2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe News

[guitarlix]

Post all the latest news as it comes in this one thread.

from the Nissan Sports Mag newletter:

2008 G Coupe & Crossover News. We are receiving pics and engine details tomorrow from Infiniti on the new 08 G Coupe and Crossover Concept. We confirmed that Infiniti has moved up their embargo date on this information to March 28, a Wednesday. Which means at 9 p.m. Pacific (midnight Eastern) Tuesday night (March 27), we’ll have all the details and analysis on our website. Mark your calendars and get out the coffee, it’ll be fun.

Infiniti moved up the deadline due to the outcry of the big dog magazines, saying it was happening too late for deadline. Being a quarterly publication, Nissan Sport was ready from the get go, as shuffling dates is much easier.

www.nissansportmag.com

[guitarlix]

The new Coupe will lose the G35 name since the engine is moving up in size to 3.7L. It will probably just be named the "G-coupe".

The engine is probably going to be a tuned down version of the 450HP 3.7L V6 Twin Turbo that is going into the Skyline GT-R. Expect power to be in the 310HP region.

[vsd]

judging by that one picture, this is automotive design perfection.

[Mr. Burns]

Originally Posted by vsd

judging by that one picture, this is automotive design perfection.

i agree, it's a gorgous car.

[big swede]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

The new Coupe will lose the G35 name since the engine is moving up in size to 3.7L. It will probably just be named the "G-coupe".

The engine is probably going to be a tuned down version of the 450HP 3.7L V6 Twin Turbo that is going into the Skyline GT-R. Expect power to be in the 310HP region.

I'm not sure what "tuned down" would mean in this case. Nissan can easily make 310 hp out of their 3.7 without the use of turbos. In fact I don't think it would be possible to hold the power down that low. So in this case I don't think a naturally aspirated 3.7 could really be considered "tuned down" since it doesn't have most of the same hardware inside or out.

[EldoFan]

With all this, I don't see why Nissan/Infiniti isn't owning Toyonda in NA........at least I can get a pulse when sitting in a Maxima or G-series.....

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

With all this, I don't see why Nissan/Infiniti isn't owning Toyonda in NA........at least I can get a pulse when sitting in a Maxima or G-series.....

Maybe because not everyone likes this sort of thing? Just because you do, doesn't mean everyone else has to. This goes for all cars, not just sporty ones.

[masrapido]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

With all this, I don't see why Nissan/Infiniti isn't owning Toyonda in NA........at least I can get a pulse when sitting in a Maxima or G-series.....

Most people don't "get a pulse" when inside any car. Most every woman sure doesn't, and a lot of guys don't either. Practicality prevails for all but us, the enthusiasts.

[69Firebird400]

Originally Posted by guitarlix

The new Coupe will lose the G35 name since the engine is moving up in size to 3.7L. It will probably just be named the "G-coupe".

The engine is probably going to be a tuned down version of the 450HP 3.7L V6 Twin Turbo that is going into the Skyline GT-R. Expect power to be in the 310HP region.

I thought that I remembered reading that Nissan had trademarked the G37 name. Just because they trademarked it doesn't mean they'll use it, though (and doesn't mean my memory is accurate!)

310 horsepower would be disappointing, given the extra displacement over the G35 sedan and - I hope it's more like 325, considering the sedan makes 306 already. 325 horsepower would be really impressive from a non-DI, naturally-aspirated V6! But then they could wind up like the Lexus GS, with little to no performance rationale for upgrading to the V8 if they offered the 3.7 in the Infiniti M.

Originally Posted by vsd

judging by that one picture, this is automotive design perfection.

The car in the photo was a concept they showed at the 2006 NAIAS in Detroit. Here are several more if you're interested: http://www.netcarshow.com/infiniti/2006-coupe_concept/

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by big swede

I'm not sure what "tuned down" would mean in this case. Nissan can easily make 310 hp out of their 3.7 without the use of turbos. In fact I don't think it would be possible to hold the power down that low. So in this case I don't think a naturally aspirated 3.7 could really be considered "tuned down" since it doesn't have most of the same hardware inside or out.

