That's Infiniti for you! No word yet. At this rate, the first we'll know of the prices is when the things are on the lot and we can see it on the sticker!
Looking at the photo's of the new interior and center stack, it appears the "SAT" button is missing on the new radio head. I know Infiniti hasn't abandoned XM & Sirius for their entire 2005 line, as it's still an option on other vehicles.
Anyone know if satellite radio is still an option on the new G sedan?
The satellite radio is available on the 2005's. It is controlled through the "Radio" button. I think it cycles through AM, FM, and Satellite (if installed).
Making the engine more peaky with a higher redline in the manual transmission makes a lot of sense. After all, with the manual you have the ability to keep the engine high in the rev range to take advantage of the extra hp. Similarly, keeping the automatic with a flatter and stronger torque curve but less peak hp also makes a lot of sense. Great engineering IMHO!
...but I suspect this power trade-off (between top-end HP and lower-end torque) was driven more by marketing than anything else. Since Acura has introduced the 270hp TL, BMW with the 250hp valvetronic 3.0 next year, Audi's 250hp V6 next year, they wanted to stay ahead of the curve, and they know that HP figures are a more visible selling point than is torque. (They probably wanted to put a little more space also between the G and the 3.5 in the Altima/Maxima.)
I think it was mostly in response to the TL. Acura's car competes more directly with the G than a BMW 330i or A4 3.1 FSI in both size and price, and Nissan doesnt like second place in hp.
I think the competition depends on the area. Where I used to work we had a big BMW dealership across the street and a Lexus dealer next to that. Most of the people who were cross shopping were looking at the G, BMW 3 series, Lexus ES or M-B C class. Audi and Acura hardly ever came up. I'm surprised that people consider the G35 and the Acura TL as competitors. One is FWD and one RWD. In my mind that makes them as different as a compact and a full size truck. Then again, I'm just strange!
"Most of the people who were cross shopping were looking at the G, BMW 3 series, Lexus ES or M-B C class. Audi and Acura hardly ever came up. I'm surprised that people consider the G35 and the Acura TL as competitors. One is FWD and one RWD."
The ES is also FWD, so that logic is out the window. As a matter of fact at lot of people I know have cross shopped the Maxima and G. Similar price range, same manufacturer.
"The ES is also FWD, so that logic is out the window"
I am well aware of that, thank you all the same. I said that the customers of the store I was consulting for were cross-shopping those vehicles. Personally, I would have thought the IS300 was a closer match from the Lexus line but according to a guy from the Lexus store most folks didn't consider the IS to be large or luxurious enough. We did get people cross-shopping the Maxima and G35 too, mainly to see if it was worth paying the extra. Anyway, time to stop this before Kirstie gets mad at us for being off-topic
"I'm surprised that people consider the G35 and the Acura TL as competitors. One is FWD and one RWD. In my mind that makes them as different as a compact and a full size truck."
They are absolutely direct competitors. They are similar size, similar power, similar creature comforts and luxury features, and both are rip-roaring full blooded sports sedans. The TL may be a front driver, but if you look at Edmund's slalom tests, its faster through the cones than BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti, and Audi. The TL and G are Japans $33K answer to Germany's $40+K cars.
Although they are competitors, they are quite different. i have personally tested both at high speeds and the G is a much better driver. The TL interior, however, is much better and DVD-A is even better than the ML audio in my Lexus. In my opinion they are apples and oranges that are sold at around the same price.
I'm going to have to disagree there. I've tested a TL A-spec at very high speeds, and the car was cool and composed. While it doesnt have the superior driving characteristics of RWD (and torque steer is a problem with the stick) its still an excellent performer. Anyway, differences are good. Just as the Germans each have their respective approaches to a sports sedan, so should Japan.
After testing both cars on a very curvy strech of road for 10 miles, (FWD vs. RWD aside) I noticed that the TL suffers from the effects of uneven weight distribution. The car is front heavy and this results in handling imbalance at high speeds. In addition (since its FWD), there is notable understeer and torque steer. Also, the brakes really suck. I think the TL is more like the Accord (the platform that it is based on) than the G35.
Yeah a lot of Honda cars suffer from mediocre brakes. The exception is the TL A-spec with its Brembos, but the regular TL's brakes are carry overs from the previous car, which were average at best.
Actually the manual TLs get Brembos and larger front discs. The A-spec only adds shocks/springs, lighter wheels, spoilers all the way around, a different steering wheel and the a-spec badge and performance brake pads on automatic models.
