NEW YORK AUTO SHOW: 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe- BMW 335 wannabe?

I wouldn't neccesarily call it a wannabe, but the new Infiniti G37 is with no doubt aiming its gun at the 3 coupe.

With the new A5's launch a few months away, it will be the most intense battle BMW will have ever faced.

LEXUS FANS,
will the IS ever be made into a coupe?

*thunk*

I fell asleep looking at the photos of it and my head hit my desk.

looks like it's melting

001

WIth the same interior size and wheelbase as current E class and 5 series, G35 has never been a 3 series wannabe. You might as well call it a 5 series wannabe, objectively, even w/ price difference of $20,000, easily(530i).

A lot of people have compared first generation G35 to 3 series and said it's not as agile, which is in fact, the best praise G35 can receive, since you'll never hear a 5 series outhandles a 3 series, or a 3 series outhandles Miata or S2000.

Smaller and lighter car always win, that's why 911 has a wheelbase of 92.5", smaller than S2000(95"), and Ferrari F430 is @ 102", same as a Corolla. Is that clear?

The real problem is INFINITI sold the G35, same size as 5 series, cheaper than 3 series, at the same time receiving criticism from many idiots that it's not matching 3 series's agility.
Well, it's not easy to fix this "Halo factor".

Oh and by the way,

The new G37 coupe looks nice, but the new Altima coupe looks way too similar (as chewy pointed out earlier)
But this is definately a great, cheaper alternative to the current class leader.

One problem the G35 sedan has is lack of refinement in the engine and the interior.
Hopefully the coupe will have addressed these issues.

Agreed

i agree, i think the altima coupe, and g37 looking like make the g37 coupe look downmarket, but that, interior quality, and overall refinement issues, i still think infiniti makes the best 3 series alternative, the 3 series is without question the best car in its class, but i also believe that g37/g35 are unbeatable when u factor in value vs content and are the closest thing to a real competitor the 3 series

I see the BMW boys gettin pissed!!!
I hate to say this but guys I don't really like any of the current cars.
Chewy is right the G37 and the Altima coupe look too much alike. I don't like the 3 Series interior at all. The Audi is kinda bland to me. I need more. I would like a MB CLK similar in style to the last gen car with more engine at a decent price.
T

umm.. they meant the BMW 335i reaches 0-60 in 4.8 secs not the G37.. THat's the question remaning!

Don't be fooled by the test mule. This is the real thing:

http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146416&page=2

The Nissan Altima Coupe looks more like the previous G35 Coupe. All three have very similar shapes but I like the curviness of the front-end of this the best.

I don't like it. Period.(NOT A BMW FAN)
BTW, when will Infiniti "invent" 6-speed auto or better? Those 5-speed auto has been there for years and
critizied for having a really bad fuel economy.

Agreed!

Agreed!

The G37 can't match the 335i on one aspect. Going into limp mode after 4 laps of driving.

WITHOUT SEEING IT ON THE ROAD...

...or even in person, for that matter, I'm sorry to say I'm disappointed. The bang-for-the-buck factor is there, and the performance is more than promising, but the style leaves something to be desired.

I loved the last-gen. If there was one two-door car I could get for under $40K, that would be it. A black G35 coupe with black interior.

But this has just lost the sex appeal, the purity, that made the last one so appealing. As someone pointed out, there are too many bulges on the front end. The rear seems as if they just reshaped the lights, added a spoiler and called it a day. The sad part? The lights actually look worse!

The first-gen G blew me away, in four or two-door form... but, no matter how good this new G is to drive, I just can't get past the looks.

I was really disappointed by the new G sedan when it first came out too.

I really liked the older G and the new G just didnt grow on me!

This car is really different from the Teaser Sketch that was going around the net. I really liked that!

Concept was awesome!!

This is pshhh....

what is the purpose of putting a hard drive in the car? I know other companies do it to, but why? I would much rather have my ipod/zune connected to my car. That way I can use it when i am not in the car. Also, if file formats change or if song files get large or whatever, i can just change the music player and not worry about changing my car

im glad they put in a HD, not many of us want or need an IPOD to pump us up while we are walking around. pumping yourself into state comes from inside you not from some outside source validating who you are. be a self starter.

right.... i use my ipod at the gym, while im studying at starbucks, and also in my room (just hook it up to my computer speakers). Some of you may be able to afford different gismos for differnt places.I, on the other hand, must pay for school. Plus, hard drives can get corrupt and some files and future applications may not be compatible with them. Why make something permenent in a car? Especially when BMW has an alternative (the ipod thing), lexus/MB/Ford have an alternative (plain headphone jack, will work with almost any portible music/video gismo for ages)

Actually I think I like the look of the current Infiniti G35 than this G37. Not only that, they only added what 24 more hp compare to the G35 306 hp. I think the current G35 look much more sportier and aggressive.

