Meticulous Machinery

Drive out; ask them.

That’s what Infiniti did to find out what drives G35 owners. With expected Japanese attention to details and comprehensiveness, Infiniti sent the opinion pollsters to the homes of sedan owners, including those who had purchased the original G35 sedan.

Following this, with similar efficiency, the Japanese luxury car marker, a division of Nissan, also drove leading sport sedans such as Lexus and BMW.

What the designers and engineers learned they meticulously incorporated into the 2007 G35 Sedan, unveiled April 12 this year at the 2006 New York International Auto Show in Manhattan. This new second-generation G35 will be available Nov. 1 at Infiniti of Scottsdale, on the “Scottsdale Motormile,” 69th Street and McDowell Road.

As with its predecessor, the new G is clean, simple and stylish — with an aluminum hood, reworked taillights and headlights, wedged roofline and a sweeping bodyside. The G35 is available in eight exterior colors, including new ones such as Garnet Ember, Slate Blue and Platinum Graphite. It’s also a bit more athletic. “It projects both power and grace,” says Ken Schatzberg, the agency’s general manager. “It quietly, firmly suggests its performance potential.”

He adds: “We’ll have one on display Oct. 22 on — for those who just can’t wait.” Schatzberg estimates the new sedan will sell from $33–$35 thousand reasonably well equipped. The new G35 will be available in five models: G35, G35 Journey, G35x AWD (with four-wheel drive), G35 Sport and G35 Sport 6MT. Several optional packages will be available as well.

The G35ers told Infiniti they wanted luxury, performance, quality and craftsmanship as well as innovative technology. They didn’t want flashy or showy or a ‘60s muscle car: They wanted a vehicle that harmonized performance and class, a car that got them where they were going stylishly and told everyone where they were going in life. They wanted the same qualities that had established the first G35: outstanding design, superb performance and the newest technology toys.

Infiniti introduced the G35 Sedan in March 2002 as a 2003 model. The Coupe followed late 2002. Immediately, press and public enjoyed the ride. For one, the cars shared the 2003 Motor Trend Car of the Year award. What’s more, the model’s success — one in every three Infinitis sold is a G35 — set the direction for Infiniti models that followed. Infiniti is a world marque now, in places such as Taiwan, Korea and the Middle East, with plans to market in China and Russia.

The idea for the G35 was to provide a vehicle that was not “machine-like” — as with so much of the existing road-hungry technology in Europe: clean and responsive but lacking interior warmth and handcrafted finish. The result is a vehicle that makes the driver feel power on the road, and luxury, that makes the road go away — the bumper-to-bumper stress increasingly afflicting Valleyites.

Motoring Magic

Part of that stress-relaxing derives from the power of the award-winning VQ-series 3.5-liter DOHC V6, rated at 300-plus horsepower with a powerful torque curve (final horsepower and torque figures will be available soon). Ward’s Auto World magazine has called this engine, now in its fourth generation, one of the “Ten Best Engines” for 12 consecutive years. Among the engine components that have been retained: a continuously variable valve-timing control system; a “noiseless” timing chain; an electronically controlled “drive-by-wire” throttle system; microfinished crank journals and cam lobes; and molybdenum-coated lightweight pistons.

Still, approximately 80 percent of major parts (except bolts, O-rings and clips) have been redesigned. Other engine enhancements: stiffer block construction; standard variable exhaust cam timing (eCVTCS); a higher rev limit (from 6,600 rpm to 7,500 rpm); and higher compression ratio (10.6:1 versus the previous 10.3:1); asymmetric piston skirts; twin knock sensors; improved coolant flow; and Iridium spark plugs.

Enhancing power is a new air intake system, which also helps reduce airflow resistance by 18 percent. On the other end, a new exhaust system design reduces muffler exhaust pressure, thereby improving engine breathing.

By lowering the engine center by 15 millimeters, handling has also been improved. To enhance front-to-rear weight distribution, the engine sits on an FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, as with the Infiniti M, connecting with rear-wheel drive. Adding stability as well are a long wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks.

The four-wheel independent design incorporates aluminum components and front and rear stabilizer bars. In the front suspension, a lower wishbone and a long upper link minimize changes to the alignment. In the rear, the engineers have separated the shock absorbers and the springs to reduce friction and axle deflection on acceleration. The body has also been significantly stiffened with 16 percent more spot welds.

In addition, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) enhances vehicle stability. Those who purchase the Sport models can also order Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD) for even tighter control.

A Very Shifty, Very Brakeable Vehicle

Buyers can choose from a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching or close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. The five-speed automatic features ASC (Adaptive Shift Control), providing for quicker shifts in sport-driving situations. On the G35 Sport A/T model, solid magnesium paddle shifters are standard.

For brakes, the engineers selected power-assisted four-wheel vented disc brakes with four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Standard are 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/55R17 tires, with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and P225/50R18 tires front and P245/45R18 tires rear on Sport models. A Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) is standard.

Finally, to make sure you keep in the right direction, the power steering system, a new twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensing design, optimizes steering control at all speeds.

A Rich Interior Life

Infiniti calls the interior “driver oriented”: But it is also warm, hospitable and distinctly un-machinelike.

The leather-appointed seating, available in Beige (except Sport models), Black or Gray, is standard, as is the hand-stitched leather-wrapped steering wheel, where you’ll find audio and cruise control switches for driving convenience. The aluminum shift level is also leather appointed.

Gauges are also easy to use with white-and-violet illumination. The aluminum-alloy trim on the center console, instrument panel and doors is finished in a “Washi” pattern, based on a traditional Japanese paper design. You can also order a wood trim.

Available to guide you are a RearView Monitor, a touch-screen navigation system with available real-time traffic, and Intelligent Cruise Control with Preview Braking. Upfront are High Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-xenon headlights, and you can order the adaptive Front lighting System (AFS), which automatically controls the headlight lighting pattern according to steering angle and vehicle speed.

Audiophiles will like this auto, too, especially if they choose The Infiniti Studio on Wheels™ by Bose®, combining the industry’s first three-way front door speaker array using 10-inch woofers, with an audiophile-quality head unit incorporating a 24-bit Burr Brown® Digital Audio Converter. The standard system will keep the cabin sweet sounding, too, with its in-dash CD changer with mp3 playback capability and six speakers. If you want to share Tchaikovsky with the rest of the world, choose the sunroof with a one-touch open/close feature.

Keeping everyone safe is the Advanced Air Bag System with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor, front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags for front- and rear-seat occupant head protection.

“Through performance, style and design,” Schatzberg says, “the new G35 engages the driver and embraces all of its passengers — with hospitality, handcrafted excellence and luxury.”

For more information on Infiniti, visit www.infiniti.com; for Infiniti of Scottsdale, see infinitiofscottsdale.com.

Infiniti of Scottsdale (480) 941-0055