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2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan Preview

Best Performer in Class Gets Even Better

When Infiniti introduced the G35 a couple of years ago a group of journalists, including myself, were taken to a Northwest Coast Gulf Island. At first I couldnt have imagined how we were going to stretch the legs of these highly touted new models on a little island, but after spending a day there winding, twisting, dipping, and diving I was sold, on the island and the car.

To me, this side of BMW 5-Series, there is no better handling sedan on the market. And this is from a 6-times BMW owner. Throw in the brands wonderfully flexible high-revving 260 horsepower V6 with 260 lb-ft of torque, and it smoked everything in its class.

To be fair to BMW, the

Earlier this year, Infiniti, Nissans luxury division, announced specific updates for the G35 in the 2005 model year. (Photo: Infiniti)

Infiniti was not without fault. Its interior was nicely designed but lacked the refinement of the Bavarian, and its styling spoke deeply to some but simply wasnt for everyone - not necessarily a bad thing.

Well, since the G35 surfaced BMW has become the controversial one with regards to exterior design and Infiniti has made improvements in interior execution. Fortunately for conservative BMW fans,

Its easy to see the changes from the original 2003 G35 sedan (shown) when placed side-by-side with the 2005. The 2004 model is identical to the 2003. (Photo: Infiniti)

of which I am not one, the BMW 3-Series has somehow managed to stay clear of Bangle, Hooydonk and companys scalpel. Still, an updated version is expected fairly soon, albeit more conservatively penned than BMWs 5- and 7-Series. Even so, there will be many disgruntled BMW fans that will be looking for an alternative to their favorite "Bahn-stormer," and Infiniti, the natural alternative, will be willing and waiting with a much improved G35.

Earlier this year

Infiniti will upgrade the current (shown here) G35s overall design of the instrument cluster, center stack and lower console. (Photo: Infiniti)

Infiniti announced upgrades to its popular G35 sedan to reporters for the first time. As expected, the Japanese luxury brand plans to enhance the only aspect of its compact models to receive regular criticism, interior tactile quality. Along with the upgraded materials the brand will update the overall design of the instrument cluster, center stack and lower console.

The most noticeable change is the redesigned clock and ancillary digital readout atop the dash, a much cleaner and more efficient package. Infinitis classic analog clock is still oval-shaped, offering that

The current G35 interior, shown here, will receive a major tactile quality improvement for 2005. (Photo: Infiniti)

special touch now expected in the brands luxury cars.

Just below the clock is a revised center stack, still featuring some similar shapes but changed enough to give it an entirely new look. Its surfaced in authentic aluminum, and integrates a new audio interface, and a redesigned ashtray with a repositioned rectangular hazard button (the current one is circular) beside the new automatic transmission surround. Like the hazard button, the shifter surround goes from round to rectangular - no photo of the 6-speed manual equipped G35 was available for comment.

Also, optional drilled aluminum foot pedals with circular rubber pads can be ordered to replace the

Infiniti is upping the G35s 3.5-liter V6 engine horsepower from 260 to 277. (Photo: Infiniti)

full-rubber pads of the current car, plus primary instruments have been given a subtle restyle. Other than that and those things just mentioned the general layout of the dash and instrument cluster looks much the same, with the exception of a thin horizontal strip of aluminum that splits the upper and lower dash as it spans the width of the vehicle.

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