Until the G35 coupe and sedan came along in 2003, Infiniti was a perennial also-ran in the luxury car marketplace, far overshadowed by Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz when it came to designing and building premium cars that people wanted to buy. But the G35 changed perceptions about Infiniti, and now the 2006 Infiniti M, Autobytel’s Editors’ Choice for the Best New Luxury Car of 2006, further cements the company as a purveyor of first-class product.

Choose between the M35, equipped with either a 3.5-liter V6 good for 280 horsepower, or the M45 with its 4.5-liter V8 whipping up 335 horsepower. An optional all-wheel-drive system is offered only with the V6 (M35x), and every M comes with a five-speed automatic transmission with a responsive manual shift gate. Four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, EBD, and brake assist work in tandem with stability control and standard 18-inch wheels, and if you opt for the Sport package you’ll get a Rear Active Steering setup for crisper handling along with 19-inch wheels and tires.

Inside, there’s leather complemented by either aluminum or matte-finish rosewood trim, and the Infiniti M is equipped with all the accoutrements common within the class. Standout features include an optional Lane Departure Warning System, pre-crash front seatbelts, a Bose Studio Surround sound audio system with speakers in the front seats, a rearview monitoring system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

Beyond capable hardware and high-tech features, however, the 2006 Infiniti M shines most brightly as a comfortable car that is a genuine pleasure to drive. If you’re looking for a stylish ride to get around town, this Infiniti has you covered. More impressively, however, is how it works as a performance car. Infiniti has clearly decoded the secret recipe used by BMW to create its ultimate driving machines, and the M is terrific fun to fling down a favorite back road.

Long a sideshow act on the luxury car landscape, Infiniti belts out a based-loaded home run with the 2006 Infiniti M, Autobytel’s Editors’ Choice for Best New Luxury Car of 2006 – Christian J. Wardlaw