Not yet sold on this design... I'll have to see it in person first. The new Audi A5 coupe design is the best I've seen in my book.

INTERESTING TIDBIT FROM EDMUNDS:
First Impressions:
With class-leading dynamics and an improved powertrain, the new G37 coupe gives BMW's 335i coupe an honest run for the money

"All at once the BMW coupe that we've considered the leader in its class finally decides it's had enough. With its oil temperature pinned at 300 degrees F and its coolant temperature climbing rapidly, the turbocharged Bavarian wonder engages its limp-home mode and we crawl pathetically back to the pits."

Looks like there could be some tough choices in the coupe segment.

So much for BMW turbo.

wow, shocking, a BMW supplied by Infiniti at an Infiniti press event to showcase their new BMW competitor broke. Therefore I can reasonably conclude that all BMW 335i's must be like that.

Sarcasm off.

For what it's worth I've been to dozens of events like these. Cars break sometimes, that's life when you beat the hell out of them for thousands of miles. Half the time the sponsoring manufacturer messes with the competitor cars they provided anyway. This means nothing, and I'd say the same thing if the Infiniti broke at a BMW press event.

That is a great looking car. Infiniti's have great styling and excellent power. But, Infiniti interiors suck. They're very cheap. They claim to have upgraded the 2007 G Sedan's interior to make it better, but it isn't so this one probably won't have a good interior either.

They're the exact same interior, except for the rear seats. Check the Edmunds article.

I wouldn't say it's "cheap"... just doesn't look as expensive on the inside as A4, IS or 3 Series.

That's true. But when you seen them in person, it kind of appears to be half plastic, half leather. It for sure doesn't look as good as Audi, Lexus, BMW, or Mercedes.

Funny how these pics were realesed on the same day and on the heels of the anouncment of BMW winning its case against Infiniti in Canada...

Looks OK. Overall styling has somewhat of a "cheap" vibe to it. Maybe it's just the color.

The rear does look a little too hatch-back like which is a shame since the current one has such a nice butt.

Its a far worse looking car now, but the truly bad thing is some will think the old version is the new car or not be able to tell at all. They show us a beautiful concept and give us this??? And of course the BMW feels faster....it has more than 330 hp and even more torque! Way to go BMW for lying about your power rating!

The rims kind of remind me of the IS-F.

I think the last one looked way better, i am laughing a bit at this design, what were they thinking? As a new 3 series coupe owner i liked the looks of the concept, this looks clumsy in comparison

Maybe you should say "A never will be".

I think Ive seen this front bodykit before...... Maybe on my M5?? What a great copy by infinite! The last one had the unique factor, which this 1 lacks badly. M5 bodykit, cls headlights, altima rear....... Im disappointed. I have no doubt tha tit will handle well, but the 335i is the king here.

that it* lol

I think this car will sell well no matter what it looks like. If you think about it, the best coupes out there for around 40,000 are the bmw 3 series and the Infiniti g 35.
I think if Bmw handles alittle better and is faster it wont sell more if it costs about 8,000 more loaded. people will settle for the Infiniti.
I personally drive a 2005 M3 coupe and even i think bmw's are overpriced. Many times i think Infiniti and lexus are better for the money, but i am a badge whore and i cant drive a car thats not German.

Agreed....it's a BMW 335i wannabe. In fact the 335i in my opinion looks better. Just quickly looking over the G37 engine specs, the 2007 BMW 335i engine is far superior and shouldn't have any problems staying on top. On the bright side of things, the G37 will cost less than the 335i.

What? I agree that the 3 is far better-looking... but engine? This engine makes 330hp, WITHOUT turbos. It's probable that the E92 turbo makes about that much at the dyno... but that's not what BMW released, and it's still with turbos.

Don't get me wrong-- I love the 335i coupe. It's the new "sexiest for under $40K" in my book. But don't dis the Infiniti.

