Road tests are starting to come in and this car is looking like a real winner. Many citing that it gives the BMW a hard run for it's money. And this is only the sedan! The coupe is expected to have a nice power bump. Infini boards speculate that the new engine is currently detuned for first year cars, as that is something Nissan has done in the past. It would also explain why the new engine is barely edging the old one in HP even with the substantial improvements they've made. Even so, 0-60 is low to mid 5s and in the quarter they've seen high 13s.

The interior is a huge boost compared to the old. No more ugly guages, actually i think they look quite good now. The center stack still looks a little low rent to me in the aluminum trim, but the optional rosewood looks very nice(no rosewood on sport models unfortunatly :nono:). Either way it is better than the old set up (but they still haven't ditched that wreched clock). One cool thing is that the LCD is standard, even if you don't have nav it is used for HVAC and audio controls. NAV is HD based with real time traffic and a spare 10Gb to throw your MP3s on.

Suposedly the ride on the sport suspention is very hard. That's probably the most negative comment i've seen in multiple reports. I believe C&D described the gearbox as "world class", but that's from memory. Should be a great improvement on the last G35.

The links:
Edmunds road test with video review
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=116681

Autoweek -
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060904/FREE/60824005/1009/VEHICLEREVIEWS

Car and Driver - (this is thier overview page. The writeup from thier latest issue is very favorable, but not online currently)
http://www.caranddriver.com/cartrims/2007-infiniti-g35/infiniti_g35_sedan.html

Its crazy, the g35 sadans are rated at 5.2 sec for 0-60 and the new bmw 335i hits 60 in 4.9. Thats just as fast as the fd. I wouldn't be surprized if the new 350z and "G37" are in the mid to high 4's.

the 2007 sedan is making 306hp SEA NET, the coupe is expected to get quite a bump. when G35 first game out, the sedan was 260hp while the coupe was making 280. unfortunately the new sedan engine still dosnt have DFI, or it should make more power at better fuel economy. hopefully they incoporate that into the coupe engine in 08
im waiting for the GT-R or M3 :)

the 2007 sedan is making 306hp SEA NET, the coupe is expected to get quite a bump. when G35 first game out, the sedan was 260hp while the coupe was making 280. unfortunately the new sedan engine still dosnt have DFI, or it should make more power at better fuel economy. hopefully they incoporate that into the coupe engine in 08
im waiting for the GT-R or M3 :)
I assume DFI is direct injection. Interesting that they didn't include this, considering they reworked so much they may as well have. Or as you said they may have made it an easy add-in for the mid-life power boost coming later.

One thing that i hope they addressed is the engine note.

That would be the only other car I would pick up.

updated VQ35 ftw.

I will buy the Z if it lost 300lbs and got the new VQ35HR at the 306HP. Extra power would be nice, but less weight would be nicer...

I like the G35 and I'll most likely be buying an '07 (for the wife) when I get back from Iraq. In a recent comparison (Road and Track or Car and Driver, can't remember which one) the G35 beat the BMW 330 in most comparisons but they still chose the BMW as preferred, even though it was about $6,000 more. I love BMWs but think the auto magazines are too biased towards the BMW.

Very sweet. I like the improvements they made!

I like the G35 and I'll most likely be buying an '07 (for the wife) when I get back from Iraq. In a recent comparison (Road and Track or Car and Driver, can't remember which one) the G35 beat the BMW 330 in most comparisons but they still chose the BMW as preferred, even though it was about $6,000 more. I love BMWs but think the auto magazines are too biased towards the BMW.

I read that one too. I think it was car and driver. the auto mags might be a little biased but they did say that the BMW did its thing more gracefully. they say that the BMW offers a better driving experience. I would love to get some firsthand experience :)

i want to see the coupe version

I am not sure where these comments about the 07 G35 reaching 60 in 5.2 seconds came from, but at any rate, this car now starts at $38,850 which is over $7,000 more than the 06 G35 sedan started at, and over $5,000 more than 06 G35 coupe currently starts at.

I really don't see what justifies the huge price increase for this sedan, but I guess I'm not going to be surprised now when the next G35 Coupe starts in the low 40s.

I am not sure where these comments about the 07 G35 reaching 60 in 5.2 seconds came from, but at any rate, this car now starts at $38,850 which is over $7,000 more than the 06 G35 sedan started at, and over $5,000 more than 06 G35 coupe currently starts at.

