Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Etc., Infiniti
Infiniti G37 coupe to get AWD
Official word has yet to come down from on high, but it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Infiniti G37 will eventually get AWD hardware. Potential buyers are asking dealers, who are in turn asking Infiniti about channeling the VQ's urge through all four wheels. The M45 and G35S will both be gaining AWD in the near future, so it does bode well for the possibility of a G37x. Official statements are vague about any actual developments, other than to say "it's reasonable to expect it may happen." It's also reasonable to assume that Infiniti's watching the competition like BMW and Audi proliferating AWD euro-luxers, and they'd be remiss to neglect offering the same capabilities.
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Simsala 10:13AM (8/31/2007)
Oh, the new CLS? Ah, Infiniti?! Frechheit! Diese verdammten Penner aus Japan! Scheiss Wichser
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RicardoHead 10:26AM (8/31/2007)
Wer hat 'was über ein CLS gesagt? Und was hast Du denn gegen die Japaner? Vielleicht dass japanishche Autos sind heutzutage interessanter über als die aus Deutschland?
Big Rocket 1:41PM (8/31/2007)
Simsala @ Aug 31st 2007 10:13AM wrote:
"Insolence! These condemned bums from Japan! Feces to the wankers"
If you are a man, you can at least not hide your insults from those you wish to insult: More Japanese speak English than German. And thank you for giving us a look into your wonderful country of Germany.
JZeke 10:14AM (8/31/2007)
Currently you cant get a manual transmission in any AWD Infiniti. I wonder will they will remedy this with the new G37x range?
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shadysi 10:30AM (8/31/2007)
my thoughts exactly! hopefully, they will get an AWD 6speed, that would make a g37x deal look a whole lot better.
mk 10:35AM (8/31/2007)
300+ horsepower - check
good looking coupe - check
manual transmission - check
AWD.... - Check! (if it comes with manual transmission, GT-R has in the past, so why not?)
This could be very cool.
Especially since you can't get a Subaru AWD Turbo in a coupe. Not even the SVX or 2.5RS impreza, at least not stock.
I love my Subaru, but they've got nothing even close to a G37x coupe with a manual transmission, if it is indeed coming. Audi TT Quattro isn't even quite at this level, and is FWD adapted for AWD, with less power.
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nagmashot 10:59AM (8/31/2007)
just another not knowing what he is talking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2hd_LSwkZc
take a lesson from a race driver pushing and explaing at a VW R32 the work of VW/Audi Haldex AWD setup... the R32 and the TT share exactly the same system...
Richard 11:38AM (8/31/2007)
nagmashot,
that video only implies that the R32 can move torque from to rear in pretty wide amounts. The technical data I have been aboe to find in 3 minutes og googling indicate that as much as 75% can be moved to the rear...which is pretty good.
The question is, however, which way is the torque biased normally. Mostly front - me thinks...which belies the heritage as a conversion from the front-heavy, understeering pigs that audi/ vw's can be in their basic configuration. I think that was mks point and i would add - not that lift throttle oversteer isn't a blast to drive, because it is a blast to drive.
If infiniti bring this I'll have to make a real difficult decision: restore an SVX or buy a new infinity.
mk 10:45AM (8/31/2007)
---one more thing.
If they are really going after the A5 and 335xi coupe, then they should really up the ante. Special edition Infiniti coupe to go after the S5 and V8 M3.
G45 or G45x coupe. RWD or AWD, with the 4.5 liter DOHC V8, 6MT or F1-style automated manual trans, and more aggressive option package, interior and exterior.
A bit more lux and GT touring than the GT-R, but more agressive than the G37.
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aliasfox 11:13AM (8/31/2007)
mk, I think the small problem with Infiniti's 4.5 liter V8 right now is that it's barely more powerful in terms of peak horsepower than the 3.5 liter V6. Torque numbers will be higher, but I seriously doubt the average consumer will want to spend an extra 5k+ for such slight bragging rights.
Now if Nissan updates it with direct injection we might have something fun...
Richard 11:39AM (8/31/2007)
Nah!
A big lump will just screw the weight distribution.
DDL 10:49AM (8/31/2007)
It makes sense in northern states - most of the G35 sedans you see here in Minneapolis are the AWD model.
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TriShield 11:30AM (8/31/2007)
Hello nearly 4,000 lbs. The RWD G37 is 3,700 lbs as it is.
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MikeW 1:30PM (8/31/2007)
The G37 is more like 3600 (the loaded 6 speed manual is still under 3700) and the extra drivetrain hardware only adds 200lbs.
Even if Nissan offers a striper 6 speed stick with the 'awd' drivetrain it will still be 55/45 weight distribution.
mk 12:32PM (8/31/2007)
Nagmashot, We can discuss AWD, if you like...
