2007 Infiniti G35 Sport 6MT Sedan

Infiniti has created a very capable, very popular luxury sedan with the G35. Originally created as an up market alternative for entry-level luxury buyers, the G35 sedan has been competing with the BMW 3-Series and the Audi A4 for the better part of the past decade. Priced slightly underneath the top tier 330i and with all cars fitted with the same V6 engine, the Infiniti quickly found a market amongst those who wanted something sporty that would coddle them at the same time. Aside from the also new IS300, the G35 sedan was the only rear-wheel drive option from Japan, and so it quickly defined the field of Asian luxury cars.

For 2007, Infiniti decided it was time to update the model which had brought them so much acclaim in both coupe and sedan form. The new G35 sedan is a little bit larger than the previous model. In Sport 6MT trim (the 6MT stands for ‘6-speed manual transmission’), the vehicle tops out around 3580 pounds – a 60 pound increase from the previous year. However, all of this mass comes with a few extra goodies: the FM platform that the car is based on has been upgraded to be 40 percent stiffer than the outgoing version. While it might also seem that the heavier version of the sedan would suffer a little in the performance department, Infiniti has sent the VQ 3.5 liter V6 engine to the gym and it’s come back with 306 horsepower, almost 10 more than the 2006 model. Not only that, but it also boasts 268 foot-lbs of torque. These gains were accomplished by almost completely re-designing the internals of parent company Nissan’s flagship motor, bumping up the redline and compression, and applying variable-valve timing to both the intake and exhaust valves.

The 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport 6MT Sedan puts this newfound power to the ground through a limited slip differential that does its best to banish wheel spin during the launch to 60 miles per hour, which only takes 5.2 seconds. Above 60, Nissan claims that their ram-air intake adds an extra 3 horsepower, although it is unlikely that anyone will actually notice a gain of this magnitude. The quarter mile is eaten up in 13.9 seconds and the sedan traps at 103 miles per hour – impressive for a street car, and doubly impressive for a somewhat porky luxury sedan. Larger brakes grip hard to bring the 18 inch wheels down to a stop from highway speeds without any drama.

Of course, the G35 Sport 6MT Sedan is designed to do more than just burn rubber. The interior has also been upgraded to meet the standards of even the most demanding luxury buyer. Leather seats, a leather-stitched steering wheel and aluminum accents make the driver feel as though they have paid a lot more than the $36 000 sticker price. For those wanting a more traditional interior appearance, wood trim can replace the aluminum.

The 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport 6MT Sedan is a true contender from the Japanese luxury automaker that should have both Audi and BMW looking nervously in their rear view mirrors. The Infiniti is both longer and wider than either of its competitors, and like Cadillac with the CTS, does not compare unfavorably to a base 5-Series BMW. This helps it to straddle the market while being priced much lower than those vehicles classed above it. The one thing working against Infiniti is the lack of sporting or luxury heritage associated with the brand. While the German automakers are able to flaunt their long history of fun to drive sedans, Japanese automakers are relative newcomers to the market – especially Infiniti. However, in terms of build quality and bang for the buck, the G35 Sport 6MT sedan is definitely near the top of the shopping list.
















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June 8, 2008, 9:17 am