The better BMW engine overheats after 4 laps of driving. Pathetic.

uh Porsche makes the best 6 cyl engines, what are you smoking??...not saying BMW's are bad, but they have one good 6 cyl engine that came from the e46 M3....porsche runs their WHOLE COUPE PRODUCT LINE on amazing 6 cylinder engines

uh Porsche makes the best 6 cyl engines, what are you smoking??...not saying BMW's are bad, but they have one good 6 cyl engine that came from the e46 M3....porsche runs their WHOLE COUPE PRODUCT LINE on amazing 6 cylinder engines

The comment that BMW has only reached 330HP with their 3.0L 6 is highly unintelligent. You have forgotten the us unfortunate souls in the US got watered down versions of the E36 M3 and E46 versions.
The European S50 I-6 had individual throttle bodies and a more complex cylinder head. The U.S.-spec I-6 E36 M3 3.0L more closely resembled the production M50 engine.
The first E36 M3 that the US market received had the M50 B30 engine that produced 240HP@6000RPM and 225ft-lbs@4250RPM. Also be reminded that this engine had 24 Valves and a single VANOS system. The Euro verison E36 M3 around the same time was the S50 B30 engine. This engine had 24 valces and a Double VANOS system. The power output was 286HP@7000RPM and 236ft-lb@3600RPM. The Euro E36 M3 was debuted in 1992 with the S50 and our US model bowed in 1995 with the modified production M50. In 1995 the Euro M3 received a face lift, a new S52 engine and a six speed transmission.

In order not to bore you guys to death with more technical jargin point being; the Euro E46 M3 had 3.2L displacement and delivered 343HP. I have no knowledge if it was DIN or SAE. The Euro E36 M3 CSL had a derivitive of the Euro E46 M3's engine that produced 360HP. 111HP/Liter.

So all you Bimmer haters out there "ze germans" do know what they are doing. When is comes to the smoothest and most efficient engines in the world you can't beat a BMW I-6.

If you also want to know what the tuning capability of the new 335i has, revisit an earlier thread that shows Vishnu tuning's very modest tune. I believe that it produces 330HP and 360ft-lbs@ the wheels. All of this for a tune of around $1500 dollars with the stock exhaust.

*phew* I hope that my point came across. BTW I drive a Nissan VQ powered vehicle. HAHA!

"My point was that the BMW is only 2953 cc while infiniti has way more"

And MY point was that they needed twins to get there. It's not a cause for shame. I had a twin-turbo 2000 A6 2.7T quattro, myself. Twin-turbocharged engines are fabulous.

I'm just trying to make it clear that the engines aren't exactly on equal terms.

And, I can say with certainty that Audi makes the world's best V8! Edmunds said it themselves.

If you don't care about fuel mileage, you can get any horsepower you like. So far I've only seen the BMW 3.0 na making 255 hp, where did you get the number of 330hp? Your own tunning? E46 M3 got 330 hp, but it's out of 3.2L, not 3.0L. Besides, M3 fuel mileage is at 16/23, compared to 20/27 of G37, O K?

I never have the love for the Infiniti G35 and G37 exterior design. Don't know why but it did not strike me as attractive or sporty. The TL looks better and sportier. Even the IS looks sportier. I never did like the headlights and tail lights either. If Nissan re-designs their front and tail lights, I am positive they will sell more of the G and G coupes.

I wrote to Nissan/Infiniti about the designs when the very first G came out but I guess they don't care so they kept going down the same road.

"Don't know why but it did not strike me as attractive or sporty. The TL looks better and sportier. Even the IS looks sportier."

I don't know what you meant by "EVEN the IS," because IMO it's the most aggressive in this class (IS350), and probably the best-looking Lexus.

TL... I find it boring. Sorry.

Come on now...the car looks damned good. I don't really like the interior...it's the metal, when you opt for the woodgrain, it looks 1000 times better. Me, I'm not a 3 series fan, never was (except the E30) i also own a 6 series and a 99Q, so I'm not biased towards BMW like the majority of you clowns that responded to this article. I personally would be the G35/G37 before I bought the 3 series..but that's just my personal preference.

