2009 Infiniti G37 Sedan
The news is out. The G37 sedan will make its way here for 2009. Already in Europe. More hp(320), 7 speed trans, bigger brakes and redesigned side mirrors/interior controls. Will the MSRP be more than the 2007 and 2008's with all the new stuff?
0
Comments
As a former very happy owner of a G20t 5speed, I'd be VERY interested in an efficient & sport-oriented "G25s" if such a car existed.
Imagine a cloth-sport-seat, 6-speed manual, sport-suspended, 200lb lighter version of a RWD G35 sedan, but with a tuned 200hp QR25 4cyl in place of the V6.
Does Infiniti/Nissan care??? :confuse:
I will be looking at the g37x sedan, but in a couple years. I always wait for the kinks to be worked out. The engine has been used in the coupe, but the trans and braking system will be new. Also, dealers will be asking MSRP for the G37. SO a year after you will get the deals, like you get now.
The 07 Gs had a lot of issues, I too will get the 2010 model, cant wait.
There are even rumors about an optional V8 or G50. Now that would be sweet. If they do that, all the G37 buys will be upset.
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224448
http://g35driver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230878
Some of those people on that forum own infiniti dealerships. They ordered them already. So, if they are lying that would suck, but I doubt it.
This G37 w/seven-speed automatic trans. might be of interest to me, depending on exactly what final drive they choose . . . Has anyone seen that information released? I do not see any detail on NissanNews.com ??
The G35 sedan w/five speed automatic has recorded fairly ‘sprightly’ acceleration times – most recent one I recall is the R&T test, comparison with the new Caddy CTS.
0 – 60 = 5.3
Quarter = 13.8 at 102.9
If they select a final drive ratio that both allows even better acceleration ( 5.0 to 60, & 13.6 ? 13.5 ? ) – ** AND ** improved highway fuel mileage, I might actually be interested . . .
I have driven a couple of G35s – and ( to me ) they have become very good Sport Sedans.
Seems to me that, with the much wider ratio spread ( in addition to the 2 additional gears ) Infiniti could use something like a 3.0 or 3.2 final drive.
First gear ratio in the five speed =
3.84 times final drive of 3.69 = just over 14:1
First gear ratio in the new seven speed =
4.92 times ( a hypothetical ) final drive ratio of
3.0 = 14.7:1
3.2 = 15.7:1
That 3.0 or 3.2 final drive, combined with the 0.77 seventh gear ratio ( vs 0.839 for fifth \ top gear in the G35’s five speed ) would reduce RPM at cruise substantially - by something like 20 or 25%. [ see below ]
I’d guess the result MIGHT be an increase in highway MPG of 10% to 15%? If the 3.7L motor is not materially thirstier than the 3.5L.
Meaning: Current G35’s, 2008 EPA highway estimate = 24 would become 26 or even 27 MPG ?
For context here, the BMW 3 series ( one strong competitor, in my mind ) posted EPA highway = 28 for the 328i and 26 for the 335i. And that BMW straight 6 is a pretty fuel-efficient motor, at least cruising.
Anyway – point is I think that I will watch for driving impressions & tests of the seven-speed version of the Gs, and may schedule a test drive to see for myself.
- Ray
Would prefer an M50 with this seven-speed,
but that appears unlikely for the 2009 model year - oh well . . .
3.69 * 0.839 = overall 3.096
3.00 * 0.770 = overall 2.310 = approx. 25% less RPM
3.20 * 0.770 = overall 2.460 = approx. 20% less RPM
It is one significant factor in my decision to buy a different sedan, back in 2005.
And if the gearing of the G37 Sedan results in substantially reduced RPM at cruise ( my current ride shows less than 1,800 RPM at 80 MPH ) I would see that as a rather large improvement. And I’d expect that the MPG at cruise would improve as well, as I posed above. And assuming the same or better acceleration, I’d see this as sufficient upgrade to warrant including this Sedan on my ‘Short List’ . . .
I’d be pretty amazed if Infiniti does ** NOT ** seize this opportunity ( adding the seven speed trans. ) to improve the EPA rated ( and actual, ‘real world’ ) fuel efficiency.
- Ray
Expecting that we will know for sure shortly . . .
Now, with a little bigger engine and hopefully the gas mileage is significantly better I can now justify the sacrifice in refinement as long as the price increase in the G37 is not to much.
