• 
• 
• --Select Make-- AcuraAston MartinAudiBentleyBMWBuickCadillacChevroletChryslerDodgeFerrariFordGMCHondaHUMMERHyundaiInfinitiIsuzuJaguarJeepKiaLamborghiniLand RoverLexusLincolnLotusMaseratiMaybachMazdaMercedes-BenzMercuryMINIMitsubishiNissanPontiacPorscheRolls-RoyceSaabSaturnScionSmartSubaruSuzukiTeslaToyotaVolkswagenVolvo
• 
• Home
• 
• New Cars
• 
• Used Cars
• 
• Car Dealers
• 
• Buying Guides
• 
• Research
• 
• Community
• 
• 
• 

Infiniti G37 Coupe

The 2009 Infiniti G37 is certainly a sporty supercharged coupe. But is it worth the price when it has very stiff competition at Audi, BMW, Lexus, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and even Hyundai’s 2010 all-new Genesis Coupe?

Yes and no.

I pondered my wishy-washy answer on last night’s drive down curvy Pacific Coast Highway to the cozy Inn at Laguna Beach. On that almost meditative ride in the 2009 Infiniti G37, I was super impressed with the G37’s tight suspension and overall excellent driving dynamics.

But still, I felt like comparing the 2009 Infiniti G37 to other sport coupes such as the 2009 Audi S5 and BMW 3 Series is sort of like comparing the lovely, yet affordable Inn at Laguna Beach to the five-star Montage Laguna Beach Resort just down the street.

Yeah, the Inn at Laguna has great views, nice rooms and a lovely continental breakfast, but does it compare to the all-out luxury at The Montage? Some would be content with the 2009 Infiniti G37, which is a very capable sport coupe and price right at a base MSRP of just $37,000. But others would argue, if you are in the market for a performance-based sports coupe, why not get the very best?

I’m sure some auto journalists are cringing over my impressions as both the 2008 and 2009 Infiniti G37 models were given much acclaim by these experts. However, I know what it feels like to drive really exciting cars. And, unfortunately, the G37 didn’t rev my engine as much as I had hoped.

2009 Infiniti G37 Exterior

Infiniti describes the exterior styling of the 2009 Infiniti G37 as “highly seductive.” I tend to agree. This sports coupe has rather sexy, smooth and even curvy lines. The “wave-style” hood is definitely handsome and expressive. Overall, the 2009 Infiniti G37 has a truly refined look for those who don’t want to scream, “Look, I’m a supercharged sports car, man!” The 2009 Infiniti G37 owner is definitely more subtle and more sophisticated.

2009 Infiniti G37 Interior

Inside, the 2009 Infiniti G37 shines with its overall good design. The black leather, black textured plastics and burnished chrome accents were certainly designed with a man in mind, but the cockpit can still appeal to women drivers as well.

Instrument gauges are sporty and easily viewed through the steering wheel. Speaking of the steering wheel, I was highly pleased with the automatic tilt and telescoping wheel. Loved it!

The central dash and console in the 2009 Infiniti G37 is a study in minimalism. The dash holds a rather large screen and well-placed buttons for information, audio and navigation controls. Going further down, there’s a clock, climate controls and then a flip-top niche, which fit my Palm Treo 800n perfectly.

My right hand rested neatly on the leather-wrapped stick shift while my right elbow was happy hanging out on the arm rest, which also serves as a storage compartment. The central console also holds two cup holders.

The curvy lines of burnished chrome sweep right into the door design. This “swooshing” effect adds an even sportier feel to the 2009 Infiniti G37 interior.

Most sport coupes aren’t suited for more than one passenger as the back seat is way too cramped and usually ends up being more of a storage area than a passenger compartment. My family found the back seat is rather tight, but not overly so. In fact, I loved how Infiniti built a button right into the passenger seat so the driver can adjust the passenger seat at will for back seat passengers. Brilliant, Infiniti!

On our overnight trip to the Inn at Laguna, we found cargo space in the 2009 Infiniti G37 to be utterly lacking. I fit two carry-on bags and one grocery bag into this tiny trunk, but that’s all.

2009 Infiniti G37 Performance

The 2009 Infiniti G37 is definitely a performance car with its 3.7 liter V6 engine. With 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, you’d think I’d be super excited about this award-winning engine. Somehow, however, I was disappointed.

First off, my road test model of the 2009 Infiniti G37 came with a manual transmission. I’ve driven lots of manual transmission cars on my road tests and I know what feels truly thrilling to drive. Yes, the 2009 Infiniti G37 is certainly fun to drive, but did I get butterflies in my stomach every time I sat in the driver’s seat? Unfortunately, no.

Infiniti says the G37’s engine features Infiniti’s trademark “swell” acceleration. It’s a special tuning feature that “builds horsepower almost continually to the redline like building a wave.” What? I didn’t feel that at all.

What I did feel was a very heavy car out the block into first and second gears. At higher gears, I did feel the power of this racing beast under my feet, but it still didn’t thrill as much as Audi’s incredibly powerful A5.

I definitely felt the 2009 Infiniti G37’s new Advanced Total Traction Engineering System (ATTESA). This “active torque distribution management system” did give the car killer traction and maneuverability. My 2009 Infiniti G37 Sport 6MT road test model also featured sport suspension with “viscous limited slip differential.”

Braking on the 2009 Infiniti G37 was also top notch as my test model included anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.

2009 Infiniti G37 Safety

The two-door 2009 Infiniti G37 coupe has not yet been rated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. However, the four-door version of the 2009 Infiniti G37 earned the NHTSA’s top marks with five stars in all crash test categories.

