The system will not only alert the driver of the need to stop for food but will also navigate the car to the nearest restaurant that suit’s the driver’s taste and pocket. To be called Gastronomi, it could become an option on the all new Infiniti M performance luxury saloon which goes on sale across Europe from September.

Gastronomi employs three of Infiniti’s current technologies: Connectiviti, Active Noise Control and Forest Air climate control. Active Noise Control donates one of its sensors mounted in the interior headlining and otherwise employed in monitoring road noise to detect the sounds of borborygmi –tummy rumbles. If a pre-determined volume of rumbling is heard, a knife and fork symbol flashes up on the Connectiviti information screen and the driver is asked whether they wish to divert for a pit-stop.

A selection of nearby restaurants can then be accessed from the Michelin Red Guide, already an integral part of Infiniti’s Connectiviti infotainment system. Once a choice is selected, the HDD navigation system selects the quickest route and if a reservation is required, a telephone number is also given for the driver to connect to via Infiniti’s standard Bluetooth telephone integration.

At this point, the Forest Air climate control system changes mode. The tropical borneol scent that is usually gently wafted throughout the cabin is replaced with the fragrance of truffle oil to ready the palette as the driver is navigated to their meal.

Gastronomi can be tailored further. There is a Fitness option which if selected first calculates the driver’s ideal weight based on the memorised driving position. The driver is then asked to input their real weight and if it is higher than the theoretical weight, Gastronomi allows for louder tummy rumbles before suggesting a pit-stop. It also works in reverse if it considers the driver needs feeding up.

Another, ahem, menu asks the driver to input their favoured cuisine and amount they want to pay for a meal and suggests restaurants accordingly from the Michelin Red Guide. Categories include Bistro, Gastropub, Flushed and On Expenses.

Infiniti’s engineers have developed the technology after several years of research, and periods of starvation, in conjunction with the Narita Office for Subsistence and Health (NOSH) in Japan. The research showed the dangers of driving while hungry included reduced concentration brought on by daydreams about noodles as well as the risk of neck-strain, not to mention a frontal impact, while the driver looks into passing restaurants.

The director of NOSH, I. Likecake-san, stopped between mouthfuls to say: “Gastronomi could be the most important development in [pauses to swallow] motoring since the cup holder [burps]. Is there any more rice?”

Infiniti’s programme director for Gastronomi, Yumi Teppenyaki, was unfortunately out to lunch when asked for a comment.

The order books are open now and will close on 22 January 2010, with just 40 cars being available for sale. Whilst a limited production run highlights the exclusivity of Nissan’s supercar, it is perhaps more dictated by the SpecV’s price, which at £124,900 in the UK makes it more than ‘twice’ as expensive as the standard GT-R.

Interestingly Nissan describe the limited run of 40 examples in Europe as reflecting that “2009 is the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first Nissan to wear the GT-R badge”. Hmmm, we’ll leave it up to you to judge which is most likely reason for such a small allocation of cars.

Developed as the ultimate iteration of the GT-R, the SpecV model builds on the original GT-R’s by changing and enhancing key components that help deliver the SpecV’s philosophy of being for skilled drivers who are ‘at one’ with their vehicle.

Incorporating all of the product enhancements recently announced for the standard MY10 GT-R, these changes are based around the SpecV’s ability (in the right conditions and environment) to brake later and harder, corner faster and accelerate sooner than the standard car.

Although maximum horsepower remains the same, engine performance is enhanced with a new high-gear boost control device, which briefly increases boost of the twin turbochargers for greater torque in the intermediate-to-high speed ranges to provide greater in-gear acceleration. Braking and cornering performance is improved by the fitting of a carbon ceramic brake system jointly developed by Nissan and Brembo, revised springs and fixed-rate dampers. Other performance modifications include a titanium exhaust system.

Externally, the SpecV is also equipped with lightweight, racing-style forged aluminium wheels that were developed uniquely for this model by Nissan Motorsports International (NISMO), the sports car and motorsports arm of Nissan in Japan. The SpecV’s exterior also features a carbon fibre rear spoiler, a carbon fibre grille, and carbon fibre brake ducts. All of these changes amount to a weight saving of 60kg.

Inside, the SpecV is offered uniquely as a two-seater (standard GT-R models include ‘plus-two’ sized rear seat) with bespoke Recaro carbon fibre bucket seats trimmed only in black leather, while carbon fibre is also used for the surround of the rear Bose speakers, instrument panel and other trim areas.

In addition to a revised paint colour line-up (Ultimate Metal Silver and Titanium are not available) the SpecV is available in optional Ultimate Black Opal (RP), a unique chromaflair paint for this version.

The SpecV will be only available through one Nissan High Performance Centre in the UK – Middlehurst Motorsport GT-R, St Helens, Merseyside and in recognition of the car’s indelible link with the Nordschleife circuit in Germany, the SpecV is only being displayed in Europe at the new Nissan Sports showroom in the new Nürburgring complex which was opened last July.

But for Infiniti, M doesn’t stand for Motorsport – although some might argue the same could be said for BMW these days.

Infiniti is a relatively new brand in Europe, although it has competed successfully against the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Lexus in the US for many years. 2009 was scheduled to be a big year for the brand, with new dedicated centres being opened in Paris, Rome, Zurich and…. Reading in Berkshire, but the economic downturn forced Infiniti management to curtail some of their plans as they prepare for an upturn in the market during 2010.

They’ve been busy though, with new variants of the G37 entry-level model released, plus their sports-oriented crossovers, the EX and FX.

