Studio on wheels. Infiniti G35 - in pursuit of BMW

When I asked which Infiniti model leads sales in the US, I was sure I'd hear about the QX 56 — a huge SUV with a 5.6-liter V8. After all, Americans love everything big. However, it turned out their gigantomania doesn't extend to Infiniti: 33% of the 136,000 cars sold in the States are the compact G35 sedan. Exactly one third. And with the new generation G35, this share could grow even more. To get acquainted with the new model, I first had to fly across the Atlantic, and then across all of America: the Infiniti G35 sedan presentation was held in California. In Russia, sales will start only next spring.

Infiniti product manager Kyson Grover is clearly in love with his creation. He visibly enjoys running his hand over the L-shaped headlights, the wavy hood, then guides his palm along the roofline, reaches the rear, and looks at us again: well, did you appreciate it? Then he opens the door, and we see the smoothly flowing line of the front panel with aluminum inserts covered in a texture reminiscent of washi — that Japanese handmade paper. Kyson says the steering wheel is also handmade: it takes about an hour to cover the rim with leather. But the seam is perfect — even and pleasant to the touch. And what's that slot on the center console? For business cards or credit cards — too small... Kyson glanced at my Canon and asked to take out the flash drive. It turned out to be a slot for flash cards! Maybe on the color 7-inch screen we could view the footage just shot?

Music files can be downloaded to the hard drive directly from a flash card

— Alas, no: the onboard computer can only work with music for now, — Kyson spreads his hands.

Admittedly, they worked hard on the "music." There's even an option called Studio on Wheels, "studio on wheels": ten speakers, including three-way systems in the front doors! Moreover, this time the acoustics weren't adapted to the panels, but on the contrary — the panels were designed around the speakers. Bose specialists labored over the "studio's" refinement, tasked with making the sound no worse than a home system costing $30,000. I'm not a particular connoisseur of Hi-Fi, let alone Hi-End, but if my colleague Holovanov confirms that Studio on Wheels really "sounds like thirty thousand," then... Given that in America the "studio" Infiniti will cost about $34,000, it turns out that the add-on to the 30-thousand "music" in the form of a whole car will cost only four thousand dollars. "It's a good deal!" any American would say, and it's hard to disagree.

The instruments are far more interesting than on other Infiniti models	Color rear-view camera — for an extra charge	The button joystick is convenient to use

But they could have skipped mentioning that the 9.5 GB hard drive holds 158 hours of music in mp3 (almost a week of round-the-clock broadcasting)! An audio system for 30 thousand dollars and the mp3 format... In my unenlightened view, the combination is a bit odd.

Among other options are a rear-view camera and active cruise control, which itself maintains distance to the car ahead and applies the brakes when approaching dangerously.

The Sport version seats have electric adjustments for side support — separately for the cushion and backrest!	Getting into the rear seat is made easier by doors that open 80 degrees

When I finally got behind the wheel of the G35 in the Sport version, I was impressed not so much by the "music" or "Japanese paper," but by the seat and instruments. Talk about whether there's enough side support is simply inappropriate here. Press a button — and the seat bolsters squeeze your thighs, press another — and the backrest hugs your lower back more tightly. And the blue "saucers" of the instruments with white numbers are simply delightful! In my opinion, they're far more interesting than the yellow ones on other Infinitis. But I have no complaints about the familiar joystick under the screen (I saw the same on the Infiniti M35 and FX 35). It's convenient for scrolling through the onboard computer menu or selecting a track from the "week-long" music library. Everything is thought out, with care for the driver...

— During the development of the Infiniti G35, we gave focus group participants our car and competitors: Lexus IS 350, Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class. We listened to comments, analyzed, tried to improve something, — says Kyson.

— And which competitor gathered the most positive feedback? — I try to be clever to escape the endless praises of the G35.

— If we talk about comfort and interior finish quality, then Lexus, but in terms of handling, our audience liked BMW the most.

The target audience of the Infiniti G35 is successful people aged 30 to 49 with an annual income of $85,000 to $150,000. Mostly family men, self-confident, lovers of active driving who appreciate "designer" things. It turns out that if we don't take income into account, I'm just from the focus group. And I myself drive a Focus...

