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INFINITI G37x SEDAN

Published 4:19 pm Thursday, May 21, 2009

When you have a vehicle line – say the Infiniti G – that has chalked up award after award, topped comparison test after comparison test, and endeared itself to a growing legion of passionate owners, what do you do for an encore?

For world-class performance luxury brands – and I’d say Infiniti qualifies – the answer is simple: Everything.

For example:

A new 328-horsepower, 3.7-liter V6 engine for the Infiniti sedan – now called the G37.

An all-new Infiniti G37 convertible model, launched in the first quarter of this year.

A new all-wheel-drive sedan and coupe model dubbed the G37x.

A new seven-speed automatic transmission for all Infiniti G models (with six-speed manuals available upon request).

Having not driven this brand in a long time – Ms. Lowry tends to hog the really good cars – I must say I was extremely impressed with everything about my tester, the G37x sedan. And it didn’t even seem to be trying hard. It had understated elegance, the polish of a blueblood and the performance attributes of a thoroughbred.

For 2009, Infiniti’s G lineup consists of four models: G37, G37 Journey, G37S and G37x AWD.

I made a point of leering at my G37x tester from all four sides, thinking there must be a small flaw, slight blemish, at least a beauty mark somewhere.

Alas, I was mistaken. The smooth lines, sports-car proportions and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels combine to make this alpha-numeric wonder (couldn’t they give something this good a name?) one of the most attractive cars on the road.

Inside the car, one is wooed by leather, wood, illuminated doors and an electroluminescent instrument cluster that turns the G37x cabin into a playground for the senses. Techies will appreciate the ride’s hard-drive-based navigation system that also provides voice command, iPod integration and space for music storage — among other features.

That’s a lot of good stuff to take note of, and I hadn’t even left the Herald parking lot.

Pushing pedal to metal did not disappoint. Acceleration is strong from the start line through mid-range, with plenty of panache left for merging, passing or just showing off. The rear-biased all-wheel-drive allows for a little slippage. And, the G37x carves corners carefree.

Simply put, the G37x delivers attitude when requested, but quickly transforms into a button-down grand touring machine that deadens freeway expansion joints, blocks out road noise, and pampers (cabernet sauvignon and brie, anyone?) with the best of them.

The Bose audio system delivered crystal-clear sound of every nuance of Aaron Copland’s timeless “Fanfare for the Common Man” symphony. Eyes never need to wander from the pavement, what with voice command neatly activating the navigation system and hands-free cell talk delivered via Bluetooth.

No, Infiniti is not resting on its laurels. And discriminating car buyers willing to pay a little more are the fortunate beneficiaries of a lot more car. It’s the classic win-win.