2007 Infiniti G35

The stylish and lithe second-generation G35 can count itself among the rare automotive species that inspire drivers to continually test its performance limits.

The first-generation G35 represented a risk for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s flagging Infiniti luxury brand in 2002 when it launched in the U.S. as an ’03 model. The G35 sprang from the FM (Front Midship) architecture that also underpins the Nissan 350Z, G35 coupe and Infiniti FX cross/utility vehicle.

Most formidably, the first-generation G35 would do battle in the fierce lower luxury segment, which has nearly 20 competitors and is known for chewing up and spitting out weak players.

But the G35 has more than held its own, managing a solid third place in 2005 by racking up 68,728 deliveries. Only the BMW 3-Series and Acura TL sold more. More importantly, the first-generation G35 helped spark a product renaissance at Nissan and Infiniti that continues today.

However, the outgoing model needs reinforcements in this tight segment. This year, the Lexus brand is on a tear with its new IS and ES sedans. The ES already has wrestled its way to third place past the G35 and is neck-and-neck with the Acura TL for second place, according to Ward’s data.

The brisk-selling IS is bearing down hard this year on the fifth-place Cadillac CTS and the first-gen G35.

But now that the all-new G35 is gracing U.S. showrooms, it will pull closer to the almighty 3-Series and further outpace the CTS, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 and others.

The cavalry has arrived, riding on the second-generation unibody FM chassis that Infiniti says is 40% stiffer than the first, isolating annoying vibrations.

Following the sedan, an all-new G35 coupe arrives in mid-2007 as an ’08 model. Incidentally, Infiniti says it will introduce a third new vehicle in fall 2007.

The footprint of the new G35 is extremely close to the model it replaces. Wheelbase is unchanged at 112.2 ins. (285 cm), but the new car is 0.8 ins. (2 cm) wider and 0.5 ins. (1.3 cm) shorter than the old G.

Despite looking beefier, the car gains only 29 lbs. (13 kg) in rear-wheel-drive, 5-speed automatic guise, tipping the scales at 3,497 lbs. (1,584 kg).
Brushed aluminum finished to resemble Washi, a Japanese rice paper.


The outgoing G35 was attractively styled, and Infiniti wisely retained the sheet metal’s overall shape. At the corners, however, the styling is a bold departure. Headlamps and tail lamps wrap around the corners, bulging like an athlete after months of hard weight training.