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Last week, I was impressed with the lowly Chevy Cobalt’s new USB input and interface for MP3 players. This week, I was reminded just how well other companies manage similar tasks. Now, there’s a big difference between a $17,000 Cobalt and a $44,000 Infiniti G37 coupe — well more than one big difference — but the interface in the G37 has been around for a few years not only in the Infiniti lineup, but in a few Nissans, too. And it is really a terrific way to play your music.
Infiniti’s G sedan has had the BMW 3 Series in its crosshairs for some time now. Over the years, the model has evolved, adding a convertible and a more powerful engine to the sedan for 2009.
Does the G37xS have what it takes to tackle not only its competition, but also adverse conditions? Cars.com resident expert Joe Wiesenfelder just got done sloshing a new G37xS all-wheel-drive sedan through Chicago’s snowy roads, so read his full review to find out.
This week, senior editors Joe Wiesenfelder and David Thomas discuss how recent additions to our fleet handled winter weather. Check out what they have to say about the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2010 Ford Fusion, 2009 Infiniti G37x and others.
You can get the podcast on iTunes here, or listen to it in a browser here.
Nissan recently announced that it will not attend this year’s Detroit or Chicago auto shows. The news wouldn’t come as a shock if it were just Nissan canning the usual media conferences and presentations, like GM and Chrysler did at the L.A. auto show, especially given Nissan doesn’t have any new products to reveal. However, an Infiniti spokesman confirmed with us that Nissan and Infiniti will be completely missing from the shows’ public days as well; no Nissan or Infiniti products will be on the show floor.
So to those Nissan fans who plan to attend the Chicago and Detroit shows during public days this January and February: You’re out of luck. If you want to see Nissan’s newest offerings, like the 2009 Nissan 370Z sports car, Nissan Cube subcompact and Infiniti G37 convertible, you better head to a dealership. Those cars are expected to go on sale soon enough (370Z by January; Cube and G37 convertible by spring) but the major advantage of car shows is poking around without the pressure of a salesperson in your buffer zone.
Infiniti’s G series of entry-level luxury cars with a sport enthusiast bent has just gotten bigger. Besides a sedan and coupe, Infiniti now has a retractable hardtop to put up against the competition.
Like other G37s, the convertible features Infiniti’s superb 3.7-liter V-6 engine producing 325 hp. It’s teamed to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic transmission. We’re big fans of the manual in other applications and are glad Infiniti is offering it in this model. Automakers often feel that convertible drivers won’t want to shift their own gears. This may be a big advantage for the G37.
Another advantage is the G37’s looks. While Infiniti says it looks good with the top up or down, in our mind it looks superb without its top and merely above average with it up. The company also has an optional custom-designed Bose sound system that takes wind noise and speed into account to control the volume.
There are two trim levels: the base G37 convertible and the G37S convertible Sport 6MT. The Sport model features the six-speed manual transmission, 19-inch wheels, larger brakes and a sport-tuned suspension. More photos below.
Last year, Infiniti’s Limited Engagement Winter Event offered some standard 0% financing deals throughout December. This year, Infiniti is reprising the deals, but doing so a month early. It’s offering 0% financing for 36 months on all remaining 2008 models.
Deals on 2008 models aren’t quite as beneficial for models like the FX and G35, both of which were redesigned significantly for the 2009 year, but on the EX — which was brand-new for 2008 and changed very little this year — a 0% deal on a 2008 is nearly as good as on a 2009.
For a full list of regional incentives, check out Cars.com’s Incentives Page.
Dealers will have the latest G sedan and coupe on the morning after the presidential election, Nov. 5. We don’t know if it’s intentional or not, but if you’re feeling good about who won the presidency, why not consider the upgraded version of the already quite worthy G starting at $33,250, not including destination charges.
The biggest change comes to the sedan; it gets a 3.7-liter V-6 with 328 horsepower, which was featured in the 2008 coupe. Both get an upgrade on the transmission front, adapting the smooth seven-speed that we enjoyed in the new FX35 SUV.
The sedan continues to offer an all-wheel-drive model while the coupe gets all-wheel drive for the first time. Full pricing is below; both models start at $1,000 higher than last year. For the sedan, the price bump is really minimal, but many might wonder if the coupe’s new transmission is worth the cost.
We told you about the new lineup of G37s last week, but this is the first look we’ve gotten at the new convertible to hit Infiniti. While the sedan and coupe will look basically the same as the 2009 models, the convertible seen here is completely new.
While most of the competition, like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4, look good as convertibles, we’d almost say the G37 looks better as a convertible. With just one image to ponder we can’t say for sure, but we do know this: We want to see more.
Expect more images in the next few weeks.
The 3.7-liter engine that breathes life into Infiniti’s G37 coupe will now power both the existing G sedan and an all-new retractable-hardtop convertible for the 2009 model year. Both will also be called G37 (no more G35 sedan) and debut at this year’s Los Angeles auto show in November.
The engine is rated at 328 hp for the sedan and 330 hp for the coupe and will be mated to a new seven-speed automatic transmission that we recently tested in the new FX35. A six-speed manual transmission will also be available.
The naming change for the sedan was expected, but — while it was rumored — the convertible is much bigger news for Infiniti. Besides the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 Cabriolet, there aren’t a lot of performance-oriented luxury droptops on the market, and there are certainly none from Acura or Lexus — and no, the SC does not count.
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