Thursday 22nd March 2007

Nissan’s new coupe

New Infiniti forms the basis of the next GTR.

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This sleek coupe is the new Infiniti G37, due to be unveiled at the New York Motor Show next April. For the first time, the Infiniti brand will be available officially in the UK when this car arrives in British showrooms in late 2008. And it’ll be in right hand drive form too.

The new G37

Powered by a 330bhp 3.7 litre V6, and with the option of four wheel drive, the G37 should feature plenty of technology such as four-wheel active steering and a host of electronic gadgets inside the cabin. Infiniti is Nissan’s equivalent to Toyota’s Lexus in Japan, and has been a huge success in the US in recent years. However, Infiniti has more of a sporting edge than its Japanese rival, and this car will be aimed squarely at rivals such as the BMW Three series coupe.

If the basic shape of this coupe looks familiar, then imagine it with a tougher stance and plenty of gaffer tape applied over some rough panel work - and think of the Nurburgring too. The G37 forms the basis of the next Skyline GTR, regularly seen thrashing around the Nordschleife as it nears a state of production readiness.

The sleek new Infiniti

The G37 won’t be the only new arrival from Infiniti. There’s also the G35 saloon version of this car, the FX45 SUV and a new, smaller SUV to challenge the likes of the BMW X3 and Lexus RX.

[heelantoe]

hmmm not bad.
Looks like the company car boys will have something else to choose from soon.....

[vladd]

This and the 350Z?

[chrisbr68]

This the same engine as the 350 then?

Looks like a lexus with sagaris headlights to me. I like the older nissans, but these new ones dont really do anything for me Im afraid

[Road_Terrorist]

vladd said:

This and the 350Z?

It's aiming at a different market to the 350Z, it's a bit more upmarket and luxury orientated.

[john_r]

Errrr.... is it just me that sees this as a complete copy? OK, so the wheels are different and the headlights / grill are very slightly different, and.... well that's it really?!

[TEKNOPUG]

Exactly what I first thought!!!

Doesn’t seem like much of a successor to the Skyline to me, but I await to be corrected.

[wadeski]

people dont read

its the BASE for the successor to teh skyline - which of course adds back the turbocharging, ATTESSA all-wheel-drive and fancy differentials etc

They also made "cooking" Skyline entry-level luxury cars in previous generations with smaller engines even than this.

This car wasnt sold in the UK, but its a mild facelift to a car that has been sold in the USA/Japan for 5 years or so. On the road it doesnt look much like the SC430 at all...

[collateral]

chrisbr68 said:

This the same engine as the 350 then?

Looks like the VQ motor just got even bigger. My family had a 3.0 Maxima, great car.

370z after this?

[cjm]

wadeski said:

This car wasnt sold in the UK, but its a mild facelift to a car that has been sold in the USA/Japan for 5 years or so. On the road it doesnt look much like the SC430 at all...

Here is one

www.pistonheads.com/sales/130592.htm

Edited by cjm on Thursday 22 March 18:09

[wushuhsu]

Wow! More horsepower than the Porsche Cayman and Cayman S. I was holding out for Porsche to come out with a more powerful Cayman S, but I might just buy the G37 instead. Looks sleek and has a bigger engine. I like it.

[rcarr]

TEKNOPUG said:

Doesn’t seem like much of a successor to the Skyline to me, but I await to be corrected.

Why not? Remember, the Skyline is not just the GTR, it comes in several different versions. Believe it or not there is a 4 door Skyline!

I like it! Alot!

[rcarr]

Infinity G35:



This was derived from the G35:



the R35 concept!

[scoobiewrx]

From the side view, A panel and back it looks like a Celica VVTi only this has a more rounded front end.

[havoc]

john_r said:

Errrr.... is it just me that sees this as a complete copy? OK, so the wheels are different and the headlights / grill are very slightly different, and.... well that's it really?!

Yes it is just you - look at the side profile and it's very different.

Design-wise it's a lot closer to the G35 (donor platform IIRC) and the 350Z, which is understandable. And I think it looks pretty good...damn sight better than the new 3-series coupe!

[qube_TA]

I have a friend with a Jap imported Nissan Skyline badged G35.

It's a nice car, very well spec'ed too, miles better than the nasty 350Z

[rob e]

think i saw these when i was in the states over christmas - it's a 350z with bells on if it is.

[Captain Beaky]

I had a short drive in a friend's G35 in the States recently. Good feel and nice revvy engine.

The "plus 2" in the rear is quite usable, only cramped for headroom for six foot plus. I'm five eleven and three quarters so I was OK .
The boot wouldn't take luggage for 4 but I wouldn't expect it to.

[edb49]

wushuhsu said:

Wow! More horsepower than the Porsche Cayman and Cayman S. I was holding out for Porsche to come out with a more powerful Cayman S, but I might just buy the G37 instead. Looks sleek and has a bigger engine. I like it.

More BHP and also a lot more KG

I would imagine the Cayman S will outperform this in a straight line, before we even talk about corners.

[havoc]

edb49 said:

wushuhsu said:

Wow! More horsepower than the Porsche Cayman and Cayman S. I was holding out for Porsche to come out with a more powerful Cayman S, but I might just buy the G37 instead. Looks sleek and has a bigger engine. I like it.

More BHP and also a lot more KG

I would imagine the Cayman S will outperform this in a straight line, before we even talk about corners.

But the Cayman S is:-
- A sports car not a mini-GT
- A 2-seater not a full-up 2+2
- Probably more expensive, once you've spec'd it up.

Depends what you're after, but I probably wouldn't be comparing the two...

[ingrowtn]

Powered by a 330bhp 3.7 litre V6, and with the option of four wheel drive, the G37 should feature plenty of technology such as four-wheel active steering and a host of electronic gadgets inside the cabin.

And £400 per year road tax!