Infiniti G37 Coupe
>> Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Infiniti G37 Coupe
The Infiniti G37 Coupé offers dramatic performance in a thoroughly seductive shape. Although sharing a great deal of hardware with the Infiniti G37 Sedan, the Coupé is designed to appeal to different buyer.
Exterior styling
A long bonnet, short overhangs and dramatically raked roof line give the Infiniti G37 Coupé a silhouette that sets it apart from rival products based more heavily on their saloon counterparts.
The special production process has been developed for installation of the headlights to ensure tight build tolerances and an exact fit into the complex front fascia.
Interior environment
The Infiniti G37 Coupé provides a sporting cockpit environment for the driver and a luxuriously open space for its passengers. The dashboard and centre console, complete with seven-inch colour display, adopts Infiniti design DNA with a 'double wave' upper section linked to a central vertical spine for a feeling of solidity. Textured aluminium trim inserts can be found on the centre console, the instrument binnacle and the door panels.
Its gracefully curved door trims have been inspired by traditional Japanese ceremonial swords, while the trim inserts are modelled on Japanese Washi handmade paper. Other signature Infiniti features are the elegant analogue clock on the dashboard and purple backlighting of instruments and controls.
The Engine and powertrain
Infiniti's latest 3.7-litre V6 is a potent, high revving, 24-valve twin cam unit producing 235 kW at 7,000 rpm (320 PS) and an impressive 360 Nm of torque at 5,200 rpm.
Constructed from lightweight aluminium, the engine features a two-part bed-plate construction which is more rigid than a single piece casting for reduced vibration levels. It also permits sustained use at higher revs: the V6 is red-lined at 7,500rpm.
It delivers a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) with 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) taking 5.8 seconds (on M/T version). Fuel economy over the combined cycle is 10.5 l/100kms (26.9 mpg) while the Coupé has a CO2 figure of 249 g/km. The engine is fully compliant with Euro 5 emission level requirements.
In keeping with the performance profile of the Coupé, Infiniti engineers have developed a special aural soundtrack for the car. Equal length tubular exhaust manifolds and a symmetrical exhaust and silencer system have allowed the engineers to create a linear sound with a good balance between low and high frequency notes.
As well as a smooth shifting six-speed manual transmission, the Infiniti G37 Coupé is available with a new seven-speed automatic option with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and magnesium paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.
Chassis and driving dynamics
The Infiniti G37 Coupé uses the second-generation version of Infiniti's FM platform. The 'front midship' engine location sees the compact V6 mounted in the front of the car, but as low and as far back as possible, with most of the block behind the front axle line. The result lowers the centre of gravity and helps to deliver the optimum front to rear weight distribution.
All versions of Infiniti G37 Coupé come with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), while the power-assisted four-wheel vented disc brakes have a four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) as standard.
To enhance the braking feel, the Infiniti G37 Coupé uses a 'link-design' pedal which becomes progressively firmer as g-forces and vehicle speed increases. As a result, the driver has a more direct sensation of the forces acting on the car as he brakes from high speed, as well as the benefit of increased assistance. At lower speeds the brake is easier to operate but with more travel relative to assistance.
The power steering system is a vehicle-speed-sensing type with a twin-orifice structure, which provides optimum steering effort at both high and low vehicle speeds.
The sports oriented G37S version has a number of chassis changes in keeping with its sharper profile. The principal enhancement is the addition of the 4-Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system which helps improve handling performance still further by varying the front steering ratio and adjusting the geometry of the rear suspension according to steering input and vehicle speed.
Other standard features of the G37S include a Viscous Limited Slip Differential, recalibrated suspension settings and an enhanced braking system with four piston front brakes and two piston rears.
Standard and optional equipment
The Infiniti G37 Coupé has a full complement of user friendly - and above all, useful - standard equipment, plus options for those who want to make even more of a statement.
Standard features include the intelligent I-key with smart access and push button starter, a six-disc, seven-speaker audio system with an RCA AUX-in jack socket for MP3 players. Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control with speed limiter can all be operated via switches on the leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel.
The Adaptive Front-light System (AFS) and "Scratch Shield" paint are also standard. Bi-Xenon headlamps are linked to steering inputs and automatically follow the path of the front wheels to provide a wide spread of light around corners and on winding roads. "Scratch Shield" paint incorporates a special highly elastic resin within the conventional clearcoat to increase the paint's flexibility. A car painted with "Scratch Shield" paint can exhibit up to five times fewer scratches that a conventional clearcoat when exposed to the same conditions.
In addition to its chassis and dynamic changes, the G37S adds a sports seat with manual thigh extension for the driver. The seats themselves are upholstered with leather as well as heated and have 14-way power adjustment (driver) and 8-way power adjustment (passenger). There's a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard, plus 19-inch alloy sports wheels.
The major option is the new seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and magnesium paddle shifters, enabling drivers to shift the transmission without releasing their hands from the steering wheel. With its additional forward gear, the new automatic transmission has a wider spread of ratios which benefits both fuel consumption and drivability. The seventh speed is effectively an overdrive ratio, returning improved fuel economy on a steady throttle without compromising in-gear flexibility for overtaking. Shift points are tuned to keep the engine in the largest part of the torque curve, ensuring there is always a healthy reserve when the driver wants to overtake. The linked Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) system switches between three different programs depending on input from the major control systems throughout the car.
Other options include Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) which uses brake, throttle and laser sensors to help maintain a set distance between the Infiniti G37 Coupé and the car in front. In automatic transmission versions, the software reduces driver's workload even more allowing ICC to work from 0km/h to 180 km/h thanks to the "Full Speed Range" feature. An integral part of the ICC option for A/T models, the Intelligent Brake Assist system analyses closing speeds to a vehicle ahead helping reduce damage caused by a rear-end collision. If the driver must take immediate action to avoid a collision, the system sounds a warning to prompt driver action or can even activate the brakes to decelerate the vehicle.
The Safety
High levels of passive safety were a priority at the design stage. As a result, the Infiniti G37 Coupé has a full complement of six airbags, with dual-stage front airbags, seat belt sensors and passenger seat occupancy sensor. The front seats incorporate hip and thorax bags, while there are front-to-rear curtain airbags for protection in a side impact.
The standard is a pop-up bonnet, designed to offer greater crash protection for pedestrians. In the event of a collision, a small pyrotechnic charge raises the trailing edge of the bonnet close the lower edge of the windscreen. 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.
The Quality
Infiniti is synonymous with vehicle quality, and that's something that doesn't happen by accident.
On the Tochigi production line in Japan every vehicle - not just every tenth - is laser scanned to ensure that panel gaps are within prescribed limits.
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