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Evolutionary Improvements to Award-Winning Model
The G35 joined Infiniti‘s lineup for the 2003 model year and, after a relatively short four-year run, gets an overhaul for the 2007MY. On sale in November, Infiniti revealed the new sedan alongside the all-new Nissan Altima, and VehicleVoice and AutoPacific correspondents were on hand for the reveal. When the G35 was introduced, it won Motor Trend magazine’s car of the year award and was a finalist for North American Car of the Year (beaten by the MINI Cooper). It also made Car and Driver‘s 10Best list two years running (January 2003 and 2004). It didn’t make the Automobile Magazine All-Stars list or Edmunds.com’s Most Wanted for 2003, but Edmunds readers did vote it in as their most wanted sedan under $35,000 for 2003MY. With the evolutionary nature of the new sedan, we wonder if it will receive similar accolades. It should in any case continue to win hearts of buyers, as its overall goodness is improved though not re-invented.

The sedan shown in New York is production form rather concept, like the Infiniti Coupe Concept in Detroit this past January. The Coupe Concept previewed the styling updates to both coupe and sedan, though the coupe is not scheduled to arrive until spring 2007 and a production version has not been shown. While striking, styling is evolutionary compared with the current design. We haven’t had a chance to drive it yet, but we’ve been told that the updates result in a significant improvement in handling. The updated G35 gets more dramatic curves in the hood and a more aggressive lower fascia. The overall shape of the rear taillights is similar, but tweaked, and the headlights and grille take on a shape more like the M35/45.