Those of us who attended Infiniti’s stand at the Geneva show this year will have felt mixed emotions – elation at seeing the Essence Concept followed swiftly by disappointment as we heard that Infiniti had no plans to produce it. We were told that it represented the design language of future Infiniti models, which was little solace to those of us who saw the Essence as one of the most gorgeous looking Japanese cars yet to be conceived.

We’ll leave you to judge whether Infiniti are living up their promise of reflecting the Essence’s style in their mainstream models, but it’s a tough act to follow and therefore perhaps we should not judge them too harshly.

So the Infiniti M joins the range above the G37, competing against the likes of BMW’s new 5-series, Mercedes fresh new E-Class and Audi’s A6.

The M37 is powered by the same 3.7-litre VVEL V6 petrol engine found in other Infiniti models producing 316 bhp (320 PS) and 266 lb ft (360 Nm) of torque. A V6 diesel will be launched in 2010 with a petrol/electric V6 hybrid model sometime later.

On first acquaintance the M37 appears to offer nothing particularly new in this sector, however there are several technical innovations that Infiniti are hoping will tempt buyers away from their German competitors.

Blind Sport Intervention (BSI)
Infiniti describes this as a ‘world-first safety feature’, as well as giving the driver both visual and audible warnings of another vehicle in the blind-spot area which is detected using radar, BSI intervenes if the driver ignores the warnings and attempts to steer into the other vehicle’s path. The intervention is in the form of a directional adjustment, executed automatically. This is achieved by selective braking on one side of the car to create a “yaw” effect that eases the vehicle back into its original lane.

Active Noise Control (ANC)
By identifying undesirable sounds in the cabin and then playing back through the speakers sound waves of an opposite phase, the original noises are cancelled out, making the M’s interior a quieter, more restful place to be. The system is aimed at reducing undesirable low-frequency engine sounds only. M models with the 16-speaker Bose Studio Surround sound system are equipped with Bose Engine Harmonic Cancellation (EHC) which is claimed to be even more effective at controlling unwanted noises.

Infiniti Drive
The M’s throttle sensitivity and transmission mapping are fine tuned according to which of four driver-selectable modes is engaged via a switch positioned behind the gear lever: Standard, Eco, Sport and Snow. The Eco mode utilises green and yellow lights on the instrument panel to provide feedback on fuel efficiency. Eco mode also introduces a new Infiniti concept known as the Eco Pedal. If driving too aggressively, the driver will feel the accelerator pedal “push back” to indicate fuel is being wasted. Sport mode changes the automatic shift points and enhances throttle response for increased performance. It will also adjust the 4WAS for a nimbler feel and raise the ESP intervention level.

Forest Air
Infiniti believes the quality of the air within a car’s cabin has a direct bearing on the well-being of driver and passengers. Which is why it developed Forest Air – Infiniti’s most advanced climate control system that makes its debut in the M37. The system offers temperature, humidity and pollution control while re-creating the gentle breezes and subtle scents of an environment known to promote alertness and relieve stress: the forest.

The M uses a Front Mid-ship platform that positions the engine behind the front axle resulting in an optimised front-to-rear weight balance for naturally stable and rewarding handling. Suspension is double-wishbone in front and multi-link at the rear, along with front and rear anti-roll bars. The standard wheel size is 18-inches however for the sportiest models, 20-inch wheels, new double-piston shock absorbers, special suspension settings, 4-piston brakes and 4-Wheel Active Steering are all available.

Prices are still to be confirmed, but will be announced prior to the beginning of European sales in September 2010.

The logic which controls torque distribution between the front and rear axles when the GT-R is manoeuvring at low speeds when fluids are cold, has been altered to reduce rear-axle ‘binding’. Also, the logic in the gearbox has been changed to give a later downshift from 6th to 5th when driven in automatic mode, but a more aggressive downshift pattern when changing down from 4th to 3rd, and from 3rd to 2nd gear.

To improve cooling around the rear of the car, two additional NACA cooling ducts have been added to the carbon fibre underfloor diffuser which will provide additional cooling to the exhaust and gearbox. Furthermore, a new, larger diameter pipe connecting the oil cooler will reduce gearbox temperatures.

Earlier this year some problems were reported by US GT-R owners which related to the first gear cog in the gearbox, which under stress can develop cracks and then fail entirely, causing destruction of the gearbox. Part of this problem appeared to be due to the over-use of launch control, but some owners have chosen to upgrade first gear and the input shaft with stronger parts anyway.

Nissan took the decision to remove the launch control function in response to these issues, and now this improved cooling and reprogrammed logic control should have banished these issues for good. Hopefully.

Another small, but significant update has been to the front transmission mount, which has been stiffened, reducing vibration through the drive-line under high-load conditions. Also, the balance of the electronic brakeforce distribution bias has been moved slightly rearwards, giving greater braking stability in dry conditions, while a change in design of the rear brake cross spring has reduced noise and a modified air deflector increases rear brake cooling.

Changes to the engine management systems now ensure that the GT-R is Euro 5 compliant, without a loss of performance, whilst CO2 emissions have dropped by 3g to 295g/km.

Visually, front and rear bumpers now benefit from a double coat of clear paint, providing a deeper finish to the base colour, while inside the speedometer and rev counter now sport gun metallic finish surrounds.

Finally, uprated insulation has been fitted to the rear seats, which is said to improve cabin refinement.

A number of additional improvements have been made inside the GT-R, which is now equipped with Nissan’s latest generation combined audio and navigation system featuring a 40GB Hard Disk Drive (HDD), improved 3D maps, touch-screen interface and the option to select on-screen instructions in 8 different languages and voice recognition in a choice of 7 languages.

Since the start of European sales earlier this year, Nissan has delivered a total of over 1600 GT-Rs to customers, with waiting lists continuing to grow.