There is one other thing; I don't like that washi finish. I want to be able to get the wood trim with the sports package.
I'm pretty excited about the G37's potential.
Assuming the same gearing as used in the FX series, I expect that both sixth and seventh will be overdrives. Fifth is ‘direct’ \ 1:1.
http://www.nissannews.com/assets/specs/2009_FX_Specs_NNA_Final.pdf
Ever review I have read of the G37 Coupe mentions an increase in refinement
of the 3.7 vs the 3.5.
The first gear ratio is very high (numerically) on the 7 speed, so initial acceleration should be even better than the 08 (if that is possible).
Sounds like a DEFINATE improvement !!!
See:
link title
link title
A loaded G35 is $40K. A loaded 335i is $50K. I think one can get a LOT of maintenance for $10K !!!
So ( roughly ) 3000 @ 70
and 3400 @ 80...
http://www.roadandtrack.com/assets/download/1207_ct_CTSvsG35S.pdf
http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature/quickie/Motive_Double_Quickie-2009-G37-Seda- n-2008-G37-By-Stillen.shtml
3400 at 80 - that is REALLY EXCESSIVE !!!
My GS350 is 2300 in 6th, even 2800 in 5th.
I dont think my daughter's 4 cylinder VW Beetle is more than that on the hwy.
Even if the 7 speed brings it down 20% it will still be 2720 at 80.
American cars like the G8 turn 2000.
Was it really even worth the effort ???
I would expect a larger improvement than that.
Dont think Nissan would have spent the money for only 1 MPG.
Before I bought my GS350, I looked at the G35 & M35.
Asked about Infiniti putting in the 7 speed.
The sales manager said they would never do it before a model redesign
because they would have to pay to have the car recertified by the EPA.
Apparently that is a major expense.
We can just wait and see....
Regards,
OW
Excessive indeed.
Assuming that the G37 7-speed Auto has the same ratios and final drive as the new FX and using the tire size from the '08 G35, this new 7-speed will result in 1st gear ending at 32 mph, 2nd gear at 50 mph, 3rd at 79 mph. 80 mph in 7th gear will be just under 3,000 rpm (2,9xx). As you can see, performance will be greatly enhanced at lower mph, due to the greater torque multiplication compared to the old auto transmission. This will result in greater acceleration.
In terms of the comparisons to rpm at highway cruising, keep in mind that this new engine has a high 7,500 rpm redline - 1,000 rpm higher than the Lexus GS350 that is mentioned earlier. 3,000 rpm is 40% of redline which is close to what the Lexus is running. Even so, we all know that a Lexus is designed to have a different personality than a BMW or Infiniti (I own a Lexus and BMW, and owned a G35 coupe). I am not shocked that the Lexus cruises at 2,300 rpm at 80 mph - they are designed for customers that favor quiet cruising over sportiness (or at least place them higher on priority). The American V8s (like the vette or GTO) rev low for a few reasons - 1. They have lower redlines, 2. They have tons of low end torque and are happy lumping around at 2,000 rpm. 3. They need to have really long 6th gear in order to avoid the gas guzzler tax.
Regarding fuel economy, do people really care about whether the sport sedan they are shopping for gets 25, 26, or 29 mpg? At 12,000 miles per year, the difference between 25 mpg and 29 mpg is about $270. Would anyone shopping for a sport sedan let that control their driving experience? I'd understand slighlty more if we were comparing 15 mpg to 30 mpg, but not at the insignificant differences mentioned here.
On your other point, 0-60 is becoming less of a good measure of performance. With cars making more and more power, traciton off the line is as much of a factor in 0-60 as anything else. That being said, the new car with the 7-speed is putting down much more force to the ground (Yes, I have calculated this) than the 6-speed manual at low mph. The torque multiplication offered by the shorter gears is appreciable. Of course, this short gearing works better on an auto than on a manual as shifting non-stop trying to accelerate from a light is annoying. I would bet that the 0-60 in the auto is better than the old car even though there is only a 22 HP bump in power (and more weight). The new 7-speed does have a longer 4th gear that goes to 114, so overall performance may be hampered at the higher mph. By the way, if you think the G35 is a torque monster now, wait until you drive the car with the new automatic. I compared the calculated force to the ground to my BMW 335 6-speed and at low mph, the numbers are very similar - and the 335 has alot of torque for a entry level luxury car. I think you will be very pleased.