(July 25, 2011) ROLLE, Switzerland — Automotive journalists’ musical preferences were laid bare last week for the first time as Infiniti revealed what sounds were recorded onto the Music Box hard drives of its press and VIP fleet by UK media.

After six months of hard driving — and easy listening — the Infiniti Music Chart provided a unique insight into writers’ in-car music tastes. The list spans the decades and embraces every style, from Creedence Clearwater Revival to Jamie Cullum, and Steely Dan to Lady Gaga.

Classics, old favorites and the, er, more challenging tunes from Europe’s annual song competition were all popular. But any recent borrower of an Infiniti concerned that their musical taste — or lack of — might be aired to the entire industry can relax. Only the music, not the listener’s name, was recorded.

Confirming the belief that a tune can reflect the car, some journalists made very astute choices. For instance, what could be more invigorating than Tina Turner’s epic “Simply the best” when cruising in Infiniti’s FX crossover?

In at No. 1 in the EX crossover was the equally appropriate Depeche Mode hit, “Just Can’t Get Enough.”  “It’s my life” by Sash was a hit in the l M sedan while the racy G Coupe rocked to the sounds of The Beatles’ White Album. The G Convertible turned even cooler with “Saturday Night Boogie Woogie Man” by Diz Watson testing the Bose sound system, and the high-tech nature of the new M Hybrid took on a human side with Paul Simon crooning, “You Can Call Me Al”.

Wayne Bruce, Infiniti’s Communications Director, said: “Infiniti’s sound engineers are involved in a car’s design from the start and every speaker is strategically located.  So it’s gratifying that our media give an Infiniti’s music system as much of a test as its engine.

"And Katy Perry can be very testing. I must stress this exercise was done anonymously. So we will never know who played, for example, the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. It’s just a mystery why they chose it.  Everyone knows that 1996 was the best year.  If only for Gina G...”