2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year Contender: Infiniti M

The new M, which comes in V-6 and V-8, and rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations, attempts to be different, but not always in the right way.

Design is a most radical step. On first look, our two examples-a rear-drive 37S with summer tires and an all-wheel-drive 56x with a massive 5.6-liter mill-didn't warm the judges. "The M looks like a largemouth bass," said guest judge Chris Theodore. "The interior is a sea of waves that crash together without aesthetic or functional reason." Most repeated the sentiment, although the interior's silver-polished wood found a few fans.

Athleticism would seem a strong point. The 56x, even saddled with all-wheel drive, weighs 100 pounds less than the BMW 550i, and yet it accelerates just as fast. The 37S manages to isolate its big V-6 better than any Nissan we've driven lately. But the M56 has too much engine. Its power is awesome in the most literal definition ("Downright scary!" Theodore noted), and those who dared turn off traction control were met with lift-throttle oversteer equal to 1980's 911 Turbo levels. The 37S felt more manageable, but retained an aggressively tail-happy nature; "It doesn't just lurk in the background," wrote executive editor Ed Loh. "It presents itself front and center like a baboon's red butt."

No cookies are awarded for value either: The 37S and 56x line up squarely with similarly equipped 5 Series models.

Does the Infiniti M have enough strong points to win the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year award?Come back to MotorTrend.com on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. EST when we willreveal the 2011 Motor Trend Car of the Year LIVE as it happens!