You know the Infiniti G35 coupe. It's that sleek two-door with the classy fascia, flat rear end, wide taillamps and the stance of a Nissan 350Z. It makes that distinctive, semi-exotic exhaust howl you probably like, too.
Today, the popular G35 has come and gone-- but it's become a definite future classic. Shop for a used one and you’ll typically find limited selection and 'want' ads mixed in with the sporadic listings that present themselves.
Then and Now: G35 becomes G37
Now, it's the G37 Coupe's turn to be lusted after by Japanese luxury sport coupe fanatics. The numerically-increased name doesn’t roll as nicely from the tongue, but it does indicate an increase in engine size from 3.5 to 3.7 litres. Of course, there’s an associated increase in power, too.
Like most competitors, the ‘G’ is also available in a sedan. From this year onwards, there's a convertible variant, too.
Lid closed, the G37 Convertible looks tidy and consistent. At a glance, you’d barely notice it was a convertible at all—until a complicated dance of morphing panels sees the roof swallowed into the trunk. Open-air motoring follows shortly thereafter.
Beefed-up
It should be stated that your writer isn’t in the G37 Convertible's target demographic. Income level aside, I’m not the biggest fan of the weight added by convertiblizing a coupe.
The added mass of roof motors and body bracing tends to decrease two important things: performance and mileage. In fact, the G37 convertible is just about the heaviest car model that Infiniti sells. It weighs nearly 4,100 lbs.
The compromise factor
Decapitating a coupe also typically minimizes trunk space, headroom and outward visibility. It reduces rigidity, too. Chop the top, and you're usually left with a heavier, weaker structure that can feel like it’s made of toothpicks and soggy Kleenex.
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| Shoppers who can deal with the space constraints will find the G37 Convertible delivers huge on style. |
Today, the popular G35 has come and gone-- but it's become a definite future classic. Shop for a used one and you’ll typically find limited selection and 'want' ads mixed in with the sporadic listings that present themselves.
Then and Now: G35 becomes G37
Now, it's the G37 Coupe's turn to be lusted after by Japanese luxury sport coupe fanatics. The numerically-increased name doesn’t roll as nicely from the tongue, but it does indicate an increase in engine size from 3.5 to 3.7 litres. Of course, there’s an associated increase in power, too.
Like most competitors, the ‘G’ is also available in a sedan. From this year onwards, there's a convertible variant, too.
Lid closed, the G37 Convertible looks tidy and consistent. At a glance, you’d barely notice it was a convertible at all—until a complicated dance of morphing panels sees the roof swallowed into the trunk. Open-air motoring follows shortly thereafter.
Beefed-up
It should be stated that your writer isn’t in the G37 Convertible's target demographic. Income level aside, I’m not the biggest fan of the weight added by convertiblizing a coupe.
The added mass of roof motors and body bracing tends to decrease two important things: performance and mileage. In fact, the G37 convertible is just about the heaviest car model that Infiniti sells. It weighs nearly 4,100 lbs.
The compromise factor
Decapitating a coupe also typically minimizes trunk space, headroom and outward visibility. It reduces rigidity, too. Chop the top, and you're usually left with a heavier, weaker structure that can feel like it’s made of toothpicks and soggy Kleenex.
 |
| As de-roofed coupes go, the G37's body structure is admirably stiff. |