2010 INFINITI IPL G Cabrio Concept pictures.

2010 INFINITI IPL G Cabrio Concept
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Infiniti's most seductive car, appropriately unveiled in one of Europe's most romantic cities, builds on the fine looks and sporting nature of the production G Cabrio to raise the temperature in the luxury cabriolet stakes.

Infiniti's passion for cars - and the art, craft and technology that goes into making them so special - is given full rein at the 2010 Paris Motor Show with the debut of the Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept.

Infiniti's most seductive car, appropriately unveiled in one of Europe's most romantic cities, builds on the fine looks and sporting nature of the production G Cabrio to raise the temperature in the luxury cabriolet stakes.

Resplendent in new Malbec Black - a pearlescent black paint with red hints - and Monaco Red leather interior complemented by unique new cabin inlays inspired by the finessed craftsmanship of samurai armour, the ultimate G Cabrio in concept form is a bespoke and very exclusive fulfilment of Infiniti design values.

As well as previewing a dramatic new look and classically luxurious cabin, the world's sexiest four-seat cabriolet with electric folding hard-top - probably - provides a tantalising vision of a new range of Infiniti models to extend the Japanese brand's reach further into the performance car market.

The Paris debut follows on from the unveiling in the USA in August of the first production Infiniti Performance Line variant, the G Coupé, with which the IPL badge has been launched in North America.

The Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept shares many of the IPL G Coupé's enhancements, all carefully calculated to take the Infiniti experience up a level. The IPL brief is to redefine total vehicle performance, so while power, acceleration and handling all benefit, so do more emotive aspects like the sound of the engine, the look of the details and the feel of the materials.

Already perhaps the most handsome hard-top cabriolet whether the three-piece electric roof is up or down - an operation that takes just 25 seconds - the Paris concept's exterior changes sum up the dynamic character behind the IPL badge. Perfectly poised on its new 19-inch split-rim 7-spoke graphite-finish alloy wheels, the Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept's stand-out style is based around a sporting new front-end look. A new bumper section and blacked-out grille and headlight surrounds bring an aggressive new edge to the Cabrio while integrating perfectly with the rest of the design.

Sculptured side sill extensions work with the bigger wheels and slightly lowered body to accentuate the purposeful new stance. A body-colour bootlid spoiler, based on the aerodynamic design of that fitted to the IPL G Coupé, adorns the rear.

The interior trim finishers are unique to the Paris concept. The centre console is finished with black lacquer while the dashboard area above the glove box and doors are adorned with KACCHU, the name given to the armour used by Japan's feudal warlords, or samurai, in the Middle Ages. Small iron plates were woven through textile to provide not just great strength but also flexibility and light weight. Because the highly skilled process allowed for a multitude of colours and patterns, the most elaborate KACCHU designs were a sign of great power and wealth.

Under the bonnet of the Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept is Infiniti's charismatic 3.7-litre V6 boasting 338 PS, 18 PS more than standard thanks to a high-flow dual exhaust system. It doesn't just sound great but also reduces exhaust pressure by 30%, further enhancing engine efficiency. The point at which peak power is developed has been boosted, from 7000 to 7400 rpm - high revs which the VQ engine's motor racing-inspired "bed plate" construction technique can take in its stride.

Maximum torque output is increased - from 360 to 374 Nm - but most important the shape of the torque curve has been refined so performance doesn't feel in any way peaky, maintaining the linear acceleration so crucial to any Infiniti.

The Cabrio Concept's running gear has been upgraded, again following the lead set by the IPL G Coupé. Sports suspension, with 10% stiffer springs and recalibrated dampers, are fitted and the body sits a little lower.

Top speed of the de-restricted concept car, which has a seven speed automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifts, is more than 270 km/h, with 0-100 km/h available in under 6 seconds.

Nothing in the IPL philosophy calls for a let-up in the provision of features as standard. The Infiniti IPL G Cabrio Concept maintains this Infiniti advantage by being superbly well equipped with an array of innovative comfort, convenience and safety technologies - just like the GT Premium model on which it is based and which has been available as part of the G Line in Infiniti Centres across Europe for more than a year.

So in league with the high performance looks and ability are features such as noise-cancelling technology, head restraint-mounted "personal" speakers, seats with internal heating and cooling and adaptive climate control. The 13-speaker premium sound system is by Bose® while suggestions on where to visit, stay or eat and drink are sourced from the Michelin Guides directly into the 30 GB hard disk drive navigation. It's just one part of the all-encompassing functionality of the Connectiviti+ infotainment system which the G Cabrio first introduced to the world at the model's launch in 2009.