I really don't see what justifies the huge price increase for this sedan, but I guess I'm not going to be surprised now when the next G35 Coupe starts in the low 40s.
There is no price increase. For one thing, prices aren't out yet. For another, the only place i've seen the 38 you quote is Edmunds, and i believe that was an MSRP as tested, not base. Nissan has stated that pricing will be in line with last generation.

Acceleration numbers are from published road tests, i just forget which one right now. I think C&D because they were one of the mags with the manual.

edit - It was C&D at 5.2. Scans here: http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114298

autoweek had an estimated $32,800 base price

In that case, it's a nice deal.

Right now, I hate my RX-8 and am driving my mom's G35 and wondering WHY didn't I buy it instead. Oh yeah, I'm driving the G35 cuz my 8's in a ******dealership. Me PISSED? OH YES!!!!! Right this minute I'd gladly trade my 8 for the G35, I just wish it looked like the 8 and handled like the 8. But is it faster and more dependable. And to think I talked my mom into buying the 35 before I bought the 8.

Ranting because I'm REALLY MAD right now at the dealership!!!!

The new VQ sounds like a real gem, although I really don't care for the styling or the ~3,500lb curb weight of the G.

What Nissan really needs to do is bring back the Silvia and put this engine in it. The 2.5L version would probably be sufficient. Imagine 2700-2800lbs, RWD, ~220hp, and price around same as MX-5....

The new VQ sounds like a real gem, although I really don't care for the styling or the ~3,500lb curb weight of the G.

What Nissan really needs to do is bring back the Silvia and put this engine in it. The 2.5L version would probably be sufficient. Imagine 2700-2800lbs, RWD, ~220hp, and price around same as MX-5....
I can not agree with you more on this, the market is begging for a cheap light rwd coupe, and a silvia would fit the mold and sell like hot cakes.

^^^kabura?

Yeah, the Kabura would fit those specs quite nicely. What I want to see is for them to bring the lightweight Silvia back and throw the whole 3.5L (that's still the displacement, right?) VQ into the thing. That'd be stupid powerful and possibly even fun to drive if they balanced it right. Too bad they'll never do it, but deaming is always nice.

I really love this new G. Does anyone know the weight compared to the older model?

Guys the only reason that the G35 is soo comparably cheap is because it shares platforms with almost the entire Infiniti lineup. And that's also why it weighs soo much. If they were to make a lightened chassis specialy designed for the G35 the car would cost easily as much as it's BMW counterpart.

I really love this new G. Does anyone know the weight compared to the older model?
It's about +50 lbs.

I would definitely take this over any BMW. It's like Clarkson said "BMW -- when you want to tell the world 'I have no imagination'".

But it's still a sedan and still pretty boring. Might have some get up and go, but it's just uninspiring. A definite bullseye for people in that market, but I hope to never be that interested in luxury that I'd sacrifice creativity and buy this car.

Yeah, the Kabura would fit those specs quite nicely. What I want to see is for them to bring the lightweight Silvia back and throw the whole 3.5L (that's still the displacement, right?) VQ into the thing. That'd be stupid powerful and possibly even fun to drive if they balanced it right. Too bad they'll never do it, but deaming is always nice.
http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/VQ35HR

There are two versions of the new VQ, a 2.5L and a 3.5L. The 2.5L would be just right for a new Silvia if they decided to make one. The 3.5 would be too much engine for the car -- they would have to beef up everything else to handle it, so it would end up too expensive and/or heavy. There actually is such a thing as too much power when you're trying to keep a car inexpensive, simple, and light.

Unfortunately, they're probably not going to do it because it wouldn't involve platform sharing. The ideal solution IMO would be to update the S platform (S16) and use it for both a new Silvia and the new Z. That way we could have both a cheap, 2.5L 4-seater Silvia coupe, and a 2-seater 3.5L 350Z, both well under 3000lbs. And the bean counters would get to preserve their sacred platform sharing.

Unfortunately, they're probably not going to do it because it wouldn't involve platform sharing. The ideal solution IMO would be to update the S platform (S16) and use it for both a new Silvia and the new Z. That way we could have both a cheap, 2.5L 4-seater Silvia coupe, and a 2-seater 3.5L 350Z, both well under 3000lbs. And the bean counters would get to preserve their sacred platform sharing.