The Sport package for the Infiniti G35 includes 18-inch wheels of different widths (front 225/50 R18, rear 245/45 R18) instead of four identical 17-inch ones, larger brake discs, and a viscous coupling in the rear differential. But the engine is the same for all versions. It's the V6 3.5-liter familiar since the mid-90s. True, for the second-generation G35, the engine was thoroughly reworked, replacing 80% of the parts. Power grew from 280 to 306 hp, and the engine can now rev to 7500 rpm (previously — up to 6600).

The well-known Nissan VQ35 engine for the Infiniti G35 is modernized: the diameters of the crankshaft main journals and piston pins are increased, pistons with asymmetric "skirts" are used. With the compression ratio raised to 10.6 (versus the usual 10.3) and the maximum rpm increased from 6600 to 7500, the engine gained 26 hp. The new intake manifold with 18% lower airflow resistance and a variable valve timing system for exhaust valves (in addition to the same system on the intake) also contributed

The selector works on the same scheme as in BMW cars — only the "polarity" of the manual mode is different

The brisk acceleration is complemented by the responsive five-speed automatic: no delays at start, quick downshifts in kick-down mode, and decent adaptation to driving style. Of course, there's also a "manual" mode. I clicked the paddle shifters. Yes, before a turn you can downshift in advance. Yes, on a straight you can engage fifth earlier. But after ten minutes I gave up these games: the automatic mode suited me fine.

The "dense" steering wheel with variable-assist power steering and the tenacious suspension tempted me to floor the gas pedal, but alas: the roads around San Francisco are hung with signs — "Speed limit 40 mile/hour," 64 km/h... But I still caught a moment and accelerated. And I liked it! I liked how the car holds the line, how willingly it dives into corners. No wonder Kyson Grover praised the FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, which also underpins the M series sedans and FX crossovers. Interestingly, Nissan calls it mid-engine. No, no, it's not a Porsche Boxster or Lamborghini Gallardo, where the engine sits behind the seats. As befits a sedan, on the Infiniti G35 it's at the front. The point is that the engine is noticeably shifted back — so that its center of gravity is within the wheelbase. Besides near-ideal weight distribution (53:47), this reduces the car's moment of inertia about the vertical axis — the car "resists" less when entering a turn.

And what do the rear-wheel steering (the Four-Wheel Active Steer System, available for an extra charge on Sport versions) give? I also drove such a car, but honestly, I didn't feel any difference. Most likely, on a closed race track, the rear wheels turning one degree (exactly the range provided by the electric rack) would make itself known, but on California roads with their 40-mile limits, the "four-wheel steering" remained unnoticed by me.

What is far more interesting is the presence in the lineup of an all-wheel-drive version — the Infiniti G35X. Here, an electromagnetic clutch is responsible for transmitting torque to the front axle: in normal modes it is disengaged, but as soon as the rear wheels start to slip, the clutch engages up to full lock. This, by the way, is a serious argument in the dispute with the main rival in our market — the Lexus IS. The Japanese car also has an all-wheel-drive modification, but only rear-wheel-drive cars are officially imported to us, while Infiniti dealers will also bring the G35X.

The trunk is not large — only 382 l

In terms of ride smoothness, the Infiniti G35 Sport turned out to be no gift: the sedan meticulously replicates the road surface and passes over seams and joints with noticeable stiffness. Perhaps the regular version on 17-inch wheels will be softer? I checked — there was a bit more comfort, but the character did not become any less driver-oriented. So, if I were in a situation where the budget allows choosing without reservations, for our roads I would take exactly this configuration — on 17-inch wheels and with all-wheel drive.

However, it is too early to commit to a purchase — we will have to wait until March next year, when versions adapted to local conditions arrive in Russia. Then the exact prices will also become known. For now, we can only estimate based on the American market, where the base Infiniti G35 costs the same $31,450 as the Lexus IS 250. If the same proportion holds here, where the IS 250 is sold for $42,500, then the prospect looks extremely tempting. Especially since the Infiniti engine is 100 hp more powerful, and all-wheel drive is offered for a quite reasonable $3,000.

P.S. After returning from overseas, I met the new G35 again — at the Dmitrovsky autopolis, where the car is driven in circles, accumulating 20,000 km to identify weak points in Russian conditions. Judging by the experience of the M and FX models already delivered to dealers, the body will likely be reinforced with additional welding points and the anti-corrosion protection will be upgraded. It is possible that the suspension will be made more compliant. Almost certainly, the engine control unit will be recalibrated, taking into account the quality of our fuel. And for sure, the optics, instrument panel, and audio system tuner will be adjusted to European standards. Without a tuner — nowhere, this is a real studio on wheels!