The Infiniti G37 doesn't look like a revolution, but for the company that sells it, it has been. Nissan launched Infiniti during the 1990 model year with two cars and a series of Zen-heavy commercials that managed to feature neither of them. It was all too amorphous and touchy-feely for the rough-and-tumble world of auto sales. And Infiniti without the G37 floundered.
The first Infiniti G actually appeared in 1991 as a version of the Japanese-market, front-drive Primera powered by a sweet 2.0-liter four. Called the G20, it was comprehensively equipped for a small car and had a particularly light and delightful driving feel. But it was sort of anonymous-looking and not all that powerful compared to the competition, and the market pretty much ignored it. The next Infiniti G changed that.
Radically different from, and significantly larger than, the G20, the 2003 Infiniti G35 was essentially a modified version of the rear-drive, Japanese-market Skyline four-door sedan. Built atop Nissan's "FM" platform that pushed the engine components rearward to improve weight distribution, the Infiniti G35 was initially offered only with a 260-horsepower, 3.5-liter version of Nissan's lauded VQ-series V6.
The Infiniti G35 was the first Japanese car in its class that seriously challenged European competitors in driving dynamics. The chassis and all-independent suspension was supple and tenacious, the engine was powerful and eager, and the cabin was plush and comfortable. Suddenly Infiniti dealers had a real car on their hands. And the Infiniti G35 sold well.
As time went on, the Infiniti G35 got a little more powerful and gained the option of all-wheel drive. But the big addition came in the form of an elegant two-door coupe version of the G35 a few months after the sedan. Throw in optional all-wheel drive and the Infiniti G35 range could practically match any competition head-to-head.
The third Infiniti G appeared for the 2007 model year, redesigned and wearing a new badge: G37, representing the growth of its V6 to 3.7 liters in displacement and more than 300 hp in output. A revised coupe came in 2008 and a convertible based on the coupe joined the line in 2009. That's a lot of Infiniti G37s.
