Infiniti G37 Coupe 3.7-litre V6 Road Test Report“To Infiniti and beyond” – Infiniti tries to Conquer Europe
Better known in America, Infiniti is the luxury arm of Nissan in the States and it will arrive in Europe in 2009.
The rear wheel drive Infiniti G37 Coupe was an early model and due to this it was set up for American roads. So with this in mind the test commenced. As expected, the steering was quite vague and felt light, while the comfort of the ride was hampered, by feeling every pothole and bump in the road. The good news is that Infiniti claims these issues will be ironed out when the car arrives in the European market in 2009. However, the power plant was another matter as there was a potent 3.7-litre V6 engine producing over 310bhp. This is truly great and is sure to have the German makers of similar vehicles quite worried. The maker claims the car can do the zero to 62mph sprint in 5.5 seconds while it has a limited top speed of 155mph. European Infiniti Will Meet Euro 5 EmissionsAs mentioned, the car on test was an American model and due to this it didn’t have to meet the strict European regulations on emission. However, the boffins at Infiniti have confirmed that when the car comes to Europe next year the engine will be remapped engine so that it can meet euro 5 emissions. Even though not set up for european roads the G37 Coupe performed really well and the audio from the V6 unit was a joy to listen to – who needs a CD player when there is a soundtrack like the G37 on tap? The car has bags of power – in fact it has 363Nm of shove at 5,200rpm, making overtaking child’s play. The test car had an auto-box but when the G37 comes to Europe the car will have the option of a six-speed manual or advanced seven-speed automatic gearbox. G37 Build QualityThe car is built in a solid fashion and all the shut lines fit neatly into place while panel gaps are nowhere to be seen. On the inside are textured aluminium trim inserts on the centre console, the instrument binnacle and the door panels which adds that little extra to your surroundings. Standard equipment when it arrives in the UK should include 18-inch alloys, leather, Infiniti Controller multimedia interface for sat-nav, climate and audio systems. Equipment Levels To be High When G37 Enters European MarketWhen it comes to European shores the car will have Electronic Stability Program (ESP) as standard, while a Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD) is included as part of the Sport package. The G37 will also be equipped with power-assisted four-wheel vented disc brakes which have a four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) to provide suicker stopping in a more controlled fashion. G37 Safety FeaturesJust in case the car is involved in an accident the maker has added six airbags as standard, and it has a pop-up bonnet, this is designed to offer greater crash protection for pedestrians. Now that’s a great idea. In the event of a collision, a small pyrotechnic charge raises the trailing edge of the bonnet. This creates a larger buffer between the bonnet and the top of the engine, providing a more yielding surface, which in turn helps to reduce potential injuries. Infiniti claims the G37 Coupe is “designed as a modern sports car without compromise” and if the maker fine-tunes it for European driving then the German makers will have a few sleepless nights.
The copyright of the article Infiniti G37 Coupe 3.7-litre V6 Road Test Report in Car Care/Ownership is owned by Simon McBride. Permission to republish Infiniti G37 Coupe 3.7-litre V6 Road Test Report in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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