I guess "tuned down" would be incorrect usage. What I meant was that it would be pretty much the same engine, bereft of some high end parts. Here's more specific information:

A tamer version of this V-6, codenamed VQ37HR-TT, will make its way into the upcoming Infiniti G35 Coupe. Key differences between the engines are that the GT-R's VQ will have the twin turbochargers, lighter pistons and connecting rods, as well as a beefed-up crankshaft. Other custom parts may make their way into the engine, including racing profile camshafts and new valvetrain.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I thought that I remembered reading that Nissan had trademarked the G37 name. Just because they trademarked it doesn't mean they'll use it, though (and doesn't mean my memory is accurate!)

310 horsepower would be disappointing, given the extra displacement over the G35 sedan and - I hope it's more like 325, considering the sedan makes 306 already. 325 horsepower would be really impressive from a non-DI, naturally-aspirated V6! But then they could wind up like the Lexus GS, with little to no performance rationale for upgrading to the V8 if they offered the 3.7 in the Infiniti M.

You're correct. I was erring on the conservative side since I don't know what the actual numbers are going to be. Yes, the final figure is probably going to be closed to 320 HP with probably about 300 lb-ft torque. But better to aim low and be surprised rather than expect a lot and be dissapointed.

[Michael_S]

Originally Posted by EldoFan

With all this, I don't see why Nissan/Infiniti isn't owning Toyonda in NA........at least I can get a pulse when sitting in a Maxima or G-series.....

People buy vehicles for comfort, economy, reliability, brand, looks, and fun. Toyota and Honda have the first three categories nailed, which also gives them the fourth category. Nissan has the last two.

Besides, your post doesn't make sense. The Altima offers 270 horsepower in a FWD family car with CVT or 6 speed manual. The G35 sedan offers 306 horsepower for $32,000. If Nissan should be owning Toyota and Honda, they should absolutely be smacking the Big Three around like redheaded stepchildren.
1. Up until the 2006 Grand Prix GXP, GM, Ford, and Chrysler had nothing FWD to compete with the midsize Altima V6. The Sebring/Avenger and Fusion still top out at 235 horsepower. Only the GXP, Impala SS, and Monte Carlo SS compete, and they're handicapped by FWD and 4 speed autos. The G6 GTP and Aura XR compete well, but unfortunately they're handicapped by an 18 horsepower deficit (even if real world track numbers put them neck and neck with the Altima).
2. The 2007 G35 sedan gives 306 horsepower for $31,450. The MKZ offers 43 less horsepower. The 2007 CTS 3.6 offers 51 less horsepower for $1500 more. The 2008 CTS will offer 250 horsepower at base trim, and 300 at the higher trim level - so the chance that it will compete with the G35 on price is almost nil.

The only domestic that's really in the performance game for fun family cars is Chrysler, with the Charger/Magnum/300. But even then, gobs of horsepower is only half the performance picture. The other half is sporty handling, and 4100+ pounds of long and wide fullsize sedan or wagon makes that difficult.

[HoosierRon]

Does GM have anything that remotely competes against this? RWD, manual transmission, 2+2 coupe.

[guitarlix]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

Does GM have anything that remotely competes against this? RWD, manual transmission, 2+2 coupe.

CTS Coupe may be here soon

Over the next three months or so, General Motors executives will decide whether to produce a new Cadillac CTS wagon and coupe, the next step in Cadillac's rebirth as a global brand.

Hoping to build on the successful debut of the CTS in the United States, General Motors could create a CTS family of models reminiscent of the BMW 3 series. If Cadillac expands its presence in Europe, it could afford to build niche vehicles like a wagon that otherwise would face a marginal future as U.S.-only cars.

[Ach]

[quote=Michael_S] The 2007 G35 sedan gives 306 horsepower for $31,450. The MKZ offers 43 less horsepower. The 2007 CTS 3.6 offers 51 less horsepower for $1500 more. The 2008 CTS will offer 250 horsepower at base trim, and 300 at the higher trim level - so the chance that it will compete with the G35 on price is almost nil.
quote]

This is true of all of the G35's competition. The 3-series, C-Class, and Lexus IS are all way underpowered (more so even than the CTS and MKZ) at 31K compared to the G35. In terms of bang for the buck, the G35 really is in a class of its own.