I have had my G Coupe since Nov. 10, 2002 and absolutely love it!
--------
I have to say that I have mixed feelings about the look of the car.
* Two professionally done pictures actually look very HOT! Especially the side profile. I always thought that keeping the side profile SEXY after the current coupe was going to be hard but from this pic it looks pretty good.
* The other pics are very disappointing. Basic feeling is that: I CAN"T BELIEVE THE SCREWED UP ONE OF THE BEST LOOKING CARS ON THE ROAD SO BADLY!
----------------
Bottom line is...
- Will have all the goodies and power
- Until seen on the street and different colors it's hard to say how this one will sell.
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One last thing: I really hated the new G Sedan in the pics and when it just came out. But somehow it has grown on me lately.
I was hoping the look of the coupe won't have to grow on people but seems like it's going to be one of those.
---------------

And Please WHAT IS UP WITH THE TITILE of the article. Aren't there better writers that can come up with an attractive title without pissing anyone off?

That's the point. They try to piss us off.

Infiniti butchered the G Coupe. It's got about as much sex appeal as a Pontiac.

But...it will sell like hot cakes on price alone.

Looks like the decision to move the design studio to Tennessee is starting to take its toll and rear its ugly cars. Is this the result of designers getting even with Ghosn?… or did they just simply loose all of their talent in the move? This was such an awesome concept, but now the Altima coupe has more appeal. Maybe I’ll change my mind after seeing it in person.

its not a 335i wanna be .. its just trying to keep up... obviously the price will be better but it goes for a younger market...

interior is pretty boring... to much metal for those who prefer luxury - though the new nav is nice

Front end Looks very F430ish in a weird way

335 is still i think a better choice but this will attract yonger buyers with more sport in mind

First short (short, because 335i was overheated in only 4laps) comparison test by Edmunds, G37 outhandled 335i:

"All at once the BMW coupe that we've considered the leader in its class finally decides it's had enough. With its oil temperature pinned at 300 degrees F and its coolant temperature climbing rapidly, the turbocharged Bavarian wonder engages its limp-home mode and we crawl pathetically back to the pits...

"...From the first corner driven in anger, it's easy to sense the G37's focus. There's firmer damping and better body control than in the BMW 335i. More impressive is the steering, which offers a perfect compromise of surface feel, steering effort and feedback. This makes the G37 more intuitive and better behaved at the cornering limit than the BMW — and the car we drove hadn't even been fitted with the optional four-wheel steering...

...But anytime the going gets twisty and you're driving in the upper reaches of the power band, the G will leave the 3 Series in its wake with better top-end punch and a more performance-focused chassis."

You don't have to get the interior with aluminum. Do you honestly think Infiniti wouldn't offer a wood trim option?

Thanks, your very good at quoting articles. I can do it too (from Car and Driver April 07):
"THe G35 scores points for comfort, capable moves, and thrust in surplus but BMW still builds the best tools for driving."
Oh and it was a 328i being tested which consequently won the comparison.

as an infiniti fan and customer, I am disappointed. Doesn't look anything like the concept they showed last year. Looks worse than the current generation. I'm sure it will be fun to drive and provide great value, but looks are so important they dropped to ball on this one. I'm going to guess that big discounts won't be far off. Perhaps we'll be pleasantly surprised and it will look better in person.

ITS A PIECE OF CHIT!!!!! that is all i have to say. Its a freakin' Altima!!!!!!!!!! BARF

this is soooo nasty

ALL of you people are Haters!,,,Thats ALL!!!....

It should have been much better. BMW won't be losing any sales to this car.

I'm going to hold my opinions until the unveiling. The promo photos look great and the stock photos are not very impressive. Therefore, I have no idea how I'm going to react to the G37.

However, if those specs are accurate then this is going to one hell of a car and a fantastic bargain. 330hp? That's Carrera power, which means 0-60 in 5 sec or less PLUS all the lux bells and whistles like 4WAS, RearView Monitor, and Bose sound system...all for probably around $40k?? that in itself IS impressive regardless of looks.

The comment that BMW has only reached 330HP with their 3.0L 6 is highly unintelligent. You have forgotten the us unfortunate souls in the US got watered down versions of the E36 M3 and E46 versions.
The European S50 I-6 had individual throttle bodies and a more complex cylinder head. The U.S.-spec I-6 E36 M3 3.0L more closely resembled the production M50 engine.
The first E36 M3 that the US market received had the M50 B30 engine that produced 240HP@6000RPM and 225ft-lbs@4250RPM. Also be reminded that this engine had 24 Valves and a single VANOS system. The Euro verison E36 M3 around the same time was the S50 B30 engine. This engine had 24 valces and a Double VANOS system. The power output was 286HP@7000RPM and 236ft-lb@3600RPM. The Euro E36 M3 was debuted in 1992 with the S50 and our US model bowed in 1995 with the modified production M50. In 1995 the Euro M3 received a face lift, a new S52 engine and a six speed transmission.

