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THE INFINITI G35 Reviewed by Colin Hefferon  The Infiniti G35 BMW finally meets its match. Infiniti has played catch-up with Lexus and the Big Three German brands right from the get-go. With the introduction of its new luxury sports sedan - the brilliant G35 - it is now in a position to become lead dog (Japanese Division), at least in this fast-growing, exceedingly competitive market segment. The G35 looks to be exactly the kind of car people shopping for a luxury sports sedan really want. It is more powerful, faster, roomier, has more standard features, and is far cheaper than any of its competitors. It may even have that most elusive of automotive characteristics, one generally found - on these shores anyway - only in cars boasting Teutonic genes. I'm speaking, of course, of soul. Six ace representatives of the Western Canadian automotive media corps were recently invited to Salt Spring Island just off the south coast of Vancouver, British Columbia for a "ride and drive" in the G35. This turned out to be one of the best such trips your reviewer has ever been on. Let me hit on a couple of the high points for you. We were flown over from Vancouver in an 18-passenger DeHavilland Twin Otter turboprop float plane. We took off from the Fraser River immediately south of Vancouver International Airport and, barely 20 minutes later, landed in Ganges Harbor on Salt Spring Island. My seat was behind the two pilots. The door to the flight deck remained open during the entire flight so I was able to watch both the altimeter and the speedometer. Our altitude during this flight: 600 ft; our average speed: about 135 knots. It was, without question, the most enjoyable commercial flight I've had in years. Perhaps ever. After we had touched down and taxied to the dock, we were picked up in a van and driven to Hastings House, which is just outside the town of Ganges. Hastings House is a member of the prestigious French-based hotel group, Relais & Chateaux. After checking in, we were given a 45-minute presentation on the G35 by Infiniti marketing representatives, and then handed a set of keys to a G35 and told to go play for a couple of hours on the island's all-but-deserted, very twisty, 2-lane roads. Cocktails were served at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm. The dinner was a 6-course prix fixe. I think dinner for two with a decent bottle of wine, taxes and tip would have to be the better part of $350. If you're thinking of trying out the Hastings House, rooms are around $350 as well. Of course, all of this was in Canadian dollars so the cost in USD probably wouldn't come to much more than about 25 bucks, what with the exchange rate these days. I've got working class roots and it pains me to say this, but I think it was worth every penny. The next morning - a glorious, warm and sunny one it was, too - we were each again tossed a set of keys and told to go out and have some more fun, but "be back by noon to catch the 1pm flight to Vancouver." I found a couple of very isolated stretches of twisty, dip-and-dive roads, and decided this was the place and time to test my personal machissmo index. The G35 handled so well it almost made me think I could actually drive - with the result that I made the stability control come on once or twice. The big problem with stability control is that you begin to rely on it to save your sorry ass and you tend to go into corners too deep and too fast before braking. The G35 comes with standard stability control for which I was, more than once, very grateful. Machissmo? I flunked. Anyway, it was a great ride-and-drive and it lasted just long enough to get a good feel for the G35. So what about the car? Infiniti's designers strove for a Euro look, but one which is different from its German competitors. They succeeded on both counts. Most importantly, the wind-cheating shape avoids traditional Japanese kitsch in its styling details. The G35 is very athletic-looking, with well-muscled shoulders sloping down from C-pillar in a manner somewhat evocative of the new Audi A4. The clean styling extends to the underside where race car-inspired airflow management contributes to reducing drag. Almost obsessive attention to detail makes the G35 very aerodynamic. This 4-door sedan boasts the second lowest coefficient-of-drag (0.27, or 0.26 with the Aero package) on any showroom car sold in North America. The G35 is longer and taller than the competition, which enables it to accommodate full-figured North Americans more easily than, say, the IS 300. As well, its pronounced front fenders make parking in tight spaces easier for spacially-challenged and/or new drivers. The design features a compact engine compartment and long wheelbase, with large wheels at the extreme four corners. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels with optional 215/55R17 large diameter tires fill up the wheel wells and complete the performance-sedan look. The engine is positioned behind the front wheels, which makes an ideal 52/48 weight distribution possible. The slight extra weight on the front wheels aids directional stability in normal driving: During hard acceleration, the weight shifts rearwards to 50/50. This great natural balance makes the (186.2 inches long and 68.9 inches wide) G35 feel surprisingly toss-able through the very tight and twisty corners that seem to come up real quick on small islands like Salt Spring. Standard traction control system (TCS) and vehicle dynamic (stability) control (VDC) makes it easier for the average driver (and those who mistakenly think they're better than average) to keep this car between the lampposts during spirited driving or on slippery roads. The ultra-sophisticated multi-link suspension has mostly aluminum components. The aluminum parts reduce unsprung weight; this also contributes to the excellent handling. Massive 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Electronic Brake Control, and Brake Assist, haul down the 3360 lb G35 in best-in-class distance. It comes with one engine choice only - the superb Nissan-designed DOHC, 24 valve, 3.5 liter V-6 engine, which, for eight years running, Ward's Auto World has named as one of the best engines in the world. In the G35, it comes with aluminum block, aluminum heads, continuous variable valve timing and drive-by-wire throttle control. It develops 260 hp @ 6000 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque @ 4000 rpm. These numbers are far and away best in class. 