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2006 Infiniti M45: ñM" Stands for Marriage (Part II of the Wedding Planners)
Point A: Long Beach Airport
Point B: Pasadena, California
Its sloping and tasteful design has us ogling, when Bride and I pick up the Japanese import from its native Torrance, California. It’s a marriage of style and grace. It’s the Infiniti M45. But it’s also my dear friends’ wedding week ‑ and M is filling in as a must-have for its impressive looks, graceful street maneuvers and spacious interior. The bride takes a rare moment to gush.
We hit the I-405, bound to scoop up her husband-to-be from LAX airport. The engine purrs like a kitten as I coax the car through its gears with easy acceleration thanks to 335-horsepower from the V8, faring well on open stretches of highway. I push on, lifting one hand off the wheel to take a sip of water, feeling safe knowing that tiny sensors on Lane Departure Warning System will alert me if I drift to close to the edge of my lane.
Arriving at passenger pickup, I back into a spot with aid from the RearView Monitor so groom can jump in the backseat. Overlooking the panoramic dashboard, we agree that the new M was the right choice as the groom leans back, relaxing in the folds of the soft leather, letting us ladies continue our banter in the front. But soon, the M will put our confidence in its capabilities to the test to see if sweet amenities translate into a practical people-moving car.
 The conundrum: both the New York bride and groom do not drive. Without an able chauffeur, wedding week in California (land of the 20-mile quick trip) could turn disastrous.
By day two, luxury is the last thing on anyone’s mind. The bride and groom are frantic, as cell phones jingle wedding bell busy. In less than twenty-four hours, the rehearsal dinner will commence. They have traveled 2500 miles cross country to walk the walk, and reserves are needed to handle marital missions with bride’s California family. I get the call. Another airport run is required. The grooms’ family, real-deal native New Yorkers, will land in Long Beach for their first trip to California. M to the rescue.
Unfamiliar to California roadways, I rely on the navigation system to make quick choices. Unlike other luxury makers’ navigation systems that require a lot of guessing and scrolling, the M’s nav provides me with several alternative routes. I settle on a straight shot on the Long Beach Freeway, confident in my destination. Rolling up to the airport from the 710, a bit of confusion arises, as the Serengeti-sand coloredM is difficult to describe to a family unaccustomed to fly rides. Perhaps if I had the Liquid Platinum color it would be a different story.
But as soon as I catch the groom’s brother’s eye all confusion subsides. Mom, dad and brother make their way with luggage in hand, which is easily stored in the ample trunk. It’s hard to say if the family is more excited about the trip or M’s luxurious amenities like the wheat leather interior and rosewood trim. The brother, who is a big guy, takes the front seat while the parents are quite comfortable lounging in the back with plenty of legroom. I clue them on the rear reclining seats and they rave. “Wow, we are really living it up.”
 With a touch of the Intelligent Key pushbutton start system, we are off. The brother, a young cat on the move, is in heaven with a half dozen XMSatellite Radio Hip-Hop stations to choose from. He rolls down the window and sighs, forgetting his long, cross-country flight. The M passed the ladies’ test, as well as a 20-year old aspiring hip-hop beatmaker. With mom’s approval, he pumps up the bass on the Bose surround. In route to wedding HQ in Pasadena, traffic is thick, but the comfort of M keeps everyone calm.
As we roll up to the Pasadena Marriott, the valets are enamored by our whip’s fine-chiseled looks “What is it?” It’s proven, M is still the new kid on the block, but the one everyone wants to get with. Bride and Groom are waiting outside of the hotel. Before greeting the happy couple, brother hands me a camera phone and asks him to snap a pic with the M. He has decided that the M is where it’s at. “Its definitely me.” As the wedding gang gathers in Pasadena, a debate ensues. Everyone wants to ride in M, which has the party live before the festivities jump off.
By ceremony day, M is like part of the family, the good-looking cousin that everyone wants to sit next to. Easing into M’s spacious cabin for the final mission— my return to LAX and back to NYC, I bid adieu to California love. But I know deep down with the new M, Infiniti has upped their game in the luxury category, but not over the top, clocking in with a sticker price under 50 Gs. It all comes down to good choice, which is the secret to a marriage made to last.
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