Q45 offers 'take no prisoners' approach to luxury driving.

Here at last is an Infiniti to get excited about.

The long-awaited and fully revised Q45 is here and it appears to meet the high standards that the company has set for the relaunch of its flagship. Now we have a Q45 that fulfills the promise of the original car -- a take-no-prisoners luxury automobile with the amenities and performance that's ready to take on Lexus and the high-end German sedans.

The new Q45 highlights new exterior styling and state-of-the-art safety components. Other features include a voice recognition system, auto-dimming outside mirrors, a large center-console LCD electronic display that logs such information as audio and climate control information as well as tire pressure, fuel economy and vehicle maintenance. Our test car had the optional navigation system, which also uses the LCD display.

Other options not included on our test car but available now or later include a rear-mounted video camera to assist in backing the car, and an intelligent cruise control system that deploys laser guidance to control engine throttle and braking to maintain a set distance between the Q45 and the vehicle ahead.

The new Q45 has its own distinctive body design. The flanks present a clean sweep with no excess ornamentation. The front end features a bold grille with horizontal bars.

But the most distinctive visual component is the light cluster, which features a seven-element high-discharge xenon headlight. Interestingly, there is a control knob on the dashboard that allows the driver to adjust the lens elevation. I found this particularly useful when needing maximum illumination on a long nighttime drive up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz, which is relatively deserted at night. In fact, I'd rate the illumination offered by the Q45 as the best in the industry right now.

Value is a strong part of the Q45 story. With a base price of a little more than $50,000, the new Infiniti should score with price-conscious luxury-car buyers. Standard equipment includes a full house of luxury and safety items that one expects in a competitive luxury car. Our test vehicle added the $1,500 Sport Package, the $2,100 navigation system, retractable sun shades at $500 and front-seat heaters at $450.