Infiniti G35 Sedan Horsepower Announced
When Infiniti introduced the current G35 sedan in 2003, the world’s well heeled but sensible car shoppers reacted by reaching for their wallets. Offering good looks, a luxury interior, and sports sedan performance, the four-door quickly became the darling of the Infiniti lineup, shooting to the top of every sales chart. More competitive than any other Infiniti model before it, the G35 marked the first time Nissan’s luxury brand was treated with the same respect as competitor Lexus, and rightfully so. But that was then, and this is now. Lexus has since stepped up their game with the new IS, and so as not to get left behind, literally, Infiniti has already returned fire with its 2007 Infiniti sedan.
So why are we talking about it? Well, until now Infiniti has been tight-lipped on the new G35’s performance. Citing a power figure somewhere north of 300, details surrounding the next generation VQ engine residing under the ‘07 G35’s hood have been elusive. But now that the motor’s been officially tested by the SAE, the new G35’s power figure has finally come to light to the tune of an impressive 306 horsepower. That places the ‘07 G35 sedan ahead of the same year G35 coupe, thanks to the coupe’s last-generation VQ still pumping out a best of 293 horsepower (as equipped with the six-speed manual).
Backed by either a close ratio 6-speed or a 5-speed automatic with manual-shift mode, the new G35 should be a first rate sports sedan with either transmission, and Infiniti is capitalizing on that with a new “Journey” model that comes equipped with a sports appearance package as well as magnesium shift paddles for the downshift-rev-matching manumatic gearbox. Promising an involving driver experience, the new sedan also bodes well for the much-talked-about 2008 Infiniti coupe that will see showrooms in late 2007.
While no details have been released about the two-door, speculation suggests that the coupe may receive a slightly larger version of the VQ-series V6 currently doing duty as G35 motivation. Bolstered by Nissan’s legal claim to the G37 moniker, those rumours suggest a slightly higher power output as well; although early rumbling of a G45 V8-powered coupe have since been put to rest. Instead, it would appear Nissan/Infiniti has chosen to divert would-be G45 resources towards the upcoming Nissan Skyline GTR project.
But the G35, all-new and powerful as it may be, faces stiff competition from its competitors. With over 50 more horsepower than the top-level BMW 330i sedan, the G35 should have little trouble running away from the Bavarian, however, Lexus’ new IS 350 will undoubtedly be another story. With an identical power rating, the entry-level Lexus sedan is a dead ringer for Infiniti’s new G35, however, the IS comes equipped with an extra cog in the automatic transmission, so when facing off against the G35 auto it may have the advantage. Still, the G35’s available ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel drive system may make the G35x AWD slightly faster and more stable than the IS 350’s rear-wheel drive only platform in slippery situations; and the G’s excellent chassis dynamics may give it the edge at high speeds.