First Look: 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible

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.

2009 G37 Sedan, Convertible to Debut in L.A.

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.

2008 Infiniti G37: Friday Night Fun, Monday Morning Nightmare

On a Friday night during my week test-driving the Infiniti G37s coupe, I honestly thought about leaving the G in the driveway and taking my own car because I needed to carry more than one passenger; even though it’s a four-seater, the G37’s backseat isn’t exactly inviting. After a quick “is he gonna fit back there?” moment, we crammed one my buddies into the back because, honestly, would you want to leave a fresh G37 collecting dust in the driveway on a Friday night? I admit the 6-footer was a little crunched back there, but he didn’t think it was too uncomfortable for a 40-minute-each-way drive to a concert and back.

Really, even if it had been, rear-passenger comfort wasn’t exactly a high priority for me. First off, I didn’t have to sit back there, but more importantly the G37 is a 330-hp, rear-wheel drive sports coupe.

Infiniti Thinks G37 Will Look Good With its Top Off

Nissan, parent of luxury brand Infiniti, recently announced that it will debut a convertible version of the new Infiniti G37 coupe next year. Hoping to capitalize on the car’s brisk sales, which were up 80% in April, Nissan will roll out the convertible in February 2009.

The G37 coupe’s platform is related to the Nissan 350Z sports car, which also has a roadster version, making the G37 a natural choice to get a convertible variant. Cars.com reviewer Kelsey Mays called the 2008 G37 a "compelling alternative" to BMW's 3 Series.

Infiniti G37 to Drop Its Top (WardsAuto)

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Takes on Infiniti G37

Hyundai is charging relentlessly into new territories with its products. Witness the Veracruz, a three-row SUV that Hyundai regularly compares to the Lexus RX 350 (which, if a recent Motor Trend comparison is any indication, might not be such a wild notion). Earlier this year, the automaker said it set sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class as the benchmark for its new Genesis sedan, and now press materials for the 306-hp, V-6 Genesis coupe — rumored to be priced starting under $26,000 — tout the $35,000-plus Infiniti G37 as a possible competitor.

The comparison Hyundai made concerned performance capabilities, so we’ll have to wait until we drive one before we can deliver a final verdict. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, though; at last week’s New York auto show, I checked out the two cars back to back.

Mini, BMW, Infiniti Top Best Resale Value List

Our list of the cars, trucks and SUVs with the best resale value has just been updated, and a lot of familiar names top the list. When we break down resale values by segment, the Mini Cooper, Honda Accord, Infiniti G35/G37, BMW 5 Series and GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado top their respective segments.

When you take a look at the top 10 resale values overall, it’s the Infiniti G35/G37, Jeep Wrangler and BMW 3 Series taking the top three spots, knocking the Mini Cooper off its previous No. 1 perch.

Which cars rank lowest? The Mazda B2300, Ford Ranger and Suzuki Forenza top that dubious list.

Check out the full rankings below. 

Best Car Resale Values by Class
Best Overall Car Resale Values
Worst Overall Car Resale Values

Through Ian's Lens: 2008 Infiniti G37S

The new Infiniti G37S is a sport coupe that is as elegant as it is fast. The lines on this car are so sleek and speed-invoking that Infiniti has used a painted rendering of the car as a secondary logo. From grille to tail, the G37S body is designed to catch your eye; Infiniti has created a provocative body shape here. The over-extended, elongated headlight cases in the front and rear create visual bookends for the streamlined body, while twin tailpipes and a small spoiler add an aggressive stance. From the large, rounded grille and oversized badge in front all the way through the leather and metal of the interior to the flat, abrupt tail, the G37S visually embodies a balance of class and performance. The photos are below.

Navigation That Scores: Infiniti G35 Wins With Users

The navigation system offered in the Infiniti G35 is the highest-rated factory-installed system in terms of consumer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which surveyed more than 14,000 motorists who have a factory-installed system in their car.

The system in the Lexus IS 250/350 finished second, while the Acura TL’s was No. 3 in the rankings. The Infiniti G35 and Acura TL systems offer a choice of voice or touch-screen activation, while the Lexus offers voice activation only.

While voice activation is considered the most technologically advanced, it's not the method of choice for nav systems, said Mike Marshall, director of emerging automotive technologies for J.D. Power. He said touch-screen activation was the top choice for 64 percent of nav system users, while 24 percent preferred voice activation, 5 percent favored knob controls and 4 percent wanted to use buttons or dials.

2 Minute Faceoff: Infiniti G37 vs. BMW 335i

Before we start to tell you about the video above, we’re going to say right now (right now!) that we don’t want to hear any complaints out of you rascally commenters about us comparing a coupe to a hardtop convertible. We know they’re not exactly the same. But we had both cars in the same place at the same time, we had two minutes, we had Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder in a caffeinated state, so we went with it.

There, we feel better now. Oh, and enjoy the video.

First Impressions: 2008 Infiniti G37

Last week, the crew from Cars.com got to take a spin in a number of new cars from a variety of automakers. With full reviews in the works for most of them, we figured we’d all give our first impressions of some of the more notable cars on hand.

• This was actually the first car I took out in the morning, and I thought I had made a score by grabbing the hot coupe before anyone else. I found the looks of the new G coupe to be subtle but still attractive; the inside was just as nice as the G35 sedan, and I figured the drive would be much more thrilling. Instead, while the G37 is a capable coupe with a smooth shifter and light clutch, it didn’t throw me back in the seat from a stop as much as I had expected, nor did it carve corners energetically. In a car landscape with so many great performers, I’m not sure I’d settle for above-average.  —  David Thomas, KickingTires editor