Safety is a highly important aspect for customers when purchasing a new vehicle, and all luxury manufacturers aim to score well (and usually do). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced that the Cadillac CTS and Infiniti M are Top Picks for 2010.

This in particular is a pretty impressive new entry for Infiniti, showing the brand has really advanced in the area of safety. The CTS has been picked for this award before, showing continued excellence.

The Top Pick status comes after passing new, more stringent roof testing standards. The CTS and M are added to the current Top Pick list that includes the BMW 5-Series, Hyundai Genesis, Lincoln MKS, Volvo S80 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Notable models not to score as well include the Audi A6 and Lexus GS, which both scored “Acceptable.”

Even worse is the Acura RL with a “marginal” rating. Ouch. You don’t see that usually anymore, especially in the luxury segment. The good news is that manufacturers are learning quickly – Acura should have it fixed with the RL soon.

Cars are safer than ever, and that is a good thing. With so many cars garnering impressive scores, is it time for a further rise in standards? It certainly seems like something worth debating.

But, it wasn’t, and the 2010 show is coming up fast. It looks like Infiniti is planning to make significant introductions at the show yet again.

The show normally isn’t used for introductions from major manufacturers. It really does makes sense though, given the clientele and amount of media coverage. Smart thinking, Infiniti.

Inside Line has recently reported on the possibility of a M-Coupe from Infiniti. The brand is increasingly ambitious and has high hopes for the new M lineup. Especially with the lack of a flagship vehicle, a range-topping luxury coupe could be an important image builder for the brand.

Following that, Autoblog’s has reported that two M-based models will be showing up at Pebble Beach. Their source says that the cars will “extend Infiniti into an area (they) haven’t been before” and that one of the two models will be “performance oriented.”

Regardless, we think it is pretty safe to expect that the introductions will be coupe-related. A proper coupe for the M – or maybe, a four-door coupe. We’ll have to wait and see.

We think the reasons are because the rest of the Infiniti lineup wasn’t really up to par. Now, things have changed – drastically. The G reinvigorated Infiniti and it has been on the ascendancy ever since.

When importation of the Q was stopped in 2006, Infiniti said a new model was coming. Now they seem to be changing their tune.

Infiniti’s VP of global business Toru Saito said in an interview with Automotive News that the 2011 M sedan will “play a flagship role” for the brand for the forseeable future.

This comes in part from the fact that the new M is nearly the size of the previous Q – however, it is designed to compete with competitors like the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, not the 7-Series and S-Class. Infiniti is supposedly open to the possibility of reviving the Q, but Saito said there would have to be “sufficient demand.”

Interesting, we wonder what they gauge as “sufficient demand.” This arrangement might work for a while, but we can’t imagine Infiniti being without a true flagship forever. Doesn’t work too well – just ask Cadillac. Truly prestigious brands have a flagship.

To help rectify that, many manufacturers have been releasing videos of their new models quickly after introduction. For those wanting to know more about how a new car looks, that is a good thing.

Infiniti has chosen to outdo them all, with a full walkaround of both the new M56 and M37 inside and out that is over 8 minutes long. It even surpasses the length ofAudi’s “Beauty Shots” video for the A8. Now all we need is some driving footage -- of the M56, please.

A bit later, some live pictures of the car were snapped. Now, the specifications are out, as well as the whole gamut of press photos – no virtual trickery here.

The most startling revelation here though is not to be found in the photos – its in the specifications list! The biggest indicator about the dramatic change ought to be in the car’s name.

M45 is no more – M56 is the new designation – indicating (yes, you’re reading this right) – a 5.6-liter V-8 engine. Infiniti clearly isn’t messing around! They aimed to show that recently with an announcement of women quality control inspectors being hired for the car in Japan.

The new 5.6-liter VVEL Direct Injection Gasoline V-8 in the M56 makes 420 horsepower. That is more than recently introduced cars even in the segment above the M, like the new Audi A8. An incredible figure for a non-performance specific model in the mid-size segment.

Stepping down a bit to the M37 yields a similarly impressive package for it’s likely market positioning – Infiniti M37 with be powered by a 330-horsepower 3.7-liter VVEL V6.

“The 2011 Infiniti M embodies all of our best thinking, design and quality to date,” says Ben Poore, vice president of Infiniti Business Unit. “It’s a truly inspired design offering invigorating performance, luurious comfort and the highest levels of craftsmanship and style ever offered in an Infiniti.”

No doubt, the Infiniti M is an extremely impressive package. There wasn’t much else in the M’s press release from Infiniti since lot of information on the car was known already. Check out the full gallery of M56 and M37 pictures below.

