2008 Infiniti G37

Luxury/Sport Interior

The G37 cabin offers a cockpit-oriented driver and front passenger area, Infiniti “double wave” instrument panel with analog clock, and a leather and aluminum shifter in the full-length console. Standard trim is aluminum with a pattern inspired by handmade Japanese Washi paper. Not so sure we like this, but the rest of the interior is terrific.


The just-right-size steering wheel is wrapped in double-hand-stitched leather with easy audio and cruise controls. Instrument lighting is white-and-violet electroluminescent, and an integrated multi-function trip computer offers such useful information as running distance, average and instantaneous fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed, elapsed time and outside air temperature in addition to odometer and warning displays.


The premium leather power (8-way driver, 4-way passenger) front seats with 2-way adjustable head restraints move forward automatically at the touch of a button for rear-seat access, and the Sport Package’s 14-way seats have thigh extensions and power adjustable torso and thigh bolsters for the driver. We like manually controlling automatic transmissions on twisty two-lanes, and we love the G37 Sport-Package Journey’s available slim, elegant and perfectly placed (real) magnesium paddle shifters.

Powertrain

Among the G37’s advantages over the new-for-‘07 G35 sedan that shares its excellent rear-drive platform is its new 330-hp 3.7-liter V-6 with VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift), which combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable intake valve lift that improve performance, emissions and fuel efficiency while enabling a high 7,500 rpm redline. It also has twin knock sensors, an electronically controlled “drive-by-wire” throttle and a symmetrical twin-air-intake system, and its dual exhausts have equal-length manifolds and low backpressure to improve engine breathing.


A slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission is standard, or you can opt for an upgraded electronically controlled 5-speed automatic with manual and DS modes, downshift rev matching and ASC (Adaptive Shift Control) for quicker shifts in sporty driving situations.