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2007 Infiniti G37 Coupe Preview

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Most of us have heard this saying at one pointor another. There are many products we use that are pretty good just the way they are, and no amount of tinkering or modifying will improve on the original. Companies like Coca Cola (remember Coke II?) have learned this lesson dearly. There exists some trepidation where change is concerned because the very things that make something great are now threatened by an unquenchable thirst for progress, a need to constantly move forward. This must have been how Infiniti engineers felt when undertaking the daunting task of improving on the current G35 Coupe. Judging by sales numbers, many buyers felt Infiniti got it right the first time.

Judging by the conservative styling update it doesn't look like Nissan's luxury brand is about to mess with

330 horsepower will certainly have BMW 335 drivers fearing this car. (Photo: Infiniti)

success anytime soon. No, rather than risk tampering with what G coupe buyers like most, Infiniti chose to enhance the car in areas that it knew would only bring praise. The new G37 actually improves on its predecessor in every way, except, perhaps, the ease in which it rolls off the tongue. Regarding styling, its clean mix of edgy, athletic lines being one of the defining traits of theG35 Coupe, designers of the updated 2008 model chose an evolutionary approach rather than stirring up a revolution amongst the car's loyal fans. It looks instantly familiar,

August... can we wait that long? (Photo: Infiniti)

yet the new model appears as if it has spent a lot of time being shaped in the wind tunnel. Its lines are softer, more curvaceous, with a more rakish profile. The front end has larger openings for cooling, book ended with headlamps that feature a pronounced upward swoop.

Those larger openings are necessary, as the newly enlarged VQ V6 makes considerably more snort. Horsepower and torque jumps to 330 and 270 ft-lbs respectively, up from 298 and 258. Displacement rises 200 ccto 3.7 liters, but no doubt you already figured that one out thanks to the car's new alphanumeric designation. It should endow the G with satisfyingly brisk performance, especially when considering that the outgoing model

Four wheel steering, something of a rarity these days, will be available on the G37 Coupe. (Photo: Infiniti)

was no slouch, hitting 60 mph in the low 5 second range. Aside from the increased displacement and performance figures, the G37's engine also gets an 11:1 compression ratio and the addition of the letters VVEL to its VQ designation. Variable Valve Event and Lift is what Infiniti has dubbed the system, and it does what all other variable valve systems do: provides the most power and efficiency possible at all points of the rev range. Complementing the engine's thrust are huge, upgraded brakes with 14-inch front and 13.8-inch rear rotors.

You can bet that the chassis has benefited from the redesign as well,although we're not exactly certain about what's been done at this point. Wheel and tire sizes will probably be reworked, as will the suspension components that carry them. Spring and shock rates will,

More power never hurt... and the styling's more or less the same, just a touch more curvaceous. (Photo: Infiniti)

in turn be revised, the goal being to give the G37 driver a distinct edge in ride and handling versus the outgoing model. New for 2008 will be Active 4 Wheel Steering, a technology that seems to be fairly cyclical in its availability; we'll see how Infiniti engineers made out with the system when we get an opportunity to drive it, but this is hardly Nissan's first kick at the four-wheel steering can.

Another facet of the G37 we're looking forward to exploring is the freshened interior. Again, details are few, but we canexpect appointments to be richer than its predecessor thanks to time spent in the recently updated 2007 G35 sedan. For 2008 Infiniti will use slightly different trim schemes to further distance the coupe from the four-door, however. Also, a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive for storing music, photos and destinations you program for the navigation system will be available. Incidentally, Infiniti is offering XM Radio's NavTraffic real-time

Here's a car that simply took the North American sports coupe market by storm - the G35. (Photo: Infiniti)

traffic monitoring to further increase the system's usability. All these changes add up to a driving experience that should be adrenaline inducing to say the least.

And so we are led back to the old saying that began this preview. We've established that the outgoing G35 wasn't broken, and that the changes made for 2008 have not threatened to pay homage to a car that is still superb in almost every way. The updates, rather, should add up to form a package that will likely attract even more luxury sports buyers to the Infiniti brand. The only worry that surrounds the G37 will come from competing manufacturers. BMW's own 335i Coupe only makes 300 horses to the G's 330 (although BMW traditionally errs on the side of conservatism when rating engine performance), and it does so with the aid of two turbos, while the brand's Japanese luxury rivals, Lexus and Acura, don't even offer direct competitors. Yes, you can bet there will be some nervous gazes being exchanged in boardrooms when this thing hits dealer lots in August.

Preliminary Specifications:

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