Ever since the original G35, Infiniti has been doing very well. The G35 is what really vaulted the brand into contention with industry stalwarts like the 3-Series. The latest generation of the G has continued that success.

Infiniti is looking to set its sights higher now, working to conquer a new model segment – mid-size luxury. The previous M aimed at the 5-Series,  but didn’t sell very well.

Infiniti hopes the new M will put up a strong fight against other models in the segment, like BMW’s newly-redesigned 5-Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. If Infiniti succeeds with the M, it would turn out to be a highly profitable endeavor – the mid-size luxury segment commands high prices and sells at good volumes.

As part of a new quality control initiative, Infiniti has announced a new hiring drive for women specifically. Infiniti seeks them to be final quality control inspectors for the car, because they are “more sensitive and attentive to detail.”

In the United States, that would grounds for a big lawsuit, but the hirings are taking place at Infiniti’s plant in Tochigi, Japan where apparently you can’t sue over things like that. Stay tuned for more details on the M set to arrive on December 1st.

A new projection technology was used that projected an image of the new vehicle onto a clay model. Live images of preproduction Infiniti M models were also snapped back in September.

Now, the Infiniti M is getting another live reveal over the internet – this time an actual vehicle. The event is taking place in Beverly Hills, with only 60 people in attendance at the actual location. Also set to be debuted is the updated 2010 G and the all-new 2011 QX SUV that we got a glimpse of in spyshots. Infiniti’s executives will talk about the brand’s 20th anniversary and plans for an Infiniti EV as well.

Should be an event you won’t want to miss – it takes place live on December 1st, and you can watch it at 7:00 PM Pacific Standard Time on Infiniti’s Facebook page.

For the automotive companies (who actually want to hide something, that is) the ever-present Brenda Priddy & Co spy photography team has got to make life difficult. LeftlaneNews says these models were stumbled over unexpectedly. What a find – the new M with no camoflauge except for a few pieces of tape that attempted to cover the badges! The good news is that the M looks even better in live shots than it does in computer generated ones.

As expected, a lot of the cues from the Infiniti Essence Concept and other Infiniti vehicles like the EX37 Crossover carry over well. I’ve got to say, Infiniti’s new design language is very compelling, and it has the product to back it up.

Taken together, the Infiniti lineup is becoming one of the best in the industry. The G37 is my favorite – sporty, luxurious and RWD (are you listening, Cadillac?). The M should help the brand better compete against industry stalwarts like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series. For more images, head over to the Infiniti M spy shot gallery over at LeftLaneNews.

Other cars making appearances will be Fisker’s Karma, the SV Motor Cars Competizione and reportedly the new Jaguar XJ. Now, in typical fashion Infiniti has released a teaser image of what to expect.

Not a whole lot to see, huh? Teasers don’t often reveal much, but this one is perhaps less than usual. While I’m certain it’s a more dramatic portrayal of the final production vehicle, the teaser does reveal a big change in the design. The rear roofline is rakish and the body line more curvaceous.

The “reveal” at Pebble Beach is also going to be  unique – something called “virtual video mapping” will project an image of the car onto a full-size clay model that is shaped like the vehicle, appearing as if the car is actually there. So it will be full-size and seemingly real, if all goes to plan.

The car will look like it is actually there. It will be full-size, and, if you didn’t know it was a virtual mapping, you would think it was the real thing from a distance. It gives consumers a preview of the vehicle in advance of its December debut, before any actual vehicles have been built…. it’s a really good-looking car, and we’re excited to get it out there” says Infiniti’s senior manager of product communications Kyle Brazemore.

This teaser makes me more eager to see what Infiniti has in the works! Expect the Los Angeles Auto Show to play host to the car’s production debut.

Now, Edmunds Inside Line reports that another automaker, Infiniti, will be making a showing as well with it’s next-generation M sedan. But, the “reveal” won’t be in the way you normally think of – Infiniti will be going about it very differently.

Kyle Infiniti’s senior manager of product communications, is the one who told the information to Inside Line. “The car will look like it is actually there. It will be full-size, and, if you didn’t know it was a virtual mapping, you would think it was the real thing from a distance. It gives consumers a preview of the vehicle in advance of its December debut, before any actual vehicles have been built…. it’s a really good-looking car, and we’re excited to get it out there.”

Basically something called “virtual video mapping” will project an image of the car onto a full-size clay model that is shaped like the vehicle, appearing as if the car is actually there. So it will be full-size and seemingly real, if all goes to plan.

This is an entirely new way of launching a vehicle, and the method ensures there will be a lot of interest. Pebble Beach is an interesting choice of location to do such a thing as well – what a contrast from the classics at the very same show. For those not in attendance, there will be a streaming video webcast of the launch on Infiniti’s web site.