This is a repost from another web-site. I can't vouch for the accuracy but the author is a GM at an Infiniti dealership;
"Here is the latest TENTATIVE pricing info BUT it is subject to change...
G35 Sedan + $400.00 Premium Pkg + $300.00
Total for G35 Sedan w/ Premium Pkg + $700.00
G35 Auto Coupe + $600.00 G35 6MT Coupe + $300.00 Premium Pkg + $200.00
Total for G35 Auto Coupe w/ Premium Pkg + $800.00 Total for G35 6MT Coupe w/ Premium Pkg + $500.00
There is no info on 6MT Sedan at this time.
There is also no info on the pricing of other options."
So it looks like the rumours of big increase were wrong. Overall, for the extra engine power and the exterior and interior upgrades, these increases look pretty reasonable. Again, remember that these figures are not official.
Dont forget to add the interim price increase in May of $200 on the sedan and $250 on the coupe to the 2005 price figures. Seems to be getting a bit pricy for the average Joe.
Plus, the base sedan now comes with leather. That pretty much justifies a $400 increase by itself, though some will not like that you can't get cloth anymore.
298 hp 6MT justifies $400 increase too! And this is in the sedan as well. That's more than the Z. That's basically the same as the expensive 2005 Acura RL! Are they going to improve the quality of materials of the dash and the center console?
I don't know who your source it, but the 05 G35 does not costs at all as much as the 05 Acura RL, which is a top-tier flagship luxury sedan while the G35 is an entry-level luxury sedan. And to answer your question - YES, the quality of materials in the dash and center console has improved.
Spot on. AWD is available in the form of an automatic sedan only. The power for that will be 280hp. To get 298hp you'll need either a manual transmission sedan or coupe.
Comments
I really should charge for this stuff!
Am I correct? And, if so, is this the price we pay for the additional HP / TQ for 2005????
Thanks,
- Ray
Finding this odd. . .
The 17/24 is for the 2005 RWD automatic. There are no figures yet for the AWD and the 298hp 6MT.
http://www.nissannews.com/infiniti/2005vehicles/g35_sedan/specs.s- html
Anyone know if satellite radio is still an option on the new G sedan?
I'm surprised that people consider the G35 and the Acura TL as competitors. One is FWD and one RWD. In my mind that makes them as different as a compact and a full size truck. Then again, I'm just strange!
I'm surprised that people consider the G35 and the Acura TL as competitors. One is FWD and one RWD."
The ES is also FWD, so that logic is out the window. As a matter of fact at lot of people I know have cross shopped the Maxima and G. Similar price range, same manufacturer.
I am well aware of that, thank you all the same. I said that the customers of the store I was consulting for were cross-shopping those vehicles. Personally, I would have thought the IS300 was a closer match from the Lexus line but according to a guy from the Lexus store most folks didn't consider the IS to be large or luxurious enough.
We did get people cross-shopping the Maxima and G35 too, mainly to see if it was worth paying the extra.
Anyway, time to stop this before Kirstie gets mad at us for being off-topic
They are absolutely direct competitors. They are similar size, similar power, similar creature comforts and luxury features, and both are rip-roaring full blooded sports sedans. The TL may be a front driver, but if you look at Edmund's slalom tests, its faster through the cones than BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti, and Audi. The TL and G are Japans $33K answer to Germany's $40+K cars.
Auto Coupe - October
Auto Sedan - November
6MT both models - December.
"Here is the latest TENTATIVE pricing info BUT it is subject to change...
G35 Sedan + $400.00
Premium Pkg + $300.00
Total for G35 Sedan w/ Premium Pkg + $700.00
G35 Auto Coupe + $600.00
G35 6MT Coupe + $300.00
Premium Pkg + $200.00
Total for G35 Auto Coupe w/ Premium Pkg + $800.00
Total for G35 6MT Coupe w/ Premium Pkg + $500.00
There is no info on 6MT Sedan at this time.
There is also no info on the pricing of other options."
So it looks like the rumours of big increase were wrong. Overall, for the extra engine power and the exterior and interior upgrades, these increases look pretty reasonable.
Again, remember that these figures are not official.
2FastDre.
I was referring to the HorsePower (NOT the price) of a 2005 Acura RL. RL has 300hp, AWD and $50K, and G35 has 298hp, AWD, and Many thousand less!
That was my point.
2FastDre.