Bottom Line:
For a $5,500 premium over a G37 coupe with the Sport package, the IPL model is a sleek and seductive performance bargain. The IPL equipment adds both performance and luxury, but the car is not a track toy like a BMW M3. Instead, it compares more directly to a BMW 335is or an Audi S4, but offers more equipment and lower prices than both. It doesn’t quite have the cachet of those models, but it’s still a heck of a lot of fun.
Pros:
- Willing power
- Loaded with features
- Sharp handling with excellent steering
Cons:
- Engine noise a constant companion
- Small trunk
- Tiny back seat
BMW has M, Mercedes has AMG, Lexus has its F series and Nissan has Nismo. These performance-oriented subbrands set enthusiasts' hearts aflutter with expectations of increased power and improved handling. Until now, Infiniti has gone without a performance arm, even though cars such as the G sedan and coupe and M sedan are plenty sporty. Recently, Nissan's luxury brand announced that it, too, would offer a performance line: the Infiniti Performance Line, or IPL, to be exact. Its first creation is the IPL G37 coupe. Although it's packed with features as well as performance, the IPL coupe isn't as hot as a BMW M3 or Mercedes C63 AMG, but it's tons of fun nonetheless and costs less than its German competitors.
Model Lineup
The 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe is priced at $47,950 for a trim with the manual transmission and $49,850 for an automatic. It is equipped like a G37 Journey with Nissan's Premium, Sport and Navigation packages. Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable front sport seats, keyless entry and starting, Bose audio system with 9.3-gigbyte Music Box hard drive, XM satellite radio, USB port, automatic bi-xenon headlights, sunroof, navigation system, rearview camera, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, universal garage door opener, limited-slip differential, performance brakes, fog lights and P225/45R19 front and P245/40R19 rear summer tires on unique alloy wheels.
Over and above the Sport package features, the IPL comes with a sportier suspension, red accent stitching on the upholstery and steering wheel, and an aerodynamics package that consists of more aggressive front and rear spoilers and sculpted side sills.
Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control and electronic stability control.
Under the Hood
The 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe uses a tuned version of Infiniti's 3.7-liter V6 engine. In the G37 coupe, it makes 330 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to a larger dual exhaust and more aggressive computer controls, the engine produces 348 horses and 276 lb-ft of torque in the IPL coupe.
The IPL coupe is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed automatic with manual shift capability. The automatic also has Adaptive Shift Control, which adjusts shift points based on the driver's driving style. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway with the automatic and 17/25 with the manual.
Inner Space
There are few differences between the interior of the IPL G37 coupe and that of the standard G37. The most notable are the red accent stitching on the seats and steering wheel, the available Monaco Red upholstery and the aluminum pedals, which you get with the Sport package anyway.
The interior ambience is sporty, with a quality feel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good, and the leather upholstery has an upscale look and feel. Attractive Silk-Obi aluminum trim complements the dashboard's quality soft-touch materials. All of the controls move with precision, and they are placed in a simple, easy-to-reach layout on the center stack. The environment isn't quite as luxurious as a Lexus IS, but the look fits the price.
The front bucket seats fit the car's sporty character. The driver's seat is supportive, and has enough bolstering to keep drivers planted during aggressive driving. Multiple seat adjustments team with the standard power tilt/telescoping steering wheel to make just about any driver comfortable. Very tall drivers will have an issue with headroom, though.
The back seat is rather inhospitable, lacking headroom and legroom. The front seats power forward to allow access, but a few acrobatic moves are required to get back there. The lack of space is disappointing, because the back seat was far more accommodating in the first-generation G35 coupe.
The trunk is also rather small, at 7.4 cubic feet. That's about what you would expect in a convertible, not a coupe. It's shallow, too, but the rear seat folds down to allow some longer items to fit.
On the Road
The G37 coupe is an impressively sporty car to begin with, and the IPL modifications raise the fun factor even further.
Infiniti didn't make any changes to the steering, but they weren't needed. All G37 coupes have direct steering with lots of road feel and quick, precise responses. It's a pleasure to turn any G coupe into a corner, and the IPL trim's tighter suspension makes it react even quicker. The brakes are the same as those from the Sport package. They are plenty large enough for the street, but Infiniti has yet to offer brakes strong enough for track driving.
