2015 Infiniti Q70L

Since the demise of the Q45 sedan in 2006, Infiniti has been without a full-size flagship luxury sedan - the car that had originally challenged the likes of the Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. While the rumour mill continues to churn away over the idea of a new flagship model, Infiniti has plugged the gap with a new version of its Q70 sedan, the Q70L.

As the name suggests, L stands for long wheelbase. Compared to the standard Q70, a car which competes with the likes of the BMW 5 Series and Benz E-Class, the Q70L adds 150 mm between the wheels, which translates to an additional 150 mm of rear knee room. Infiniti has given the Q70L unique suspension tuning that prioritizes comfort over performance, despite the fact that the car features upgraded performance brakes, and 20-inch wheels on low profile tires - equipment that's featured on standard-wheelbase Q70s with the Sport package.

While the standard Q70 is available in V6, V8, and hybrid forms, the Q70L is only available with eight cylinders. The big 5.6-litre naturally aspirated engine produces 416 horsepower, 414 lb-ft of torque and a delightfully sonorous soundtrack. The engine is paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission and features Infiniti's intelligent all-wheel drive system that is capable of delivering up to a 50-50 split in torque distribution.

The Q70L is offered exclusively in one trim - buyers need only choose exterior and interior colours. Standard equipment is very generous and includes features that are otherwise pricey options in rival vehicles. Navigation with an 8.0-inch display, 16-speaker Bose audio system, quilted leather upholstery, suede-like headliner, power rear sunshade, and a unique rear bench seat with additional bolstering are all standard.

It's also loaded to the hilt with the latest advanced safety technologies. Emergency autonomous braking, radar cruise control, reverse collision intervention, a 360-degree parking camera, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring and blind-spot intervention are all standard.

With its standard V8 power, added rear-seat interior space, and extensive equipment list, the Q70L is something of a bargain. The asking price for the Q70L is $68,400 making it only a few thousand dollars less expensive than the Hyundai Equus Ultimate, and tens of thousands less expensive than the full-size luxury sedans from Lexus, BMW, and Audi.