2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Preview
G37 Convertible Photos
Infinity’s G series has been a critically acclaimed success since its introduction in 2002. Both the sedan and coupe retain their modest, sporting-elegance style in the face of radical sculpturing on many of their competitors. Technical development has been incremental and nearly invisible. Even the newest G37 sedan and coupe remain difficult to distinguish from their predecessors, but the new G Convertible, with disappearing hardtop, introduces a radical departure and opens new customer horizons for Nissan’s popular profit leader.
“As the latest expression of our Inspired Performance, the Infiniti G Convertible instills equal parts lust and envy – lust for its exotically beautiful styling and envy for its unmatched performance credentials,” said Ben Poore, vice president of marketing for Infiniti.
The handsome three-piece top disappears as a clamshell set that fits compactly into the rear of the car to minimize the space required to store it. There is also an automatic cover to protect both the top sections and objects that share the trunk space. An elegant result of the disappearing hardtop is the lack of B-pillar when all side windows are open with the roof closed. It is a vision missed for decades of regulations. For many years the term “hardtop” suggested a convertible with a fixed roof. Only recently, except for Ford’s famous limited production experiment, has the term been meaningful. It is still a simple way to make a well-formed roof even more beautiful.
The Infiniti brand includes both luxury and sport in its concept brief. Nissan engine developments have been key components to that end. The new Convertible enjoys the latest of these in its all aluminum 3.7-liter DOHC, 24-valve V6 (Nissan’s V6 has been included on Ward’s 10 best engines list for 14 unprecedented years). The new engine uses variable valve event (VVE) timing, sequential multi-point fuel injection and low-friction, coated pistons to develop its 325-horsepower at 7,000 rpm (up from 306 at 6,800 in the 2008 sport sedan) and 267 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm. It all reaches the rear wheels through a new electronically controlled 7-speed automatic transmission that can use engine torque so efficiently that the G Convertible is expected to concurrently improve both its performance numbers and its EPA fuel consumption. For the more gifted zealots, a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox is also available on the G37S Convertible Sport 6MT. The coupe version, incidentally, is now available as the G37X with intelligent all wheel drive.
When an opportunity to drive the new convertible is offered, improvements in both grip and ride can be expected from Infiniti’s updated structure for the removal of the chassis’ roof link. The more rigid platform will permit spring and damper revisions on the cars double-wishbone independent front and multi-link rear suspension. We look forward to an on-road experience to judge the success of the always-difficult engineering challenge. Metallurgy, finite materials analysis and robotic manufacturing controls have made modern vehicle structures both measurably stronger and infinitely more adjustable as required.
Also standard in modern vehicle development are model/use specific tires. The latest G uses alloy wheels in 18×8.0J at the front and 18×8.5 wheels for the rear to support P225/50R18 and P245/45R18 tires respectively. The G37S Convertible Sport 6MT changes the alloy wheels to 19×8.5J front and 19×9.0J rear and wears P225/45R19 and P245/40R19 respectively. Disc brakes on all four wheels are ventilated and measure 13.0 x 1.3-inches in front (14 x 1.3 for the Sport) and 13.0 x 0.6 at rear (13.8 x 0.8 for the Sport). Both versions, as with the entire G37 line, have Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist, and Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).
Included with the Convertible’s leather interior is a model-specific Bose sound system that monitors ambient noise, vehicle speed and position of folding top to dynamically adjust both sound canceling and amplifier equalization. Thirteen speakers fill the cockpit but include headrest speakers to create depth and ambience even during full-throttle, top-down entertainment. These personal speakers, debuting in the G Convertible, are based on extensive Bose research into acoustics and psychoacoustics –- the science of how sound is perceived. Proprietary acoustic array technologies enable the Bose Personal speakers to precisely direct and shape the sound for front-seat listeners, delivering balanced audio regardless of head movement and creating a wide and spacious soundstage, even though the speakers are just inches from their ears. Clarity is augmented by Bose AudioPilot 2 noise compensation circuitry to compensate for background noise and vehicle speed. A built-in microphone monitors the overall sound in the cabin and Bose proprietary digital signal processing analyzes the unwanted noise. An algorithm – engineered specifically for the Infiniti G Convertible – automatically adjusts the sound to compensate for the ever-changing effects of ambient noise whether the convertible top is up or down.
Adaptive Climate Control was also developed for Infiniti’s open-air experience. The new system automatically adjusts its output when the top is down according to both speed and outside temperature. When you slow down on a warm day the fan automatically speeds up to maintain your chosen ambient temperature. When the air is cold and the sun is brilliant and the folding top cannot be resisted, the climate control will increase its output with your speed to attempt to keep you warm. With the top up the fresh air entering the system is filtered and purified to remove airborne allergens and germs.
With only an auto show walk around and a brief experience with the driver’s seat, we give high marks to Infiniti’s latest lust object. It is beautiful in the division’s unpretentiously handsome sporting way with the three-piece top either up or down. Our experience with the brand suggests it is unlikely to disappoint when the dynamics are challenged on a Malibu canyon or the Westside Highway is plugged on the way to Midtown.
Ben Poore offered his official G whiz commentary, “A little success makes you want to try harder. A lot of success makes you want to blow the doors off the competition again – which we’re poised to do with the new, intensified Infiniti G lineup for 2009.”
Preliminary Specifications (2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible):
