Infiniti G37S Coupe
New luxury brand’s two-door contender has established prestige rivals in sight
The Infiniti G37 Coupé doesn’t offer the same polished experience as its Audi and BMW rivals, and potential owners will have to prepare themselves for some pretty hefty running costs. But this is a stylish two-door that stands out from the crowd. It will turn heads wherever you go, and thanks to that V6, it has the kind of go to back up its considerable show.
It's only just landed in the UK – but Infiniti has got straight down to business. Nissan’s luxury arm has its work cut out competing with the very best cars from European prestige rivals. And to see if it can handle the pace, we drove the G37 Coupé – a model that has the toughest task of the new range, as it goes up against the popular Audi A5 Coupé and BMW 3-Series Coupé.
It’s not short on style. The G37 is sure to turn heads with its classic rear-wheel-drive sports car proportions, comprising a long bonnet and muscular rear haunches. Thankfully, designers have kept the shape simple, so there are no needless wings or spoilers. Instead, you get sleek bodywork, complemented by a neat front grille, classy L-shaped lights and twin exhausts.
Inside, the cabin feels quite upmarket with pleasant ambient lighting and soft leather seats. It’s just a pity the less-than-classy clock and cheap-feeling plastic on the centre console spoil the effect.
Equipment
Our flagship S model was crammed with goodies, though, including electric memory seats, four-wheel active steering and sports suspension. One option you might want to consider is the combined DVD sat-nav and Bose noise-cancelling sound system – but only if you have an extra £2,350 to splash out.
Under the skin, the G37 Coupé shares much with the Nissan 370Z, including its 3.7-litre V6. This is detuned slightly for the Infiniti, with 316bhp and 360Nm of torque. Performance is still searing, with 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, a 155mph top speed and neck-snapping in-gear acceleration. But you pay the price with a vocal soundtrack which becomes harsh at higher revs.
Our car had the optional seven-speed auto box. This doesn’t change fast enough when you flick the steering paddles, and could be smoother in full auto mode. And while the G37 Coupé feels agile and grippy, the steering is vague and the ride poor over small bumps.
Buyers will be drawn by the car’s exclusivity, plus the promise of impeccable customer service. But there’s still only one Infiniti dealer, in Reading, Berkshire – so BMW and Audi shouldn’t be worried.
