‘BLENDING SPORT AND LUXURY FOR THE PERFECT MIXTURE’

The new 2012 Infiniti G37S sport sedan is the perfect mixture of high-performance driving pleasure with just the right amount of luxury to satisfy any upscale consumer.

Start with a very unique body style, a high-output V6 engine, short-throw six-speed manual or a new seven-speed automatic, sport-tuned double-wishbone independent suspension, sport-tuned steering, and big, strong four-wheel disc brakes that will keep any enthusiast happy.  Mix in just the right amount of luxury, technology and infotainment in the cabin and you have a great sedan that is priced right, just $40,600.00 as I tested it with the technology package.

G37S sedan has a very unique and striking exterior design with its long, wave-like hood, raked A-pillars and athletic stance projecting a balance of power and grace that is suggestive of the performance potential within.  The front of the G37S is highlighted by its iconic headlight and chrome grille design, which offer a crisp form and high quality feel.  Standard fog lights are located in the lower fascia, where they help provide an upscale and distinctive appearance.  The G37S comes standard with HID, bi-functional xenon headlamps.  The silhouette offers a wedged roofline and a sweeping bodyside character line and deep lower side sills that emphasizes both the rich shoulder surfaces and the G37S’s rear-wheel drive configuration.   In the rear the refined evolutional L-shaped LED taillights express the G37S’s heritage and the Infiniti design identity.  The trunk lid is accented by an integrated chrome spoiler, while prominent dual exhaust outlets complete the sporty appearance.

The G37S offers a crafted environment with a long list of standard and luxury features, such as standard leather-appointed 12-way power driver and 8-way power front passenger sport bucket seats that are deeply cut to keep you and your front passenger snug during spirited driving times.  The ‘Shodo’ aluminum trim is inspired by a style of Japanese calligraphy.  The standard audiophile-quality Infiniti Studio on Wheels by Bose premium audio system, which combines Bose’s 3-way speakers using 10 in. subwoofers in the front doors with a parcel shelf-mounted subwoofer in the rear.  The instrument panel offers a predominately while color scheme for the gauge and LCD instrument display, enhancing both legibility and cohesiveness of design.  In keeping with tradition, a refined analog clock is standard.  The interior also continues to provide an unmatched harmony between the dedicated driver’s cockpit and comfortable passenger space-and between modern technology and traditional Japanese design cues.  The result is a ‘modern warmth’ that is unique in the luxury sport sedan segment.  The driver’s area has a simple, intuitive layout with easy-to-read electroluminescent gauges.  A center information display, located between the tachometer and speedometer, conveys updates from the drive computer (average fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel economy, average speed, elapsed time, running distance, distance to empty, outside temperature, warning displays, and odometer).

Also coming standard in the G37S sedan is the Infiniti Navigation System that includes a high-resolution display screen, along with XM NavTraffic, Real-Time Traffic Information, the navigation system includes NavWeather with Real-time Weather and 3-day forecast.  Streaming Audio via Bluetooth and Zagat Restaurant Guide.  The system also includes a touch screen and Voice Recognition, Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Start/Stop, standard 7 in. color display, standard XM satellite radio and Rearview camera monitor, Bluetooth hands-free phone system and Brake Assist with Preview Braking using the Intelligent Cruise Control. More standard equipment includes all express power windows, power door locks, self-dimming rearview mirror, power sliding sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control system, power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel that feels perfect in your hands, aluminum/rubber insert foot pedals, console with dual cupholders, storage and padded armrest above the storage bin, pull-down rear armrest with dual cupholders, rear pass-through, storage slots in each door, rain-sensing wipers/washers, Infiniti aluminum kick plates, dual map lights, grab handles above each door, map pockets behind the front seatbacks, front/rear floor mats, remote release for the trunk and fuel filler door, USB connection port for iPod interface and HomeLink Universal Transceiver.

These standard luxury, comfort and infotainment features are only part of the G37S’s story-the power, performance and handling prowess of the car is on-par with many more expensive vehicles in the segment.