You guys are dreaming. We'll never see a new RWD car at < 3000lbs. Cars are getting bigger and heavier. If you try to cut weight you end up killing yourself in safety, comfort, and all the other things that the mass market wants. A civic Si is almost 3000lbs and it's only fwd. I think the only remote chance is the Kabura. Nissan will never do it.

Haven't people weighed their base model RX-8's at under 3000lbs? And the new MX-5 weighs 2500lbs, and is quite comfortable and safe. And if they make a Kabura or new RX-7, those would most definitely weight under 3,000lbs as well.

The thing you've got to keep in mind here is that the Silvia is smaller than the RX-8 and doesn't have rear doors. The last Silvia was produced in 2002 and had a 250hp turbo engine with a chassis, suspension and brakes to match and still only weighed 2,800lbs. Sure, an updated version might add a few pounds but I don't think that sub-3000lbs is at all unrealistic.

Also, keep in mind that a number of new cars today have ended up *lighter* than their predecessors, such as the new 5-series, the new Legacy, and the new Corvette.

^^^You're idea for a Silvia sounds good but it just doesn't gel with Infinity's business plan right now. It would require a completely new chassis and all the R&D that goes with it. The only thing that they won't really need to worry about is the engine. Still, with all the effort that will go into making a Silvia (240sx) the car will definitely not be cheap. It'll probably end up around the cost of an RX-8.

Haven't people weighed their base model RX-8's at under 3000lbs? And the new MX-5 weighs 2500lbs, and is quite comfortable and safe. And if they make a Kabura or new RX-7, those would most definitely weight under 3,000lbs as well.

The thing you've got to keep in mind here is that the Silvia is smaller than the RX-8 and doesn't have rear doors. The last Silvia was produced in 2002 and had a 250hp turbo engine with a chassis, suspension and brakes to match and still only weighed 2,800lbs. Sure, an updated version might add a few pounds but I don't think that sub-3000lbs is at all unrealistic.

Also, keep in mind that a number of new cars today have ended up *lighter* than their predecessors, such as the new 5-series, the new Legacy, and the new Corvette.While, I agree with you that current generation vehicles only are getting heavier, I will completely disagree with the notion that <3000 vehicles are gone. They will return once the auto industry moves towards modern materials.

Take a look at the lotus elise. We're going to see a migration towards that type of design. The elise may not have a sickenning amount of horsepower, but it compromises by having less weight. In fact, the difference between the elise in the US and Europe is the safety features and the weight difference is small (it's just the airbags in this case). The elise does this by using an aluminum bonded tub chassis. They started this with the last model esprit and really perfected it with the elise. The esprit btw was a 2+2 with a small turbo V8 that put out 350 horsepower stock, and it weighed in at just over 3000lbs (3042lbs). That's without carbon fiber and a V8 that weighed 220kg (485lbs). Just imagine what that car would be like today.

Lighter stronger materials are more expensive today, but their prices are coming down and affordable production cars are coming. It'll just take some time, especially here in the GM/Ford driven US where the SUV has ruled for the last 10 years. Now that that era is over, lightweight, agile cars are sure to return (check out the tesla if you don't believe me).

While, I agree with you that current generation vehicles only are getting heavier, I will completely disagree with the notion that <3000 vehicles are gone. They will return once the auto industry moves towards modern materials.

Take a look at the lotus elise. We're going to see a migration towards that type of design. The elise may not have a sickenning amount of horsepower, but it compromises by having less weight. In fact, the difference between the elise in the US and Europe is the safety features and the weight difference is small (it's just the airbags in this case). The elise does this by using an aluminum bonded tub chassis. They started this with the last model esprit and really perfected it with the elise. The esprit btw was a 2+2 with a small turbo V8 that put out 350 horsepower stock, and it weighed in at just over 3000lbs (3042lbs). That's without carbon fiber and a V8 that weighed 220kg (485lbs). Just imagine what that car would be like today.

Lighter stronger materials are more expensive today, but their prices are coming down and affordable production cars are coming. It'll just take some time, especially here in the GM/Ford driven US where the SUV has ruled for the last 10 years. Now that that era is over, lightweight, agile cars are sure to return (check out the tesla if you don't believe me).

