Well, that’s it. Infiniti no longer offers the sporty M sedan. But wait! The crafty folks at Nissan/Infiniti have relabeled their sporty 5-passenger luxury-oriented 4-door for the 2014 model year the Q70. Virtually unchanged from the now-defunct M designation, the introductory 2014 Q70 comes in three trims, the base 3.7, the up-powered 5.6 and the fuel miserly Hybrid, each of which even more definitively announces the various powerplant offerings. Of course the Q70, in carrying on the M tradition, remains a solid choice as a high-end commuter car, with an upscale cabin, aggressive good looks and a sport-tuned suspension. The trunk in non-hybrid versions, meantime, again offers 14.9 cubic feet of toting space, with the Hybrid’s state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack again leaving luggage space at a somewhat paltry 11.3 cubic feet in the hybrid variant.

In any case, like its M forebears, the 2014 Q70 comes in standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) configuration, but intelligent all-wheel drive (iAWD) is available in both non-hybrid trims. This AWD system allows cruising on dry roads in RWD, while retaining the ability to automatically divert torque to all 4 wheels when the going gets slippery.

Meantime, don’t fret—the standard leather upholstery remains in all Q70 trims, as do the genuine wood, alloy and leather accents that decorate a good deal of the interior. Those 18-inch alloy wheels also return in this re-labeled 4-door, as do the power sunroof and the heated, tilt-adjustable power outside mirrors. All trims also boast heated power-adjustable front seats, full power accessories and memory for driver's settings, as well as cruise control, telescoping tilt-wheel steering, a remote garage door opener and a rear-view camera. Dual-zone climate control and Bluetooth hands-free calling return as standard equipment lineup-wide, with the 3.7 version and the Hybrid trim offering a 160-watt audio system with a single-CD player, 6 speakers and satellite radio.

The flagship Q70 5.6 trim, meanwhile, adds a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, Bluetooth audio streaming over 10 Bose premium speakers and standard voice-activated navigation.

Optional features, meantime, remain the popular Sport Package, with 20-inch wheels, performance tires, sport brakes, sport front seats, 4-wheel steering and aluminum pedal trim, while the Deluxe Touring Package, available only to the Q70 5.6, sports upgraded cabin materials, Bose Surround Sound speakers and upgraded climate controls. Rear parking sensors and a rear decklid spoiler also re-appear as standalone options.

At the heart of the 2014 Q70 3.7 is the same 3.7-liter V6 powerplant that graced Infiniti's old M cars. Mated with the standard 7-speed shiftable automatic transmission, this peppy 6-banger throws down 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, while variable-valve-timed (VVT) mileage remains estimated at 18 mpg city/26 highway in RWD editions, and 17/24 in the available AWD versions.

Need more power? The Q70 5.6 comes with a VVT 5.6-liter V8 mill that again comes under the management of the 7-speed shiftable automatic. Look for 420 hp and 417 lb-ft to increase the old heartbeat by a couple dozen a minute, with mileage figures running 16/24 in RWD variants and 15/23 in AWD iterations.

The Q70 Hybrid, meantime, flaunts a 3.6-liter hybrid V6 engine and a 50-kilowatt electric motor that combine for 360 total horsepower. The 7-speed shiftable automatic again manages 256 lb-ft of torque under gas-electric power, and 199 lb-ft when cruising on electric power alone (for short distances). Brake regeneration once more helps with recharging, with engine stop-start technology letting this Hybrid shine with its EPA-estimated mileage of 27/32.

Finally, noteworthy standard safety features for all 2014 Q70 trims again include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front and rear head airbags, front side-mounted airbags and active front headrests. Front fog/driving lights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm also return under the new banner, as does an optional Technology Package that sports blind-spot and lane-departure alerts, adaptive cruise control and a forward collision warning system.