On the street or track, the IPL G37 is sporty and nimble. It attacks turns with verve, turning in quickly, leaning very little and tracking nicely through to the exit. Thanks to the stiffer shocks and springs, it reacts a little quicker and feels a little sharper than a G37 coupe with the Sport package. We wouldn't call it track-ready as we might a BMW M3, but it's certainly plenty sporty for on-road driving.
We found the ride and handling balance to be impressive. Though notably firmer, the sport-tuned suspension does not react harshly to bumps. It soaks up minor bumps nicely and only jars over the worst potholes. Still, the ride does get busy over broken pavement, and buyers in bad climates might find the ride a little too firm.
Some will also find the tuned 3.7-liter V6 engine to be a bit too high-strung. The aggressive exhaust tuning makes the engine note a constant companion. It drones at lower rpms and sings at high rpms.
Speaking of the engine, the 3.7-liter V6 pulls hard from a stop and keeps delivering thrust up to its 7500 rpm redline. Nissan isn't giving zero-to-60 mph times, but they should be in the low five-second range, which is V8 territory.
The 6-speed manual transmission has a slick shifter with short throws, and nice mechanical action. The clutch also has a natural feel. However, the clutch in our test car wouldn't fully engage during aggressive driving, causing some grinding when shifting into second gear. It makes us worry about its long-term durability, especially given this car's performance character.
The 7-speed automatic is almost as fun to operate as the manual. It has a wonderful pair of magnesium, leather-trimmed shift paddles mounted on the steering column. They're easy to use during performance driving, and the transmission doesn't have to be in Sport mode to trigger manual shifts. The transmission also learns your driving style, so it can hold shifts longer when you drive aggressively. This can lead to some engine whine when you just want it to kick down a notch for cruising. We found the transmission to be responsive to our power needs, especially in Sport mode.
Right for You?
Coupes are about style and performance, and the 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe has both in spades. The aggressive body work and unique wheels give the car a modified, personalized look, and the IPL badge denotes exclusivity. Other strengths include willing power, responsive handling and a loaded interior. If those traits sound appealing and you can afford the nearly $50K sticker, the IPL coupe is an excellent choice.
(As part of an automaker-sponsored press event, Infiniti provided MSN with travel and accommodations tofacilitate this report.)
Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, andcurrently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.
Model Lineup
The 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe is priced at $47,950 for a trim with the manual transmission and $49,850 for an automatic. It is equipped like a G37 Journey with Nissan's Premium, Sport and Navigation packages. Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable front sport seats, keyless entry and starting, Bose audio system with 9.3-gigbyte Music Box hard drive, XM satellite radio, USB port, automatic bi-xenon headlights, sunroof, navigation system, rearview camera, Bluetooth cell phone connectivity, universal garage door opener, limited-slip differential, performance brakes, fog lights and P225/45R19 front and P245/40R19 rear summer tires on unique alloy wheels.
Over and above the Sport package features, the IPL comes with a sportier suspension, red accent stitching on the upholstery and steering wheel, and an aerodynamics package that consists of more aggressive front and rear spoilers and sculpted side sills.
Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags, tire-pressure monitor, active front head restraints, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, traction control and electronic stability control.
Under the Hood
The 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe uses a tuned version of Infiniti's 3.7-liter V6 engine. In the G37 coupe, it makes 330 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to a larger dual exhaust and more aggressive computer controls, the engine produces 348 horses and 276 lb-ft of torque in the IPL coupe.
The IPL coupe is offered with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed automatic with manual shift capability. The automatic also has Adaptive Shift Control, which adjusts shift points based on the driver's driving style. EPA fuel-economy ratings are 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway with the automatic and 17/25 with the manual.
Inner Space
There are few differences between the interior of the IPL G37 coupe and that of the standard G37. The most notable are the red accent stitching on the seats and steering wheel, the available Monaco Red upholstery and the aluminum pedals, which you get with the Sport package anyway.
