Infinity G37: Change Your Driveway

Cliff Leppke

3 2,032 views Dec 31, 2009

Gee Force: Sleek coupe makes your house taller

Infinity upped the size of its midsize sports sedan and coupes VQ series V6 engine by .2 litersits now 3.7. Hence, their names change from G35 to G37. With variable valve timing and variable valve lift, horsepower is now 330.

Those numbers produce muscle-car moxie. Put that power in a shapely rear-drive coupe, slap an "S" badge on its rear, which also includes 19-inch wheels, racy Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires (the rear ones are 20 mm wider), a stiffer suspension and my testers six-speed manual transmission, and youve got a potent pavement prowler.

After youve mastered the G37's testy clutch engagement, youll discover a satisfying blend of sports car mechanicals and upper-crust mobility.

Mostly. The shift lever shakes like a 1974 Pintos and it steadfastly refuses reverse-gear engagement when cold. Warmed up, the short-throw sifter grabs gears. Pedal shape and placement invite entrepreneurial drivers. So does the cars grip, which proved elusive due to wintry road conditions that caused the vehicle dynamic control to tamp down power and prevent its rubber from going AWOL. When road conditions cooperate, youll discover well-weighted steering. Pushed hard, the cars nose drifts. Alloy four-piston front brake calipers clamp effectively.

This cars front bucket seat has electrically adjustable side bolsters. Ride quality is better than expected. Nonetheless, choppy Wisconsin pavement elicits stomach-churning bounces. Due to its sporting nature, the G37S tires wander following rutted roads.

And you better like driving; rear headroom is awfully tight. And the trunks lid will squash anything taller than Mustadar al-Zaidis empty shoebox.

Infinity bathes you in royal nighttime hues. The gauges, however, appear stolen from an aged Honda Civic. Likewise, some interior bits are sumptuously detailed, but offset by serviceable, low-rent pieces. The onboard navigation system is classy. Its designed for tactile or spoken activation. North Shore Infinitys Christopher Johnson provided a dazzling demonstration of its features. I changed my home icon from the two-story, green-roof default into a charming English cottage. Theres a castle for the nouveau riche. And it will bark like a dog, when you return home.

Should you entertain a long-term relationship, Infinity asks Gs--$37,000 for starters, $44,000 as equipped. EPA estimates: 17 mpg city and 25 highway. Observed: 19 mpg. In sum, the vibrant-red G37S is tempting.