by
Jeff Voth
There
are few cars that stir the soul of a long time sports car enthusiast such as me.
Nameplates
sure to send a chill up my spine include Porsche, Acura, Lamborghini, Jaguar and
Ferrari. All have a special place in my heart, due mostly to personal experiences
I have enjoyed over the years. Remember the time when. on second thought, never
mind.
I
can now add Infiniti to my list of most enjoyable vehicles, as a recent extended
test drive of the new G35 Coupe left me convinced that this is one of, if not
the best, bang for the buck sport coupes on the market today.
Outwardly
the Infiniti G35 Coupe is a study in simplicity. Infiniti refers to the shape
of the G35 Coupe as Catamaran styling.
There is nothing busy looking
about the car at all. It's almost as if some highly intelligent alien being dropped
a perfectly formed, streamlined miniature space ship with wheels on the road and
hoped we could all jump in and enjoy the ride.
The G35 Coupe is so slippery
in fact; it achieves a 0.29 coefficient of drag and zero lift front aerodynamics.
With the addition of a functional rear spoiler and underbody diffusers, the G35
Coupe attains zero lift rear aerodynamics and lowers the coefficient of drag even
further to 0.28.
High front fenders frame the hood to direct airflow
over the car with minimal resistance. Vertical mounted headlights easily penetrate
the night sky, while at the same time providing an excellent point of reference
as to the car's position on the road. A deep-set hood further reduces drag and
offers superb visibility.
Performance comes from a 3.5 liter V6 engine.
If this sounds familiar, that's only because it is. Nissan employs this V6 engine
in many different vehicles, including several within the status friendly Infiniti
line-up. In the case of the G35 Coupe, it produces a hearty 280 hp at 6,200 rpm
and 270 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm.
As befits a true sports coupe,
the Infiniti G35 is rear-wheel drive. I say befits not to disparage any of the
popular front-wheel, or all-wheel drive coupes on the market. On the
contrary, the Acura RSX (FWD) and the Audi TT (AWD) are two of my favorites. But
there is nothing like the sensation of throwing a rear-wheel drive car into a
corner and letting the back end of the vehicle hang out a little to test the limits
of adhesion.
Straight-line speed and cornering ability is exceptional,
but what happens when you get it all wrong and have to stop in a hurry?
The G35 Coupe is equipped with 4-channel, 4-sensor ABS brakes that include Electronic
Brake force Distribution, (EBD). EBD assists by applying additional force to the
brakes where needed and bringing the car to a rapid and controlled halt. To further
improve braking, the G35 Coupe offers optional BremboŽ brakes at all four corners.
BremboŽ is a company synonymous for providing the best brakes to the finest automotive
companies in the world.
Traction
Control and Vehicle Dynamic Control also add to the mix of active safety features
found in the G35 Coupe.
Standard wheels consist of 6-spoke, 17" aluminum,
while the 6-speed Coupe receives unique 7-spoke 18" aluminum wheels, which are
also available as an option on the 5-speed automatic.
Surprisingly the
Infiniti G35 Coupe weighs in at just over 3,400 lbs. This makes it over 600 lbs
heavier than the aforementioned Acura RSX and 200 lbs. more than the Audi TT Quattro.
In most cases, a somewhat portly physique would have a negative impact
on performance and handling. But in the case of the G35 Coupe, the extra padding
translates into a positive feeling of solidity and quiet, without sacrificing
drivability.
Inside, the simplicity of the design carries through. Infiniti
chooses words such as modern, refined and ingenious to describe the interior.
While all of these apply, my description would be businesslike.
At the
risk of sounding logical, a car is first and foremost meant for driving. So why
then do so many vehicles try and woe us with the latest gadgets and gizmos and
forget the obvious? I'm not sure.
The interior of the Infiniti G35 Coupe
provides all the creature comforts we have come expect from the automobiles of
today, but then takes the next critical step of getting out of the way to allow
the driving experience to take center stage.
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A
3-spoke brushed aluminum and black leather steering wheel houses stereo and cruise
control switches. Tilt the wheel and the gauge pod adjusts with it, a commonsense
but often missed feature.
The center console is also personalized with
brushed aluminum and houses the heating and cooling controls, along with the standard
160-Watt, 6-speaker AM/FM cassette with stackable CD stereo system. Upgrade to
the Premium package and Infiniti adds in a 222-Watt Bose® 8-speaker AM/FM 6-disc
CD changer, dual-climate controls and a tinted glass power sunroof.
In
a further nod to common sense, the G35 Coupe offers seating for four. In front,
deep bolstered seats offer excellent hip and thigh support, while proper length
seat cushions mean your legs won't fall asleep on a lengthy road trip. The driver's
seat also provides a center bolster for added pedal feel, as well as power adjustments.
In the back, rear passengers are treated to comfortable, tight seats,
with a reasonable amount of head and leg room. Releasing the front passenger seat
from behind causes it to glide forward, allowing for easy entrance and exit.
Of course power windows, mirrors, doors, etc., all come standard. Leather is available
and highly recommended as it adds a refining touch to this well thought out interior
package. Trunk space is very good for a two-door coupe.
Given an unlimited
pocket book, I would probably choose to own something from the likes of Porsche
or Ferrari. However, if my choice had its price limitations, and believe me it
does, the Infiniti G35 Coupe is definitely on the "A" list. It's attractive, fast,
and incredibly comfortable, plus it's built by a company with a lengthy record
for reliability.
Is this as good as it gets for a sport coupe? No probably
not. But it sure is close enough to keep the Infiniti G35 Coupe at the top of
the heap for quite some time.
Now if I could just find that highly intelligent
alien visitor I referred to before; I have a few ideas for a new pickup truck.
JUST
THE FACTS
2004
INFINITI G35 COUPE |
Description: |
Sport Coupe |
Model
options: |
Sport Coupe Leather
Sport Coupe Leather 6MT |
Wheelbase: |
112.2 inches |
Overall
length: |
182.2 inches |
Engine
size: |
3.5 liter V6 |
Transmission: |
6MT, Automatic/5 |
Drive: |
rear drive |
Braking: |
Power 4-disc, ABS/EBD |
Air
bags: |
2 (front) 2 (side) |
Fuel
mileage city/hwy: |
Manual-
18/26
Automatic- 20/27 |
MSRP: |
GS Sport Coupe Leather- $ 31,800
GS Sport Coupe Leather 6MT- $ 32,700 |
Click here for more information on the Infiniti G35 Coupe.
For the Infiniti 2004 Model Guide : Click
Here
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