The cars you mention are niche vehicles that cost a premium. I see what you're saying about costs coming down on thier technology as time passes, but the simple fact is that steel will always be cheaper than aluminum, carbon fiber, or any other material that weighs substantially less. Part of the deal for a new Silvia would be an affordable price, and as long as that's a concern you're going to have two things, the lowest costing material (steel) and most likely platform sharing.

The cars you mention are niche vehicles that cost a premium. I see what you're saying about costs coming down on thier technology as time passes, but the simple fact is that steel will always be cheaper than aluminum, carbon fiber, or any other material that weighs substantially less. Part of the deal for a new Silvia would be an affordable price, and as long as that's a concern you're going to have two things, the lowest costing material (steel) and most likely platform sharing.The auto industry is driven like the computer industry. High end vehicles define what new technology we'll someday see in lower end cars generally. Take a look at the newest porsche 911 turbo that will have a Variable Geometry Turbo, something that only the diesel industry has enjoyed for years.
The technology in those top end cars will either die off or make it into lower end production vehicles.


The elise runs 40k, which is 10k more than a fully loaded 8 when it was released. The elise platform was designed to be shared throughout lotus vehicles and theyre doing that already. There's nothing to say that the auto industry cannot build platforms like this except cost. Lotus can afford to do it because they're a small niche auto manufacturer that only has to tool to build 1 type of vehicle. The rest of the industry would have to retool to build them.

Carbon fiber is only expensive to make because the manufacturing process isnt as perfected / proven as something like steel. You're right, steel will be around for a while, and it certainly has its merits, but the industry already recognizes that they could build better performing and more fuel efficient vehicles if they made them lighter.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan1.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan2.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan3.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan4.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan5.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan6.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan7.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan8.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan9.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan10.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan11.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan12.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan13.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan14.jpg
http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/07G35sedan/sedan15.jpg

!^^

i like it.

The exterior looks nice. The interior well.. it still looks kinda cheap.

I saw pictures of it in black a little while ago, and didn't really like it. Looks a lot better in silver.

http://www.350z-tech.com/zwiki/VQ35HR

There are two versions of the new VQ, a 2.5L and a 3.5L. The 2.5L would be just right for a new Silvia if they decided to make one. The 3.5 would be too much engine for the car -- they would have to beef up everything else to handle it, so it would end up too expensive and/or heavy. There actually is such a thing as too much power when you're trying to keep a car inexpensive, simple, and light.

Unfortunately, they're probably not going to do it because it wouldn't involve platform sharing. The ideal solution IMO would be to update the S platform (S16) and use it for both a new Silvia and the new Z. That way we could have both a cheap, 2.5L 4-seater Silvia coupe, and a 2-seater 3.5L 350Z, both well under 3000lbs. And the bean counters would get to preserve their sacred platform sharing.

Never said it would be particularly practical or inexpensive - hell, I never even said it was realistically possible, I just said it'd be a blast if it existed. I realize that the chances of such a car coming to fruition are somewhere between slim and none and slim's got his bags all packed and ready, but a man can dream.

I just wish it was available WIHOUT the stupid screen... :wallbash:

i like it, i will say i still dont like the interior. that nav console thats almost horizontal looks like they shoved an Intellivision or Atari on the dash. Plus the buttons at that angle would seem hard to read/decipher. not sure if its a deal breaker for me, but wish it looked better on the inside.

i believe the harddrive comes standard, it will only be a matter of time before someone hack the firmware and start playing porn in the car :p

It's definitely evolutionary, but in a good way. Nissan improved the weaker aspects of the 1st generation. The styling change is pretty subtle though. An even better dear.

I only wish it was more A4/IS350/3 series size... its the same complaint that I had with the last generation and I still can't get myself to accept driving a midsized car :(

Hadn't seen those. I'm in love....

I only wish it was more A4/IS350/3 series size... its the same complaint that I had with the last generation and I still can't get myself to accept driving a midsized car :(


The coupe is smaller in size.

eww. i know its "just the sedan", but i think the styling update is a step or two backwards. they didnt seem to change much, but the details (like the cutout running along the bottom) looks liek crap to me.

why do they bother with the analog clock? is that supposed to imply classiness?

yeah I agree - the analog clock looks like ass to me. Makes me appreciate my RX8 interior even more.

Nice update, if I can get my wife away from SUV's I'd consider one for our familymobile.

Still, not an exciting car. A Charger SRT8 sells for about the same up here...thats exciting!