The original Infiniti G35 came as a shock to the luxury-car market when it was introduced in 2003. It was a complete package – with a powerful engine, sophisticated transmission and excellent handling – and was a stunning value in the face of its European competitors. And it looked great, too. G35s were soon everywhere, but the luxury-car game is competitive and Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and Audi soon introduced competitors and the G35's value/performance lead was slowly eroded. One area where Infiniti has made major strides is the drivetrain. While the five-speed automatic isn't an upgrade, it is smarter than it used to be. There's a snow mode for gentle winter starts and a sport mode that upshifts later and more aggressively while downshifting earlier as you brake for a corner. Too bad that the shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel only come on the $46,790 Sport model. While the engine retains the same VQ architecture as its predecessor – and its 3.5-litre displacement – its character is different. While the old 3.5 was a bit lazy – powerful and torquey but slow to rev – the new engine feels eager, responding to a brush of your foot at the gas pedal. More great news: fuel economy isn't any worse than the old car's and in most situations, is superior thanks to improved aerodynamics. Equipped with all-wheel drive, my G35X tester generated traction in pretty much every situation. Unlike its German competitors – the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class come to mind – the Infiniti doesn't have a raised ride height (and thus a higher centre of gravity). This makes for entertaining handling that invites you to drive hard no matter what the situation. Bolstering your confidence are superb ABS brakes with brake assist and a subtle, well-calibrated stability-control system. Where the G35 falls short is in ride quality and in overall stability when you're driving fast. The tail can feel a little twitchy at the rear, which is rewarding for enthusiastic drivers but can be disconcerting if you're not expecting it. Many of the original's ergonomic issues have been addressed. The seat controls are where you would expect them to be instead of on the tops of the cushions and the volume control for the stereo is now closer to the driver. The one ergonomically brilliant feature – an instrument panel that tilts along with the steering wheel so you always have a great view of the gauges – is still here. Infiniti has upped the gadget quotient. You no longer need to use the key to start the car; simply keep the key fob in your pocket and thumb a switch on the dashboard to go. The car's navigation system offers a better-looking interface and a bird's-eye view can draw certain major landmarks to scale on the screen. Bluetooth means you can make calls on your cellphone – and access its address book by screen or by voice – without removing it from your pocket. The gauges have cool floating faces and red needles that look like miniature neon tubes. The "studio on wheels" sound system features a six-disc player as well as a compact-flash card reader in the dashboard. It's controlled through a revised version of Infiniti's multimedia interface which, to be honest, isn't that good. The point of most knob-and-button systems is to make things less complicated; Infiniti's big knob has nine buttons embedded in its top and is surrounded by more than 10 others. Hard to complain, though, about the cabin ambiance. The overall level of quality is much improved, with rich, textured materials. There are some particularly nice touches: the leather on the seats feels finely-grained but isn't slippery and the leather-wrapped shifter has a warm aluminum accent running down its middle that makes it a treat to hold. Perhaps the most striking feature of the car's design is the use of a Japanese-inspired texture for the metal trim that stands in for fake wood. Indeed, one of the things I love about the G35 is how it's distinctively Japanese. The styling, while more organic-looking than its predecessor, is still edgy and distinctive, with its slanted headlights, jewelled rear lights and short front overhang. All that and a price that starts under $40,000 for a car with a 306-hp engine – thousands less than similarly powerful competitors from Germany and Japan. |