Start with a potent all-aluminum, DOHC V6 engine with VVEL (variable valve event & lift) system that combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance and response as it pumps out 328 hp and 260 lb.ft. of torque.  The VVEL system also offers improved emissions and fuel efficiency over the non-VVEL designs.  The VVEL intake camshafts, featuring continuously variable lift control teamed with the continuously variable valve timing control system alloy for a 7,600 rpm redline.  The engine also features a rigid ladder frame construction, large crank journal and pin diameters, asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors, an electronically controlled ‘drive-by-wire’ throttle system, coated lightweight pistons, Iridium spark plugs and a symmetric twin intake system.  The specially tuned dual exhaust system features equal length exhaust manifolds and low muffler exhaust backpressure to help improve engine breathing.  Both intake and exhaust enhance driving please with their authentic performance sounds.

The G37S comes standard with the 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching, Drive Sport mode and ASC (Adaptive Shift Control) that allows for sportier shifts in performance driving conditions.  Solid magnesium paddle shifters are also part of the package.  My G37S sedan came with the smooth-shifting, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission that I really enjoyed using as I felt much more a part of the powertrain enabling me to quickly shift up or down by hand on the small, stubby leather-wrapped shift knob.  I would liked to have the opportunity to check out the automatic but maybe at a later date.  The G37S blasts out to 60 mph from a standstill in just 5.2 sec. with the six-speed manual, and gets an EPA estimated 17mpg/city and 25mpg/highway.

The G37S is equipped with the advanced FM platform, which locates the engine behind the front axle in the ‘Front Mid-Ship’ position.  The positioning of the engine provides good front-to-rear weight balance, while the combination of the long wheelbase, manageable overall length and wide front and rear tracks adds to the car’s overall handling prowess.  The suspension is a 4-wheel independent design with lightweight aluminum components and front and rear stabilizer bars, designed to provide nimble and natural feeling handling, as well as a controlled, refined ride.  The front double-wishbone suspension minimizes alignment changes through the use of a single pivot lower wishbone and a long upper link.  The rear multi-link suspension design separates the shock absorbers and springs, locating the shocks inline with the wheel center to help reduce suspension friction and reduce the wind-up motion of the axle on acceleration.  Putting the power down on the pavement is a standard viscous limited slip differential.

Steering the new G37S on the straights at high speed or when challenging steep curving roads is like you are behind the wheel of a racecar.  That is because of the sport-tuned suspension and a 14.7:1 sport-tuned steering gear that gives back an amazing feel for the road, razor sharp response and outstanding on-center feel.  Help to enhance your ability to stay out of trouble is the standard vehicle dynamic control that can also be turned off when you want to slide out of curves and burn some rubber.  Enhancing grip, and ensuring a smooth ride are large 18X8 in. lightweight, Enkei aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with Bridgestone 225/50R18 in. Potenza low-profile, high-performance tires.

Quickly slowing the new G37S down from speed are massive 4-wheel disc brakes. Up front are 14 in. vented discs clamped with four-piston calipers and 13.8 in. vented discs clamped with dual-piston calipers in the rear.

Standard safety features include front advanced airbags, driver/front passenger side-impact airbags, 3-point automatic locking retractor and emergency locking retractor seatbelts, pretensioners/load limiter up front, LATCH system for child seats, front-seat active head restraints, BA, EBD, ABS, Traction Control, tire pressure monitoring system, zone body construction, vehicle security system, vehicle immobilizer system and steel beams in each door.

The new 2012 Infiniti G37S luxury sport sedan offers the complete package for performance enthusiasts looking for the addition of luxury and safety while driving hard around challenging curving roads and at high speeds on the open road with the latest personal technology systems and advanced safety systems.

Copyright: 2012 Harvey Schwartz

SPECIFICATIONS

• Price: Base G37 Sedan $36,900 / As-Tested G37S Sedan $40,600
• Engine: 3.7-liter DOHC V6 328 horsepower @ 7000 rpm / 260 ft-lbs. torque @ 5200 rpm
• Wheelbase: 112.2 in.
• Total length: 187.9 in.
• Total width: 69.8 in.
• Total height: 57.2 in.
• Track: f/r-59.8/60.2 in.
• Coefficient of drag: 0.29
• Headroom: f/r-39.1/37.2 in.
• Legroom: f/r-43.9/34.7 in.
• EPA interior volume: 99 cu.ft.
• EPA trunk volume: 13.5 cu.ft.
• Curb weight: 3,785 lbs.
• 0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds