2009 Infiniti G37

For the second generation, the Infiniti G lineup has received numerous revisions, a bigger, more powerful 3.7L engine, and now, a drop-top version in the form of the 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible.

Arriving next spring, the hardtop G37 Convertible, which is making its debut at the 2008 Los Angeles auto show, will have several differences from its coupe relative. Infiniti says the design from the A-pillar back is all-new, including structural reinforcements in the chassis, a modified rear suspension, a wider rear track (62.8 in. with 18-in. wheels, 62.6 in. with 19-in. ones versus 61.4 in. for the coupe), and an extra 1.1 in. of overall width. The convertible hardware also adds a good chunk of extra weight, with the drop-top weighing between 4095 and 4110 lb versus the coupe's 3616-3668-lb weight range. The switch from top up and top down won't be lightning fast, either, with Infiniti saying that raising or dropping the top will take about 30 sec.

Convertible-only options include a wind deflector, climate-controlled seats, and a 13-speaker Bose Open Air sound system that features two speakers in both front headrests.

You knew it was only a matter of time until the G37 coupe's 3.7L V-6 trickled its way down to the G sedan.

As its name suggests, 2009 G37 sedan gets the coupe's larger six, tuned to 328 hp at 7000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque at 5200, an ever-so-slight drop from the coupe's 330 hp and 270 lb-ft. Arguably as notable as the bigger engine is the sedan's new seven-speed automatic, which made its debut in the 2009 FX crossover and also finds its way into the 2009 G coupe.

Not surprising, the acceleration times for the brawnier G37 S are markedly improved over the less-powerful, five-speed G35 S. Zero to 60 now takes only 5.0 sec, with the quarter-mile obliterated in just 13.5 at 105.3 mph. Compared with numbers from our long-term G35 S -- 5.3 and 13.9 at 99.9, respectively -- it's evident the additional 22 hp and two cogs make an appreciable difference."

The familiar VVEL 3.7-liter V-6 carries over, but it produces five fewer horses due to a slightly more restrictive exhaust. Transmissions migrate over as well - buyers will choose a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic.

Lowering the roof requires nothing more than a lengthy thirty-second button press, and air movement is very well controlled inside the cabin, especially with the optional wind blocker. To ensure year-round comfort, you can order heated and cooled seats, and headrest-mounted Bose speakers are available, too.

Asking rear-seat passengers to hold your luggage will be an exercise in the art of persuasion. They have almost five inches less legroom than they would in the back of a BMW 3-series droptop

Infiniti has replaced the G35, its BMW 3-series-fighting sedan, with the G37. As you'd imagine, the G37 uses the 3.7-liter V-6 from the sexy G37 coupe; in the sedan, it produces 2 hp less due to different exhaust routing. Still, at 328 hp, the new G37 four-door makes 22 hp more than did the G35's V-6, and its power output beats both the BMW 328i and the twin-turbo 335i.

Thanks to two additional gear ratios - a seven-speed unit first seen in the FX - the automatic G37's ratings are expected to jump by 1 mpg city and 2 mpg highway, to 18 mpg and 26 mpg, respectively. The new gearbox shifts quickly and smoothly, with beautifully rev-matched downshifts, and is available with steering-column-mounted shift paddles.

On the two-door front, the sexy G37 coupe, which was launched last year, not only receives the optional seven-speed automatic, it's available with all-wheel drive, too. The G37x coupe, like the G37x sedan, isn't available with a manual transmission, and both models ride about half an inch higher than their rear-wheel-drive counterparts.

The G37 sedan (née G35) will benefit from the 3.7-liter VQ V-6 introduced in the G coupe for 2008, though it will make 2 hp less for a total of 328 hp. The sedan will continue to be offered in rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

The biggest addition will be a new all-wheel-drive G37x coupe.

All three cars will also get a new seven-speed automatic transmission to replace the five-speed auto that was previously offered. A six-speed manual will still be available as well. Scratch Shield paint with a self-healing clear coat layer will also be standard across the board.

Not only are the new seat-heater switches nicer to look at, David, they also now offer several stages of adjustability, unlike the two-level controls in our departed long-term G37S coupe.

Such frigid temperatures aren't all bad, however, because on these semislick roads, the G37S is a riotous drift machine. Just select the right gear, tweak the steering wheel slightly, apply some of the 328 hp, and ride the slide.

I, too, thought that the clutch in this vehicle was better-damped than that of our Four Seasons Infiniti G37S coupe.