Bright future / Infiniti test drives

The exterior of the G35x cannot be confused with any other, although the Japanese handwriting of the brand is unmistakably recognizable in the four-door. The body has become noticeably more streamlined and rounded. A long hood, a cut front overhang, a high and appetizing rear... Thanks to the smooth lines, the aerodynamics are excellent — the declared drag coefficient is 0.29.

Immediately behind the wheel, I caught myself examining the wavy relief of the hood — it reminds me of the FX45. The interior design is in the spirit of current Infiniti models. The soft and attractive front panel elegantly flows into the door cards. The seats are upholstered in delicate leather, and the backrests have embossed Infiniti logos. At the top of the console there is a color screen for multimedia and the onboard computer, slightly recessed into the dashboard, thanks to which there is room at its base for a neat control unit with the signature round "washers." In the older models — the M sedan and the FX crossover — the instruments are the same, but here they are their own, and noticeably more spirited. And that's right: the G35 and the G37 coupe are the youngest in the lineup, and they are supposed to have the freshest solutions.

But it is all the more surprising to find obvious budget relics here. They seem like trifles, but they spoil the overall picture. Take, for example, the rectangular black keys responsible for the power windows and automatic transmission modes on the center tunnel — they would look more organic in a utilitarian Nissan Navara pickup. In the G35x cabin, especially against a light background, they look alien. Or the nondescript, unpleasant-to-the-touch plastic around the multimedia system monitor and control unit. At the same time, the material of a similar color on the steering wheel is textured and pleasant. The list of atavisms is completed by the armrest between the front seats, upholstered in shiny gray leather.

Personally, I find the interior of the Sport version more attractive: black plastic and inserts not of wood, but of aluminum. The metal is processed in a special way, its texture reminiscent of handmade Japanese paper — washi. African rosewood, of course, is also not bad, but it is too hackneyed.

Inside, the car is divided by a high tunnel (thanks to the driveshaft), so only four people can sit comfortably. Rear passengers have plenty of legroom by class standards, but the downside is that the sloping roof presses on the top of the head.

Conceptually, the G35x is a car built around the driver and for the driver. Otherwise, why would there be a forced 3.5-liter engine here? There are few sporty accents in the cabin, but they are significant. For example, a very comfortable steering wheel with bulges at the top and bottom, hand-wrapped in leather with excellent friction properties. Or: when adjusting the steering column, the position of the instrument panel changes synchronously, so that the tachometer and speedometer are never obscured by the rim. You can also mention the floor-mounted accelerator pedal and the paddle shifters of the automatic transmission made of titanium alloy, which are stitched with leather at the points of contact with the fingers for convenience.

But everything else related to the word "sport" is outside the cozy cabin of the G35x. For me, the engine comes first. The venerable Nissan naturally aspirated "six" seems to have reached the peak of its capabilities. 315 hp were extracted from 3.5 liters of working volume — 90 hp per liter! Therefore, the engine's character is explosive. At low and medium speeds it is quite torquey, but as the needle approaches the red zone it begins to rage. The engine just begs to be revved — the acceleration is very assertive. The car reaches 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. Peak power comes at 6800 rpm, and torque (358 Nm) at 4800. The rev limiter is set at a high level — 7600 rpm. Plus, the engine has an excellent voice.

The five-speed automatic fully matches the power unit. Shifts are fast and smooth. Even during the most aggressive acceleration, the electronics manage to shift without jerks. During a sharp downshift, the computer raises the revs, precisely selecting the level for a smooth gear change. And in particularly hot situations, it even blips the throttle. Another advantage of the automatic transmission is its intelligence. The gearbox brain analyzes the driver's commands, how he handles the gas pedal, how he works the brakes, and how fast the car enters a corner. It analyzes and adapts. If the "automatic" is in a serious mood, it will even downshift during intense braking. The gearbox calms down quite quickly. The operating algorithm of the automatic transmission is good — in most cases you can fully rely on it. By the way, the manual mode is implemented honestly: if you don't shift up in time, the engine will "hang" on the rev limiter.

The ally of this tandem is the proprietary all-wheel drive system Attesa E-TS. The emphasis is on the rear wheels, and the front axle is engaged only when the rear wheels clearly slip. As a result, the handling has a rear-wheel-drive character, and the steering wheel is maximally free of "parasitic moments." If you turn off the VDC stability control system (you can completely), the G35x will bring a lot of joy in high-speed corners. True, it seems to me that only a few owners will take advantage of this opportunity. Let them at least know that it exists.

The car's layout is also oriented towards an active driver — the engine, for example, is located within the wheelbase. The suspension lacks the active dampers popular nowadays, but this does not prevent it from doing its job excellently. There is no pitching, body roll is minimal, and comfort is at the proper level.

Even on relatively high-profile tires 225/55 R17, the car responds clearly to steering wheel movements. The performance of the power steering varies depending on speed. I managed to accelerate the G35x to 220 km/h according to the speedometer — the ride is confident. If you put wheels an inch larger with low-profile tires, the car will drive even more interestingly. However, the Russian representative office decided to limit itself to one tire size, although, for example, in the USA you can choose other wheels. In any case, this is the main market for Infiniti, so the choice of options there is richer. For example, seats with adjustable lateral support and a rear-wheel steering system are offered.

One way or another, the Infiniti G35x has almost no weak points. And the price tag says that for European all-wheel-drive classmates of similar power you will have to pay much more. Therefore, the success of the G35x in our market can be considered a done deal.

Prices and trim levels
The sedan is offered by dealers only with the 3.5-liter engine (315 hp). The gearbox is a five-speed automatic. There are two trim levels – Sport (from $56,900) and Premium (from $57,575).
The basic equipment includes ABS, EBD, BA, VDC, TCS, front and side airbags, inflatable curtains, full power accessories, leather interior with aluminum inserts, front seats with electric adjustments (driver's with memory), onboard computer, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, Bose audio system with CD changer, bi-xenon headlights, rear-view camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, light sensor.
In the Premium trim, the interior has rosewood inserts. As an additional option, a power sunroof is offered (plus $1500).