2k: Warp Speed: 1994 Infiniti Q45
The first generation Infiniti Q45 packed a surprising amount of performance when it debuted in 1990. Competition from companies like BMW included a lineup on inline-6 engines in cars like the 5/7-series and in comparison the Q was indeed Quick. Parent company Nissan was pushing the performance mantra on all ends of the automotive spectrum and the “sporty” image survives to this day. Find this 1994 Infiniti Q45 sedan for sale in St Louis, MO for $1,800 via craigslist. Tip from Scot.
This luxury Q-ship is powered by the VH45DE, a 4.5 liter dual-overhead-cam V8 that puts out 278 horsepower and 294 ft-lbs of torque into a 4-speed automatic transmission. The Q45 features a standard limited slip differential mated to the rear wheels for increased traction on non-perfect road surfaces. The Q45 never sold quite as well as the V8 powered Lexus LS400, but its engine is more powerful and has found its way into a surprising number of random engine swapped project vehicles.
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I bought one of these new when they first came out. Very fast, much faster but not quite as crisp as the E28 it replaced. The rev limiter was pretty crude, you'd get to 150 mph (not 152) and the engine would just cut off. It felt as though you'd just hit a brick wall.
I forgot how quickly Infiniti abandoned its distinctive grille-less fascia in favor of hideous chrome treatments. For a time in the late 90s, the most attractive Infiniti was a rebadged Pathfinder.