Journey 2dr Rear-Wheel Drive Coupe
2009 INFINITI G37

2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery Infiniti recently invited us to Napa, California to show off its 2009 model lineup, and while they didn't bring the all-new G37 Convertible (we'll be at the Los Angeles Auto Show to report on that one), they did hand us the keys to the new all-wheel drive G37x coupe and the more-powerful 2009 G37 S sedan. Does all-wheel drive make a slot car out of the coupe? Does a larger engine transform the sedan? Read on for our full impressions after the jump. %Gallery-33227% %Gallery-33234% Photos Copyright ©2008 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc. 2009 Infiniti G37x Coupe It seems as if Infiniti has finally put it all together. They started with the sexy FM-platform Coupe, shoehorned the hot 330-hp VQ37VHR 3.7-liter V6 under the hood, mated it to a new transmission, and connected it to the pavement through a performance-oriented ATESSA E-TS all-wheel drive system. This has to be the ultimate Infiniti, right? Well, our time with the car indicates that the sum of these parts equals a mixed message. The new G37x may satisfy the masses, but it doesn't attempt to masquerade as an enthusiast-oriented sports car. First, the product planners have chosen to mate the ATESSA E-TS only to the new 7-speed automatic transmission – sadly, you won't find a G37x S 6MT anywhere in the lineup. Even thought the Infiniti team boasts the "Drive Sport" mode and "Downshift Rev Matching" features on the new 7-speed auto, it is still a traditional "slushbox" with characteristic automatic transmission inadequacies. Second, even though the ride height and suspension are unchanged from the standard RWD model, Infiniti will not offer Four-wheel Active Steer (4WAS), the Sport Package (and big brakes) or the Performance Tire & Wheel Package on the G37x. That said, the most scalpel-like Infiniti Coupe for '09 will remain the G37S Sport 6MT (essentially unchanged from '08). So, where does the new all-wheel drive G37x fit into the lineup? In a sense, it is the most capable model, but for very different reasons. We spent about an hour behind the wheel of the G37x, and it all began to make sense. Most notably, the new 7-speed automatic is an excellent transmission. Shifts are quick and smooth, and you don't find yourself cursing its gear selection during normal driving. We left it in "D" and it performed admirably without needlessly hunting for a ratio. Add efficiency to the transmission's accolades as it sips less fuel than the 5-speed automatic it replaces. Fuel economy for the rear-wheel drive coupe with the new 7AT jumps from 18 city/24 highway to 18/26 thanks to its tall gearing (the all-wheel drive G37x is rated at 18/25). The default torque split on the ATTESSA ET-S all-wheel drive is 0:100 (front:rear). When the G37x is floored from a standstill, the rear tires chirp for a split second before the fronts hook up – it reacts nearly identically to the way the Nissan GT-R does …
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