0-to-60 mph (100km/h) is in the 6.5 sec. range. Fuel economy ratings are 19/26 mpg, or 12.4 l/100km (city) and 8.4 l/100km (hwy), which is not all that bad considering the power available. An all-aluminum 5-speed manual-automatic with lock-up torque converter comes standard. We were told a 6-speed manual shifter will be available late in 2002. A new control logic in the automatic transmission produces smooth, very quick shifts. The G35 is a comfortable place to spend time. When the steering wheel is tilted, the instrument gauge cluster also tilts, so no gauges are obscured. The supportive front seats offer 8-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way for the passenger. Controls are mounted on the inside bolster of the seat. The driver can also adjust the passenger’s seat position. More convenient? Maybe. While the G35 is significantly longer than its three competitors from Germany, and the IS 300, all of this extra length did not end up as useable cabin space. Rear seat legroom is very good, but could be a bit tight for four full-size adults, particularly if both front seat passengers insist on exercising their inalienable right to extend the seats fully. However, there will be plenty of head room for 6-footers in the rear seats. They're also set high enough so passengers can easily see over the front headrests. Incidentally, rear seats that recline come with the optional Premium package. The last time I saw this feature on a car in this price category was in the first-generation Passat. Leather seats and soft leather steering wheel are standard, as are lots of convenient storage spaces for both front and rear seat occupants. Dual HVAC controls with rear A/C vents are included. Although trunk space is adequate, it will be a very tight squeeze if you and two of your passengers insist on traveling with your official PGA tournament bags. More to the point, the somewhat small trunk opening and fairly high liftover make this trunk less than convenient for carrying large objects, or enough grocery bags to fodder a growing family of four for more than a week. But, hey, this car is not really designed for families. Its primary market is affluent singles, and couples with no kids. So while there's a pass-through for skis, for example, the rear seats won't fold down. On the other hand, small families where Dad (or Mom) is an enthusiast driver might find the G35 to be the answer to their prayers. And if the kids get restless, a fabulous 200-watt Bose sound system with in-dash 6-CD changer and wheel-mounted controls is standard. The G35 is very important to Nissan. It is the second of a new generation of European-styled rear-wheel-drive automobiles to be marketed under the upscale Infiniti brand; last year's luxury Q45 led the way. The G35 is the first Infiniti model to be based on the race-bred FM (for "front midship") platform. Extremely flexible, this platform can be widened, shortened, or lengthened as needed to suit a desired body style. It will be shortened and widened, for example, to underpin the upcoming G35 Coupe, and the 350Z sports car; and lengthened and widened for next year’s FX 45, which is Infiniti’s new V8-powered AWD sport utility vehicle. The G35 with the Premium package is expected to be a sales favorite. It has everything you would need, or want, in a luxury sports sedan, including power sunroof, dual-zone air conditioning, rear a/c vents, power memory driver’s seat, power passenger seat, reclining rear seats, adjustable rear seat headrests, one touch up/down rear windows, that Bose sound system with in-dash 6-CD changer, and more. About the only jarring note is the absence of hood struts. Perhaps Infiniti thought there was no need since the hood is made of lightweight aluminum. Regardless, a car in this price bracket needs hood struts. Right? An Aero package with spoiler is available as a relatively low-cost option. The aerodynamic wing actually helps to reduce drag and keep the rear wheels planted. This package also includes 5-spoke alloy wheels (6-spoke wheels are standard), and 25% stiffer suspension. You probably won’t need any of this but you might like the look. The Aero package and the very advanced (and somewhat pricey) DVD-based Infiniti satellite navigation system with color screen are available as add-ons to the Premium package. All G35's come with front, side, and side-curtain air bags; front seat belt pretensioners with load limiters; and active front seat headrests. Official crash test data were not available at the time of writing. Excellent overall performance and handling makes the G35 a credible alternative, both to the leading German marques and the Lexus IS 300. You get great performance and brilliant design, as well as virtually every safety and luxury feature you could imagine, including traction and stability control, xenon headlights, and reclining rear seats, all in an exceptionally roomy cabin with genuine wood trim. But what really sets the G35 apart from the competition is you get all this for less - no, for a heck of lot less - than you'd pay for a comparably equipped Lexus IS 300, and remember, the IS 300 is the least expensive of the G35's competitors. More go, less dough. Photos © Infiniti Vancouver-based Colin Hefferon regularly tests and reviews new vehicles. Though an automotive enthusiast by nature, Colin takes the perspective of the average car owner. Which, after all, is most of us! Colin Hefferon is the road test editor for About Cars where more of his car reviews may be found. |
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