid, and if the performance equals or is better than the M45 at the same price point, it will be a nice thorn in the sides of European Car makers.

CONFIRMED!!!!
 

****CONFIRMED UPDATE****

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...._code=00469695

Nissan says Fuga Tokyo concept will be next Infiniti M45

By KATHY JACKSON | Automotive News


The Nissan Fuga debuted at the Tokyo motor show.
TOKYO -- The Fuga show car on the Nissan stand at the Tokyo Motor Show will be the new Infiniti M45, sources confirm.

With a four-person seating capacity, the sporty-looking sedan shares a platform with the Infiniti G35 and FX45 and the Nissan 350Z. It will come with both six- and eight-cylinder engines and in rear-drive and all-wheel-drive versions.

The M45, which will debut at the end of 2004 as a 2005 model, is crucial to Infiniti's growth plans in the United States.

"When we replace the M, I'm expecting sales to rise," said Norio Matsumura, executive vice president of global sales and marketing for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. "With the styling and roominess of the new M and also the quality interior, I put it in the first-tier luxury mode."

The show car featured a plush leather interior and telematics.

"For Infiniti, interior is very important," Matsumura said.

U.S. dealers sold only 468 M45s in September and 3,508 for the nine months ending Sept. 30.

Matsumura would not estimate the number of sales for the new M45, but he expects Infiniti sales to be about 100,000 in the United States this year and to be considerably higher with the arrival of the new M.

Infiniti sales were up 40.7 percent through September to 89,856. But its volume lagged luxury leader Lexus, which had sales of 186,009 for the same period.

Infinitis are sold only in the United States. Matsumura says he doubts the brand will go global, although Nissan President Carlos Ghosn was quoted in the Financial Times last week as saying the company was studying the possibility of extending Infiniti to Japan and Europe.

"It is my dream to make Infiniti global, but that is not a reality due to regulations, etc., around the world," Matsumura says. "You have to spend a lot of money."

That car looks sick with the blue lights and nice interior
!!!

best, interior, ever.

it looks like its got that maybach sun roof

Not really my style, I'm a big fan of Nissan and the Z/G35 Coupe though. Those headlights are really eerie looking.

I love the Maybach style interior but I'd have to say that FUGA=FUGLY.

I like them new sunroofs;)

looks pretty cool i like the lights...weird name :-\

I've all ready seen one of these (new M45) on the road.
I was drooling as I drove alongside it. I sped up and slowed down so I could get a good look at it from all angles.

It's got a listing on Yahoo Autos, but no picture and no price.

Too bad it's gonna cost like $50k.

the interior gives me a boner.

Nice car.....

it looks like a nice Altima to me!!

Very impressive. I sure wish one of the Nissans out in the driveway had a V8. I'm still trying to talk my mom into getting rid of her Quest and getting a Titan :D

interior makes me funny in the pants

nice car..just don't like the grill overall very nice

i thought that sunroof is Nissans sky view thing...?