2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible
March Spring Preview
The all-new 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible (C) was the talk of the auto industry in early March as the media spent a day behind the wheel of several first generation G37 Cs. Launched at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show last November, the G37 Convertible that will hit the market in late June will be the most technologically advanced G37 to date.
So, what better place to launch the G37 Convertible than in beautiful Southern California, where the temperatures hover in the 70’s and it’s always a perfect day to drop the top of a convertible?
First Drive
Let’s get right into it, the G37 Convertible is everything the G37 Sedan is, but better. From its throaty exhaust notes, to its Bose Open Air Audio System, the G37 C is a true performance minded convertible. Although the weight of the convertible top could be slightly detected during hard cornering (body sway) it wasn’t enough to “sway” our review. Whether looking for a convertible on a pristine sunny day, or a road gripping sporty coupe, the G37 C meets the demand. With the top down and the rear valence up, the interior noise was significantly reduced allowing the driver and passenger to easily chat.
Under the Hood
Infiniti is known for developing engines that really push the performance of a car to its peak. The 325-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 engine is fast and from the cockpit gives you the immediate sensation that you are driving something special. Mated with a 6-speed manual gearbox (also comes in a 7-speed automatic), the G37 C shifts quietly and smoothly up through the gears. Although we didn’t get to test top speed or 0-60 (we’ll leave that for the buff books) we spent the better part of the morning driving the G37 C through the hills, on to freeways, and down city blocks…and we couldn’t be more impressed with the overall experience of the G37 C. What actually stuck out more than the engine was, perhaps, the exhaust notes of the G37 C. Having driven many Infiniti vehicles, they all sing that same exhaust note song that is exclusive to Infiniti. You can hear it coming a short distance away, but something seemed more aggressive with the G37 C. Infiniti said they didn’t dial the exhaust notes up, but it sure had a great roar!
Bloomingdale Inspired Interior
I spent the first part of the morning driving the special Bloomingdale’s Premier Edition G37 C that was announced November 10, 2008. The limited volume (200) convertibles were marketed exclusively through Bloomingdale’s 2008 Holiday Catalog.
The Premier Edition definitely stuck out among the crowd. Although the official name of the interior leather was Monaco Red, I liken the color and texture to a brand new baseball glove. I was sold! Even the smell made me think of baseball. Although this isn’t the reaction Infiniti was hoping for, I absolutely fell in love with this interior; however, I would definitely opt for something other than the handcrafted maple wood trim. For a sports car like the Infiniti G37, and I fully understand the audience at Bloomingdale’s might like the maple wood, this is a sports car and I think the interior would be even more exotic and sporty with something other than maple wood. Rounding out the exterior were 19-inch, 9-spoke wheels special to the Premier Edition and a sporty midnight black grille.
The Convertible Experience
Over the past five years, automakers have begun engineering three-piece convertible hardtops. Volvo tagged their C70 convertible hard top a few years back as the Pininfarina-Designed Three Piece Retractable Hardtop using the famous designer Battista Pininfarina’s namesake to attract higher-end customers. Well, Infiniti isn’t going to great lengths to explain the convertible hardtop, but they are telling potential customers that the G37 C is not just a G37 with the roof cut off, rather the whole car has been specially-designed to maintain the same sexy look of the G37 (most convertibles tend to have higher trunk lids to accommodate the convertible). So, to maintain this sexy look, the G37 C has a revised suspension system to accommodate the added weight and the actual design of the convertible top is also unique. Dubbed the “clamshell design” the G37 C fits comfortable in the trunk leaving room for a small (very small) suitcase or computer bag. The top-up or top-down time is under 30 seconds.
Additional Creature Comforts
The G37 C comes with a host of great interior features including climate controlled front seats, adaptive climate control for top-down driving and the Bose Open Air Audio System with headrest mounted speakers. The audio system comes with 13 speakers, AudioPilot noise compression system and iPod connectivity.
The Bottom Line
The Sport Package is the only way to go with the G37 Convertible. You have to go for the full experience. I am sure the base model is just as fun, but let’s face it, having the creature comforts, an exceptional audio system, 19-inch wheels, sport-tuned steering, sport seats, paddle shifters, navigation and more is worth it. If you are looking for a comfortable daily driver that is also fun to cruise over the weekend…this is the perfect car for you.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but we are putting a starting sticker in the high 30’s low 40s’.