First Drive: 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe
One look at the "G37" badge on the trunklid of Infiniti's new sport coupe, and it's evident there's something bigger and better at play here. Not that its predecessor, the G35 coupe, was in desperate need of becoming bigger or better. With a 293-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, a stout front-mid (FM) platform, and sheetmetal so arousing you can throw away the Viagra, the G35 coupe wasn't only a standout player in its segment but also a huge hit for Infiniti. In fact, since it arrived for the 2003 model year, the G coupe has averaged annual sales of nearly 26,000, numbers that account for nearly 40 percent of all G sales. And with just over 20,000 sold in 2006, Infiniti moved more G coupes than BMW did 3 Series coupes (slightly under 15,000, not including convertibles). Who says coupes are dead?
So it's no surprise that following such smashing success, not to mention BMW's recent introduction of the twin-turbocharged, 300-horsepower E92 335i coupe, Infiniti would roll out a fresh two-door of its own, aiming to keep that hot streak hot and BMW on ice. To do so, Infiniti has remodeled the G Coupe's interior, tweaked the chassis, and enhanced the styling. And, lest we forget, it dropped a new V-6 underhood with 37 more horsepower. Bigger and better? Why not?
Offering an advanced peek at the G37, Infiniti invited us out to its Arizona Test Center, a 3050-acre oasis of sand, dirt, farms, and, most important, pavement in Stanfield, about 50 miles south of Phoenix. ATC features a 5.7-mile high-speed oval and four road courses, where we were allowed a handful of laps on the oval and one of the courses, just enough to get a feel for the new G. But before we delve into our initial impressions, some pertinent background info.
As its name suggests, the G37 is motivated by a new 3.7-liter VQ-series V-6 that delivers 330 horses and 270 pound-feet of torque. Compared with the 306-horse, 3.5-liter, 268-pound-foot V-6 in the second-gen G sedan, the 3.7 utilizes the same 95.5mm bore but features a longer 86.0mm stroke (versus 81.4 mm), a higher-compression ratio (11.0:1 versus 10.6:1), and roughly 35-percent unique parts. The "VHR" components denote Infiniti's innovative Variable Valve Event and Lift technology and the 3.7's "high-revolution" capability, i.e., a redline of 7500 rpm. According to Infiniti, VVEL, which continuously varies the timing and lift of the intake valves, provides more power and torque throughout the powerband as well as improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. This vigorous VQ will no doubt find its way into such other Infiniti products as the FX sport/ute and the M and G sedans, not to mention the next Nissan Z and the upcoming Skyline GT-R.
