With this latest generation of Gs, Infiniti finally has an interior that can legitimately be called "nice." The dash no longer looks brittle and is actually nice to touch; the comfy leather-wrapped seats have deep bolsters and are nicely supportive; the washi paper-inspired metal trim looks great and things overall are put together in such a way that the G's cockpit no longer looks like a Nissan interior wearing a cheap, rented prom tux. We can say with confidence that the G Coupe's interior is every bit as nice as that of the new 3 Series.
It performs just as well as a new 3 Series, too. The 330hp VQ sounds as good as ever, and this revised engine has a nice and flat torque curve. It really isn't necessary to downshift in this car should you want to overtake that geriatric driver (hi, Nads!) that just won't get out of your way-just step on the gas and go. The manual transmission feels a lot better than the sportshift auto-the auto box is too unrefined to really feel sporty. But hey, at least the paddle shifters are mounted to the steering column Ferrari-style. In typical Nissan fashion, the G37's steering is nicely weighted and provides just the right amount of feedback. Best of all, the G37 stays planted in all sorts of driving conditions, despite our typically ham-fisted driving style. It's as if this car can do no wrong.
So while the G37 may never come with a "GT-R" badge from the factory (though it'll only be a matter of days before we see an aftermarket one added...), this coupe definitely lives up to the legendary "Skyline" name. It handles well and is fast as stink right out of the box. The G37 kicks all sorts of 335i ass for thousands of dollars less than a similarly equipped 328. The fact that the G finally got a dose of some much-needed luxury only makes the overall package that much more attractive.
Alphanumeric Soup for the Soul
So just why is the G37's VQ37VHR better than the still-new VQ35HR we see in cars like the '08 350Z? In addition to an increased stroke (from 81.4 to 86 mm) that adds an extra .2 liters of displacement, the VQ37VHR also benefits from a higher compression ratio (11.0:1 vs. the VQ35HR's 10.6:1) and a new variable valve timing system called "V VEL" (Variable Valve Event and Lift).
This 3.7 liter V6 is better than the VQ35HR in just about every conceivable way. Compared to the 3.5L engine, the VQ37VHR gives the G37 30 extra ponies, delivering approximately a 10 percent increase in fuel economy and a 40 percent reduction in hydrocarbon emissions. This is the next-gen engine swap for both the die-hard speed freaks and the environmentally-conscious tuners.