Yorkregion.com - Wheels - Infiniti's sleek sports coupe rivals the best from Europe
Infiniti's sleek sports coupe rivals the best from Europe
The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe has a more powerful engine, improved ride and handling, but retains the same, sleek appearance that made the previous G35 Coupe so popular. Note the grille that incorporates the now signature Samurai sword-like blades.
Wheels
Dec 21, 2007 01:38 PM
2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe
By: Jim Robinson
The Infiniti G37 Coupe for 2008 is the logical next step for the car that changed the way people think about Infiniti. Before the G, Infiniti was struggling with cars that were missing the mark like the J30 and Q45. In fact, just five years ago the QX4 SUV, which was really a gussied-up Nissan Pathfinder, was responsible for 60 per cent of total Infiniti sales in Canada.
That all changed with a bevy of new models like the M-Series and of course, the G35 coupe and sedan.
There was commonality between the G35 and Nissan 350Z but they looked and drove like two very separate vehicles. And that was the trick. Nissan/Infiniti grabbed that automotive brass ring of knowing how to put the same parts together to make separate automobiles with distinct personalities.
People loved the tightness of the chassis and resulting precise steering and handling. Powered by a version of Nissan/Infiniti's ubiquitous V6, the G35 also had a delightful burbling rasp from the exhaust that added much to the overall impression of the car.
The 2008 Infiniti G37 loses none of the things that made the G35 Coupe so loved, but a lot of development has gone on under the skin.
Among the key enhancements to the new second-generation G Coupe is a more powerful 3.7-litre, V6 engine, available advanced Four-Wheel Active Steer system, a changed exterior design as well as a new interior that includes the now signature double wave instrument panel design.
The interior is more like a cockpit with each seat visually partitioned off by the "double wave" the dips down in the centre to the secondary control stack. Not lost on the instrument panel is the Infiniti-signature analog clock. Special aluminum-alloy interior trim, inspired by elegant, handmade Japanese Washi paper, is placed across the instrument panel, on the centre console and on the door panels.
Although the G37 is actually small on the outside, the interior is bigger than one might expect. I like to drive with the seat fully back and upright. The upright part makes some coupes uncomfortable for me to drive, but not the G37.
The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is available in three models: the G37 Coupe ($47,350 as tested), G37 Coupe with Sport Package ($49,950) and G37 Coupe Sport M6 (also $49,950).
In addition to the long list of standard features on all three models, several options and packages are also available.
Leading the enhancements to the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is the first-ever application of the uprated 3.7-litre V6 engine with VVEL (for Variable Valve Event and Lift). At 330 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque, this new "VQ37VHR" contains approximately 35 per cent new and unique parts from the VQ35HR engine introduced in the 2007 G35 Sedan just last year.
A new, specially tuned dual exhaust system has been designed with equal length exhaust manifolds and low muffler exhaust backpressure to help improve engine breathing. Both intake and exhaust enhance driving experience with their throaty performance notes.
Fuel consumption for the automatic transmission is 11.9 L/100 kms (city); 8.1 L/100 kms (highway), 10.1 L/100 kms (combined). Fuel economy numbers for the manual transmission are 12.0 L/100 kms (city), 7.8 L/100 kms (highway) and also 10.1 L/100 kms (combined).
The G37 Coupe's four-wheel independent suspension design has been extensively rethought and uses lightweight aluminum components and large front and rear stabilizer bars along with increased spring rates and optimized suspension damping.
At the front, the suspension is a double-wishbone design, with a single pivot lower wishbone and a long upper link. The multi-link rear suspension separates the shock absorbers and springs, locating the shock absorber inline with the wheel centre. These designs help minimize alignment changes and reduce suspension friction for adroit handling and smooth riding characteristics.
You experience this best in an urban setting. One expects the G37 to have the same kind of tight feeling as a premium European sports sedan. But when it comes to dodging all the things a downtown core can throw at you, the ability to (a) see what's going on, (b) make your signal and (c) slip into the flow of traffic is one of areas where the G37 really does that job.
Key to this is the steering.
Infiniti uses what it calls the "twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensing design", that can give the best weight and feel to the driver at both high and low vehicle speeds.
Standard on all G37 Coupes is Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), which assists in enhancing vehicle stability under a variety of driving conditions.
Not fitted to my tester, but available on the new G37 Coupe, is Infiniti's Four-Wheel Active Steer system (4WAS). With unique chassis configuration that features automatically variable front steering ratios and rear suspension geometry that adjusts to steering input and vehicle speed via motor-driven controls, the G37, I was told by those who have driven it, provides a level of cornering that has to be experienced to be believed.
Braking performance is provided by standard four-wheel vented discs with four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).
Visually, the car makes the impact it does because Infiniti chose not to have unnecessary character lines to lead the eye or add-ons like rub strips. Instead the flanks are clean and taut. In silver, especially, it's like the body of a shark.
First seen on the G35 sedan is the use of the now signature Infiniti grille with horizontal bars with a curve that is supposed to invoke the mind-picture of a Japanese Samurai sword.
The body, the ride and handling and the interior come together in a package that that has that feel of everything being one solid piece.
With a price that makes it attractive to those thinking BMW or Audi and with the same caliber performance and creature comforts, the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is certainly worth a test drive.
INFINITI G37 COUPE 2008 AT A GLANCE
BODY STYLE: Luxury sports sedan.
DRIVE METHOD: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive.
ENGINE: 3.7-litre, DOHC V6 (330 hp, 270 lb/ft)
FUEL ECONOMY: G37 Coupe as tested, 11.9L/100 km (24 mpg) city, 8.1L/100 km (35 mpg) highway.
PRICE: $47,350, as tested $49,000 with $1,650 shipping fee.
WEBSITE: infiniti.ca