The interior ambience is sporty, with a quality feel. The leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good, and the leather upholstery has an upscale look and feel. Attractive Silk-Obi aluminum trim complements the dashboard's quality soft-touch materials. All of the controls move with precision, and they are placed in a simple, easy-to-reach layout on the center stack. The environment isn't quite as luxurious as a Lexus IS, but the look fits the price.
The front bucket seats fit the car's sporty character. The driver's seat is supportive, and has enough bolstering to keep drivers planted during aggressive driving. Multiple seat adjustments team with the standard power tilt/telescoping steering wheel to make just about any driver comfortable. Very tall drivers will have an issue with headroom, though.
The back seat is rather inhospitable, lacking headroom and legroom. The front seats power forward to allow access, but a few acrobatic moves are required to get back there. The lack of space is disappointing, because the back seat was far more accommodating in the first-generation G35 coupe.
The trunk is also rather small, at 7.4 cubic feet. That's about what you would expect in a convertible, not a coupe. It's shallow, too, but the rear seat folds down to allow some longer items to fit.
On the Road
The G37 coupe is an impressively sporty car to begin with, and the IPL modifications raise the fun factor even further.
Infiniti didn't make any changes to the steering, but they weren't needed. All G37 coupes have direct steering with lots of road feel and quick, precise responses. It's a pleasure to turn any G coupe into a corner, and the IPL trim's tighter suspension makes it react even quicker. The brakes are the same as those from the Sport package. They are plenty large enough for the street, but Infiniti has yet to offer brakes strong enough for track driving.
On the street or track, the IPL G37 is sporty and nimble. It attacks turns with verve, turning in quickly, leaning very little and tracking nicely through to the exit. Thanks to the stiffer shocks and springs, it reacts a little quicker and feels a little sharper than a G37 coupe with the Sport package. We wouldn't call it track-ready as we might a BMW M3, but it's certainly plenty sporty for on-road driving.
We found the ride and handling balance to be impressive. Though notably firmer, the sport-tuned suspension does not react harshly to bumps. It soaks up minor bumps nicely and only jars over the worst potholes. Still, the ride does get busy over broken pavement, and buyers in bad climates might find the ride a little too firm.
Some will also find the tuned 3.7-liter V6 engine to be a bit too high-strung. The aggressive exhaust tuning makes the engine note a constant companion. It drones at lower rpms and sings at high rpms.
Speaking of the engine, the 3.7-liter V6 pulls hard from a stop and keeps delivering thrust up to its 7500 rpm redline. Nissan isn't giving zero-to-60 mph times, but they should be in the low five-second range, which is V8 territory.
The 6-speed manual transmission has a slick shifter with short throws, and nice mechanical action. The clutch also has a natural feel. However, the clutch in our test car wouldn't fully engage during aggressive driving, causing some grinding when shifting into second gear. It makes us worry about its long-term durability, especially given this car's performance character.
The 7-speed automatic is almost as fun to operate as the manual. It has a wonderful pair of magnesium, leather-trimmed shift paddles mounted on the steering column. They're easy to use during performance driving, and the transmission doesn't have to be in Sport mode to trigger manual shifts. The transmission also learns your driving style, so it can hold shifts longer when you drive aggressively. This can lead to some engine whine when you just want it to kick down a notch for cruising. We found the transmission to be responsive to our power needs, especially in Sport mode.
Right for You?
Coupes are about style and performance, and the 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 coupe has both in spades. The aggressive body work and unique wheels give the car a modified, personalized look, and the IPL badge denotes exclusivity. Other strengths include willing power, responsive handling and a loaded interior. If those traits sound appealing and you can afford the nearly $50K sticker, the IPL coupe is an excellent choice.
(As part of an automaker-sponsored press event, Infiniti provided MSN with travel and accommodations tofacilitate this report.)
Kirk Bell has served as the associate publisher for Consumer Guide Automotive and editor of Scale Auto Enthusiast magazine. A Midwest native, Bell brings 18 years of automotive journalism experience to MSN, andcurrently contributes to JDPower.com and Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com.
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