In order not to bore you guys to death with more technical jargin point being; the Euro E46 M3 had 3.2L displacement and delivered 343HP. I have no knowledge if it was DIN or SAE. The Euro E36 M3 CSL had a derivitive of the Euro E46 M3's engine that produced 360HP. 111HP/Liter.

So all you Bimmer haters out there "ze germans" do know what they are doing. When is comes to the smoothest and most efficient engines in the world you can't beat a BMW I-6.

If you also want to know what the tuning capability of the new 335i has, revisit an earlier thread that shows Vishnu tuning's very modest tune. I believe that it produces 330HP and 360ft-lbs@ the wheels. All of this for a tune of around $1500 dollars with the stock exhaust.

*phew* I hope that my point came across. BTW I drive a Nissan VQ powered vehicle. HAHA!

Everyone can make high rev to get an expensive (possibly unreliable too) gas sucking engine.

HP= Torque*RPM/5252

I dont like it. I hate to say it but I'm very dissapointed. Why did they have to go with that fat front? If you look at the concept next to the actual one the major difference is that fat hood. We'll see how it looks on the road.

Will the Z be changed any?

I just took a look at Edmunds website and it seems that the 335 got spanked by the G37 in their first comparison test. I guess the performance will make up for that ugly hood.

Personally I give credit where credit is due. Nissan did an awesome job with the concept vehicle but the production model lack the same in your face attitude. It is more water downed than I would expect from nissan. However I have yet not seen it in person. The thought of making a new engine similar to the one that is going in the GTR is still weird because they launched the sedan with a 3.5 litre V6. Now that it will have more horsepower than a Z. I wonder what is in store for 2008 or 2009 Z cars. It will be interesting to follow what they will end up doing.

I would have to say that these pictures don't do the g37 justice. Take a look at these real life pictures before you judge.

http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146416&page=2

I think the pictures that 001 posted were of a pre-production mule. Said from the thread in g35.driver

330BHP.It means I was/am right.

I told u guys that it will have the same engine what is their in the Middle East spec G35 sedan.327BHP

BTW looks great.

JUGNU

i'm gonna buy an IS so I can hunt your ignorant dumbass down and run you over with it...wouldn't that be an ironic demise?

The reason why BMW went with a twin turbo setup is to achieve efficient power with better fuel mileage. Everybody here knows that the E46 M3 with 333HP(US Version) needed to be rung close to its redline. That saves a lot of gas!! The new Double VANOS system with BMW's new HPDi and bi-turbos achieve the goal. Look at Audi's success with Direct Injected Turbos. Are you Bimmer haters that blind! Honestly do i need to prove over and over again that the E46 M3 CSL made over 350 HP! Props to BMW for thinking ahead. BOO to Nissan for using the 'Murrican way of "no replacement for displacement!" Because remember kiddies global warming is a myth. Right?

Thanks for this information.
Thanks for all the kind words of support!

http://www.ipodconverter.com

Thanks for this information.
Thanks for all the kind words of support!

http://www.ipodconverter.com

This thing looks like a Lexus mixed with a Hyundai Tiberon

If you price them both out the G37 will probably come in around 8-10k cheaper than the 335i. So, the question I have to ask, is the 335i worth 8-10k more than the G37?

BTW, I really like the interior of the new car, it looks like a sport cockpit, instead of the non-separated Buick looking interior of the new 3 series. Just to note, I currently own an E46 Coupe so I am not anti-Bimmer.

One more thing to note, people bringing up the turbos on the 335i... I was once told by a mechanic to never buy a car with turbos because they are a maintenance nightmare... Not sure if this is true with the 335i, but I would feel more comfortable buying a normal-aspirated engine for the long run.

Fxxxing BS. Guess you have never owned a BMW or INFINITI at the same time, kid.

The 335i is worth every dollar more than the Nissan, I mean Infiniti G37. But some will want to pay less for 7/10ths of the car the 335i is and thats where the market lies for this car.