Infiniti previewed its much anticipated and all-new 2011 M sedan this past Friday during the Monterey Car Week festivities — well, sort of. The car wasn't actually in attendance, but a true-to-scale clay model was.

You see, this was a "virtual" reveal. The model sat in a tent full of media and distinguished guests, while dynamic, computer-generated imagery painted the walls from top to bottom, transforming the space into a forest.

The significance of the whole thing didn't hit home until the imagery was suddenly beamed onto the clay model itself, turning the form into a 2011 Infiniti M - well, sort of.

Then, the forest transitioned into a moving road, on which the clay model "drove." Even the virtual wheels were spinning. It was quite a spectacle.

But enough about the fanfare.

While the special effects were dazzling for sure, details about the actual car were scarce. One thing we do know is that the new M appears to be quite a bit bigger than its predecessor, as seems to be the trend in all things automotive. Like previous models, the new M borrows heavily from the smaller G sedan - and as before, that's no bad thing.

Infiniti has taken a number of styling cues from its Essence Concept, unveiled this year at the Geneva Auto Show, to drive home the idea that this one is a dedicated sports sedan - oh, and the 5.6-liter V8, which pounds out "more than 400 horsepower," does so as well. Infiniti's stout 3.7-liter V6 will also be available. Regardless of which engine you choose, the company says you'll get more miles to the gallon than before.

In terms of technology, the M will be available with at least one industry first:Infiniti's latest take on blind-spot detection. It's called a blind-spot "intervention" system, as it will actually pilot the vehicle back into the center of the intended lane if it has veered off-course.

Inside, the new M is a very logical progression of the current Infiniti design language, which is to say it looks fantastic. If the Infiniti designers and engineers can get together and agree to the exact look we see in the concept photos, the company will have a class leader on its hands.

No information yet on pricing, but if the production car ends up looking anything like the virtual car we saw in the clay last night, you might consider holding onto your wallet until Infiniti releases the new M in the spring of 2010. In the meantime, stay tuned for the full test in the upcoming months.