2009 Infiniti G37 Trim Levels & Options

The 2009 Infiniti G37 comes in four trim levels: base, Journey, G37x and Sport 6MT. Standard features on the base model include xenon headlights, automatic climate control, keyless ignition, 17-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories and front seats, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, leather upholstery, six-speaker audio system with CD/MP3 player/satellite radio/auxiliary audio jack.

The G37 Journey trim level adds dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights, power seat adjustments on the passenger seat and a six-CD changer.

The G37x is an all-wheel-drive model and also features heated outside mirrors and heated front seats.

The top-of-the-line Sport 6MT version adds lots of performance features, including a six-speed manual transmission. The Sport 6MT also comes standard with sporty interior and exterior treatments, 18-inch wheels, high-performance tires, limited slip rear differential, sport-tuned suspension, a brake upgrade and sporty seats with torso and thigh support.

Options abound on all trim levels except for the base G37 model, which comes with no options whatsoever. The “premium package” features a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, moon roof, driver memory seat settings, Bluetooth connectivity, 11-speaker Bose audio system and iPod jack. Only those who buy the premium package can then add the “navigation package,” which includes touchscreen navigation with real-time traffic, voice-activated controls, rear view camera and 9GB music server. The “technology package” can also be added to the “premium package” and includes adaptive headlights and adaptive cruise control. Other opt-in features on the 2009 Infiniti G37 are interior wood trim, a rear spoiler and four-wheel active steering.

Is the 2009 Infiniti G37 a reasonably-priced supercharged performance coupe? Yes. Does it thrill as much to drive as most auto experts have reported? I’m not so sure.

Sheryll Alexander is a lifestyles writer based in Costa Mesa, Calif. Follow me! @sheryllalexande

After a rough falling out in the early 1980s, convertibles have once again hit their full stride in the last decade as more automakers introduce topless models. One aspect that has brought forth the resurgent popularity of modern convertibles is that they still offer top-down enjoyment but without the noisy cabins while driving with the top up and weak chassis designs that lead to poor handling. Looking ahead to the future of convertibles, we decided to check out a few of the new drop tops coming out this year and some others that may be in the near future.

With temperatures rising and summer right around the corner, most of the 2010 model convertibles will be hitting showrooms in the next month or two. One of the hottest convertible markets this year is by far the entry-level luxury segment. The Audi A5, Infiniti G37 and Lexus IS will all offer open air driving when the convertible models launch. While the Infiniti and Lexus will offer trendy retractable hard tops, Audi’s A5 Cabriolet will stick with the more conventional soft top in an attempt to keep the added weight to a minimum. According to the automakers, the Lexus IS C is set to go on sale this month and the Infiniti G37 Convertible will launch in “mid 2009,” but no official sale date has been announced for the Audi A5 Cabriolet. Audi and Infiniti haven’t released pricing for their models yet, but the Lexus IS C will start at $38,490.

For enthusiasts looking for a sportier experience from their convertible, BMW and Nissan are also introducing new roadsters this year. Replacing the soft lines of the previous model, the 2010 BMW Z4 features a much more aggressive design and adds the coupe benefit of a retractable hardtop. Nissan’s two-seater is also brand new for 2010 and packs a more powerful punch courtesy of the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster. Following the launch of the 370Z Coupe for 2009, the roadster offers the same 332 horsepower V-6 and stunning handling capabilities, but replaces the blind-spot prone roof with a retractable soft top. The new BMW Z4 is already on sale starting at $45,750, while the 370Z Roadster will go on sale this summer starting around in the mid to upper $30,000 range.

Of course, when talking about performance convertibles, the Ford Mustang (pictured left) is probably one of the most recognizable cars on the market. As expected, the redesigned 2010 Ford Mustang will also offer its requisite drop top model coming in anything from a base V-6 offering up to the monstrous Shelby GT500 Convertible. The latter produces 540 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque courtesy of a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 engine. The 2010 Ford Mustang convertible is already on dealer showrooms now with base prices starting at $25,995.

Looking a bit further into the future, more performance drop tops will be introduced including an open-air version of the Audi R8 supercar and an iconic, legendary Mustang competitor, the Chevrolet Camaro convertible (concept pictured below). The Audi R8 Spyder is expected to debut sometime next year as a 2011 model, but it isn’t clear how the car’s sleek design will be affected. The signature sideblades and glass engine hatch will have to be significantly redesigned to accommodate the loss of the aluminum roof panel. Likewise, not many details have been released about the upcoming Camaro convertible, but it will probably join the lineup as a 2011 model as well. The 2011 Chevy Camaro convertible will come in all current Camaro configurations including the 304-horsepower base V-6 model and the 426-horsepower Camaro SS. Unfortunately, a convertible version of the Dodge Challenger isn’t expected to make it to production to compete against either the future Camaro convertible or 2010 Mustang convertible.

Customers who are looking for high levels of performance and luxury, though, should wait to check out the E-Class convertible that is expected to launch next year. Mercedes-Benz plans to replace the entire CLK-Class with E-Class offerings including both the coupe and convertible. The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class recently launched as a 2010 model in both sedan and coupe form, so the convertible would most likely be a 2011 model offering the same engine choices as the coupe. Like the current CLK-Class, the E-Class convertible will be offered with a soft top, but it could also be offered with a retractable hardtop as well – a la the current generation Chrysler Sebring.

Another Chrysler product, the Jeep Wrangler, currently stands as the only sport utility vehicle available as a convertible, but recent speculations have indicated that Nissan may be planning a two-door convertible version of its Murano crossover. With the demise of soft-top SUVs like the Isuzu Amigo and Suzuki Sidekick, a drop-top Murano could find itself a good niche of customers looking at regular crossovers that don’t necessarily want to step up to the rugged off-road abilities and rough ride of the Jeep Wrangler.