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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Judge dismisses four of Ron Kramer's claims against SOU OSF's 'Great Society' up for Kennedy Prize OSF taking applications for Green Show Lane closure on Medford's East Main starts Monday Since You Asked: Will the new county HHS building save the county money? 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Jan. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 1 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 30 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Get the New Year off to a Great Start Hobart Bluff offers top-notch views Fishing report: Jan. 2, 2015 'Wild' about hiking Churches start new year with messages of hope Food Community blog: Ring in new flavors with year's last appetizers Food for Thought: Tips for cooking when you have food allergies Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Home and Garden Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? 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Ashland Ski Area about loan Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Theater Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning Music Live Music in Local Clubs Generation Jones plays Paddy Brannan's Pete Herzog and Dennis Walker play 2Hawk Winery Paul Turnipseed Trio at Belle Fiore Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' Community Events New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dining Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight ... Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions ... 2014 set weather records in the Rogue Valley ... Laser strike on jet entering Medford delays flight ... Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions ... 2014 set weather records in the Rogue Valley ... Silvio Calabi: Infiniti Q50 offers business-class driving Comment By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 8:31 am By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 8:31 am GHNS » Social News Back in July, somewhere north of Denver, I lost my autonomous-car virginity and then enthusiastically reported on the experience here. Instead of wailing about the rise of the machines, giving up control and losing driving skills, I found out that being able to turn the wheel — and the brakes and accelerator — over to an autopilot is a good thing. Or at least it can be, in certain places, and while the weather is clear. I love driving a fine car, but there are times when I appreciate a little help, and on a long dash across the prairie this was the next best thing to a co-driver. Into its Q50 Premium sedan, a new model for 2014, Infiniti quietly packaged a unique degree of self-driving capability. Compared to similar technology from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and others, Infiniti’s Active Lane Control seems to be more finely calibrated, and it doesn’t automatically shut itself off every few seconds. This is important. On last summer’s drive across Wyoming, so long as the road was well-marked and mostly straight, the Q50 kept itself between the lines for miles and miles, and at very high speeds too. When it needed help — if the road curved too tightly, or the white lines faded — a chime called me back to the helm. At the same time, Intelligent Cruise Control minded the throttle and brakes and kept us away from other traffic. Lane changes were manual; if I didn’t signal intent with the blinker, the car resisted crossing the white line. Much of the time, my hands were in my lap, one thumb on the steering wheel, while I enjoyed the scenery. As we got near the town of Rock Springs, the satnav informed me that soon I’d have to manage the transition from I-80 onto Route 191 to Jackson Hole. Really, all I lacked was a flight attendant to bring me a latte. Last week, a similarly equipped Q50 let us crawl along in holiday congestion on Route 128 around Boston without ever touching the brake and nudging the throttle only occasionally, to restart from a dead stop. (The gap with the vehicle ahead is adjustable, but it won’t keep lane-jumpers out.) As we got farther north, traffic cleared, but I couldn’t switch to full-auto because the weather was closing in. This is the biggest drawback to self-driving cars: Just when we might need them the most — that is, when things are at their worst — the autopilot and safety nannies shut down. Their sensors can’t cope with heavy snow, rain or fog, or lane markings that are faded or missing. Still, operating an all-wheel drive Q50 the old-fashioned way, by hand, is no chore at all, even in dicey conditions. The 3.7-liter Six sends 328 horsepower and 269 lb.-ft. of torque to a seven-speed automatic transmission and then to the rear wheels — or, when needed, all four. The suspension is fixed but tuned well, and the Q50’s center of gravity must be pretty close to the ground; the ride is both comfortable and sporting, with flat cornering. Everything else on our Premium Q50 seemed to be adaptable or adjustable, including all sorts of driver preferences plus the throttle, transmission and (on this model) the steering. Infiniti’s optional Direct Adaptive Steering is 100-percent electronic steer-by-wire, with sensors to measure speed and steering input, and servomotors to aim the front wheels accordingly. With no mechanical connection between the wheel and the wheels, it provides little feedback, but it can be varied from stiff to virtually spasmodic to almost normal. This range of choices extends to the car itself. For 2015, Infiniti offers 10 different flavors of Q50, including four gas-electric hybrid variations, at starting prices from $38,000 to $49,000 — and 10 trim packages, at $1,000 to $5,000, plus 10 more dealer-installed options. Our highly optioned AWD Premium example listed at $51,955, all in. To make best use of what Infiniti has created, be sure to tick the box for the Technology Package, which includes the self-driving features. BTW, gas being so cheap right now you may not care as much, but our RWD Q50 averaged 27 MPG on July’s long trip; this AWD version returned 25 MPG. Likes Quick, quiet, smooth Genuinely useful self-driving capability Looks like a coupe but has sedan space Dislikes Bewildering computer menus How many adjustments and options are too many? Digital-fidgetal steering Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at [email protected]. By Silvio Calabi More Content Now MailTribune.com By Silvio Calabi More Content Now Posted Dec. 29, 2014 @ 8:31 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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