Most FWD based cars have their engines mounted transversely in front of their transaxles, with a viscous coupling running rearward, for rear-drive-assist.
The R32 and TT may not be bad, I am not saying that they are bad. But they are FWD based, and probably do not have a static rearward torque bias without front wheelslip. Also, a viscous coupling is not as versatile as a differential. Not to say that it doesn't work, or even work well, But there is a difference.
But Subaru AWD, longitudinal Quattro AWD, and ATTESSA, or whatever Nissan calls their AWD, and even BMW and Mercedes AWD, are either symmetrical, or rear biased by design.
Most Subaru symmetrical and VDC AWD, and A4 and up quattro are symmetrical by design, and behave like AWD even when the wheels aren't slipping.
Attessa, BMW, Mercedes, and others, behave like RWD, with a rear torque bias under normal conditions, with forward assist under specific conditions. Still handles like a RWD car most of the time.
BTW... Racing, WRC excepted, is best done with well-tuned and weight balanced RWD. AWD traction can help put down lots of power, but race-tracks are hardly low-traction environments for cars with huge tires, and 2-wheel drive cars are lighter, less complex, more robust, and therefore faster and more reliable, for the same weight and power.
There is a reason that most motorsports other than rally racing don't use AWD in vast numbers. AWD becomes a great addition to road cars that have to deal with occaisional low traction conditions, like water, and it's frozen states. The rest of the time, when traction isn't a problem, how the car handles is affected by which wheels drive the car more, and where the engine is located.
Give me balanced RWD-based AWD or symmetrical AWD with decent weight distribution over FWD-based haldex any day. I'd take a WRX STI over an R32 in a heartbeat, if we're talking about AWD motorsport.
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Nick 1:25PM (8/31/2007)
Apparently AWD is a huge advantage in touring car racing, otherwise the FIA wouldn't have imposed weight penalties and eventually a ban in the 1990's:
http://www.speedarena.com/news/publish/features/printer_3883.shtml
balabok 7:47PM (9/03/2007)
@Nick,
I always bring this little fact up when people start thumping there chest about RWD superiority.
It's not. AWD>RWD>FWD
mk 7:28PM (9/04/2007)
I never said AWD was bad. I drive a 300hp turbo AWD subaru... You don't have to convert me.
I just said RWD was lighter and less complex on the race track.
For The same car, one example having AWD, the other being only RWD, otherwise the same power and weight, the RWD car will be lighter, and thus faster with the same power, and less complex to break down on the track.
factor in different cars with different weight, and different power, and the variables start to stack up. An Audi is different than a BMW, is different than a Porsche, is different than a Viper, or other factory production race car.
Ever wonder why Porsche doesn't use it's AWD system in the racing arena, but sticks to RWD on the GT3? Same bare chassis weight, same engine power, less driveline weight and inertia, and less part breakage for RWD over AWD. However, some Porsche hill climb, or paris-dakar vehicles do use AWD, like the old 959.
Put AWD in a lighter chassis with more power, and sure AWD will be faster. Probably more forgiving to drive outside of the perfect line, as well. But the engine is pushing more driveline metal, with more parasitic loss, and more chance of breaking down, and being out of the race.
IRL/Formula open wheel racing is not AWD. LeMans/ALMS prototype racing is not, for the most part. These guys throw cubic dollars at ultimate track performance. If it were worth it, don't you think they would try it on a much larger scale?
as I said, I drive a 300hp AWD manual transmission Subaru Legacy every day, including the Iowa winter. The other car in the garage is a Miata with a torsen limited slip, and half the power.
Ultimate traction is not the same as handling purity and light weight. Both have their place. Sometimes AWD has the edge, most often on real-world streets. Sometimes simplicity and K.I.S.S. is what is called for, especially on a high grip track in nice weather.
Dare I say, even FWD has it's proper place, on cheap mobility appliances that allow this country to keep moving, for manufacturing efficiency, and cost effectiveness, even if it has a performance deficiency on the road, and I don't prefer to drive FWD cars when I want to enjoy the drive. Some people aren't ultra-discerning drivers like enthusiasts tend to be.
Stumper 12:39PM (8/31/2007)
how about a g37 sedan? why doesn't the sedan get the new VQ??
I want to see as much competition as possible in the 30-40k near-lux R/AWD sports sedan category as possible (g35, 3series, A4 Quattro, 300c, Genesis, CTS, G8 w/v8, IS 2/350). It can be nothing but good news to us, regardless of which car you wind up buying. Is this the most competitive segment in the industry?
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MikeW 1:18PM (8/31/2007)
The peak torque is about same (dissapointly so) in the VQ37, 270ft-lbs@5200. versus 268ft-lbs@4800
Because it has less torque at lower engine speeds.
and the mileage of the G35 sedan isn't very good because the gearing is pretty short-It needs a 6 speed automatic.
That should come first.