SAN DIEGO — Infiniti has rolled out its new flagship M – this the third generation is more stylish, more powerful, more fuel-efficient and more technologically advanced than the car it replaces. When a manufacturer puts out an all-new vehicle and it answers every question with a very emphatic yes, than they've done their job.

The 2011 M will begin reaching showrooms in March in two versions, the M37 with a 3.7-liter 330-horsepower V-6 under hood or the M56 with a monster 5.6-liter 420-horsepower V-8.

Both editions come standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission and both can be outfitted with all-wheel drive. A sport package that includes four-wheel active steering, larger brakes, shift paddles, sports seats, and 20-inch alloy wheels is available.

Ride and handling proved both M’s very capable during a drive on the winding roads and mountain passes outside of San Diego and both left us enthused over their performance prowesses.

The new V-8 version, which gains a whopping 95 horses over the previous model, is quick at all speeds providing competitive performance with anything in its class. Punch it and you get plastered to your seat. Zero-to-60 time we believe will fall in the high four-second range.

While the M56 was a hoot to drive, we found that the V-6 was an ideal match for the new slightly larger M. It was spot on all the time and it would not surprise us to eventually see published times well below six seconds in the ubiquitous 0-to-60 run.

Infiniti officials predict that more than 85 percent of M buyers will opt for the M37 starting at $46,250. The muscle-bound M56 will start at $57,550. Add about $2,200 for all-wheel drive in either version.                              

— Jim Meachen