Posts tagged sport coupe

I’m too young to have ever met any of the original “grand touring” cars–those four-place two-doors made legendary by Ferrari, Aston Martin and Maserati in the 1960s.  I’ve never even sat in an Aston DB5 or a Ferrari Daytona.  Even so, I’m astute enough to recognize the concept when I see it, and the new Infiniti G37 is as powerful an embodiment of this respected market niche as anything available today.

The G37 certainly matches the description of a grand touring car:  it’s a longer, lower and wider four-seat, two-door coupe.  Add to that equation an ultra-responsive, great-sounding V6 engine with over 330 horsepower and a comfortable yet athletic suspension, and you just might have road-trip magic.  To check it out, we took the G37 on a quick, 2000-mile road trip.

You wouldn’t know to look at it, but the G37 is packing over 330 horsepower.  Like a proper grand tourer, it doesn’t shout its performance capabilities to the world like a muscle car.  Hidden beneath its smooth lines is a 3.7 liter V6–as if it weren’t evident by the name change, the G37 gets a larger engine than its four-door counterpart the G35 for the first time.  The 3.7 features Infiniti’s Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) system that changes valve timing and lift to improve performance and efficiency.  Power’s immediate; drop the pedal at almost any engine speed and the G37 responds eagerly.  Electronic throttle control only speeds the engine’s response.  On surface streets, the G37 rips off impressive zero-to-the-speed-limit times with ease; on the freeway, it’s a relaxed cruiser that’s ready to accelerate with an instant’s notice, and it sounds great too.  The G37 will roll with V8-powered cars easily, while beating their fuel economy numbers.  Like in its sedan counterpart, the 3.7′s power comes on with a steadily building rush, and it never feels wound up or wrung out even at high revs.  The six-speed manual transmission makes driving the G37 a heck of a lot of fun as well.  A paddle-shifter-equipped five-speed automatic is available, as is a launch-enhancing limited-slip rear differential.

The straight-line performance is there, and the G37 lives up to the grand-touring designation on twisty roads as well.  It’s too heavy to be an honest sports car, but with a double-wishbone suspension up front and a multi-link rear it was happy to demonstrate grin-inducing stability and grip on the on-ramps and backroads I found myself exploring. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) stability control is standard equipment, and a new, exclusive-to-Infiniti four-wheel active steering system is available.  This system can change the steering gear ratios and move the rear lower links to provide an additional measure of stability and responsiveness in the curves.  The controls strike an excellent balance between comfort and communication; this car is easy to drive all day.

It’s not a proper grand tourer if it won’t impress the folks waiting in line at your favorite resort, of course.  Here, the G37 doesn’t disappoint, with lines that look right at home parked next to any Jaguar or Lexus at two-thirds the price.  The catlike silhouette dips handsomely at both ends, looking at a glance like a hatchback, but the G37 has a proper trunk.  Angry-looking headlights are pulled back tight to the fenders, and large lower air intakes beneath an Infiniti family grille.  The Adaptive Front Lighting System, whose headlights turn with the front wheels, is available.  The G37 looks finished and polished.  The taillights are flush-mounted LED units, and large dual exhausts with air diffusers finish the rear end.  It’s aerodynamically correct too; when equipped with the optional rear spoiler, the G37 has zero lift at the rear.

The G37′s handsome interior layout avoids the sin of too much plastic and also avoids looking too much like a sports car.  Brushed aluminum is accented with polished trim on the dash and door panels, and the car feels modern and purposeful.  If you want to go old-school, wood trim is also available.  It’s not quite as inviting as it looks though, I had a hard time getting comfortable in the driver’s seat on my long drive, and the cabin is short on small-item space.  Travel necessities like maps, notepads and cell phone had to be piled in the passenger seat once the tiny console and door pockets filled up.  Once on the road, the G37′s excellent driving dynamics and Bose sound system made these things seem less significant, however.  Standard equipment includes Infiniti’s Intelligent Key with a pushbutton start.  The available Intelligent Cruise Control, Bluetooth connectivity, backup camera and navigation system make road-tripping that much more effortless.  The navigation system’s touch screen controls could be more intuitive, but overall the G37 is a pleasing travel companion.

Headroom in the back seat is less than optimal, but there is enough legroom for the G37 to be called a proper 2+2, and enough luggage space for it to really be a grand tourer.  In fact, the only thing keeping the G37 from true grand tourer status may be the price.  Unlike the Ferraris and Jaguars that have traditionally held the distinction, this slick Infiniti stickers for less than $50,000–considerably less, in fact.  Starting MSRP for the G37 is a comparatively reasonable $34,250, with the sportier 6MT manual transmission-equipped version coming in at $35,550.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2008 Infiniti G37 S
Length: 183.1 in.
Width: 71.8 in.
Height:     54.8 in.
Wheelbase:  112.2 in.
Curb weight:  3668 lb.
Cargo space:  7.4 cu.ft.
Base price:  $34,250
Engine:  3.7 liter DOHC 24-valve V6
Drivetrain: six-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower:  330 @ 7000
Torque:  270 @ 5200
Fuel capacity:  20.0 gal.
Est. mileage:  17/26