2009 INFINITI G 37 Coupe car pictures.

INFINITI G 37 Coupe (2009)
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The Infiniti G37 Coupé offers dramatic performance in a thoroughly seductive shape. Although sharing a great deal of hardware with the Infiniti G37 Sedan, the Coupé is designed to appeal to different buyer.

The dynamic styling allied to its obvious performance potential will appeal to successful individuals who appreciate beautiful design and enjoy driving. They aren't prone to following the herd… and they might not even currently drive a coupé.

"The typical buyer of a Infiniti G37 Coupé will be a little younger than the four-door buyer, but no less discerning. He or she will be someone who appreciates quality but wants to make an even bolder statement," says Jim Wright, Vice President, Infiniti Europe.

"Infiniti G37 Coupé buyer might be an existing coupé driver but is just as likely to own a sports estate or a compact SUV."

When he does step into a Infiniti G37 Coupé, he'll find the exterior styling is matched by a refined interior. And when he starts the engine, he will find a true performance car that delivers what it promises. Top speed is limited at 250 km/h (155 mph), while 0-100 km/h takes just 5.8 seconds (on M/T version).

There are three versions of the Infiniti G37 Coupé on offer - the well equipped G37 Coupé, the more luxurious GT version with leather upholstery, and the sport-oriented S version with 4-Wheel Active Steer system, a Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD) and sports suspension settings among other changes.

"The Infiniti G37 Coupé takes the best attributes of the four-door and adds even more. It's a car designed to appeal to the emotions, yet one which delivers on a practical level, too," says Bastien Schupp, Marketing Director, Infiniti Europe.

Exterior styling

A long bonnet, short overhangs and dramatically raked roof line give the Infiniti G37 Coupé a silhouette that sets it apart from rival products based more heavily on their saloon counterparts.

Designed as a modern sports car without compromise, the Infiniti G37 Coupé has elegant and sophisticated proportions allied to an expressive, curving shoulder-line to give a feeling of movement even when stationary. The shorter and lower roofline also helps accentuate the Coupé's low centre of gravity and gives a clear indication that this is essentially a rear-wheel-drive car.

Curving 'character' lines at the front of the car mimic the lines of the front wings and help give the Coupé a more athletic and aggressive stance, while the wave-style aluminium bonnet incorporates a natural power dome to accentuate the potency of what lies beneath.

A special production process has been developed for installation of the headlights to ensure tight build tolerances and an exact fit into the complex front fascia.

Thanks to its shorter body, the Coupé's rear shoulder is even more muscular than the Sedan's, while the integral rear lip spoiler is more pronounced. The jewel-like taillights feature LED lamps to reinforce the Coupé's high-tech appeal.

Interior environment

The Infiniti G37 Coupé provides a sporting cockpit environment for the driver and a luxuriously open space for its passengers. The dashboard and centre console, complete with seven-inch colour display, adopts Infiniti design DNA with a 'double wave' upper section linked to a central vertical spine for a feeling of solidity. Textured aluminium trim inserts can be found on the centre console, the instrument binnacle and the door panels.

Its gracefully curved door trims have been inspired by traditional Japanese ceremonial swords, while the trim inserts are modelled on Japanese Washi handmade paper. Other signature Infiniti features are the elegant analogue clock on the dashboard and purple backlighting of instruments and controls.

Thanks to its long wheelbase, there is room in the rear compartment for two adults with easy ingress and egress provided by the wide opening doors and the electric fold and slide front seats. The practicality and loading capacity of Infiniti G37 Coupé is further improved by the folding rear seats

Engine and powertrain

Infiniti's latest 3.7-litre V6 is a potent, high revving, 24-valve twin cam unit producing 235 kW at 7,000 rpm (320 PS) and an impressive 360 Nm of torque at 5,200 rpm.

Constructed from lightweight aluminium, the engine features a two-part bed-plate construction which is more rigid than a single piece casting for reduced vibration levels. It also permits sustained use at higher revs: the V6 is red-lined at 7,500rpm.

The VQ37 unit features VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology to optimise efficiency and, in turn, the balance between power, response, fuel efficiency and emissions.

By continually altering valve lift and therefore the quantity of air in the combustion chamber it provides a more powerful combustion phase to increase torque and power. Best of all, as the valves control the intake rather than a conventional butterfly, response to throttle inputs is immediate. VVEL improves fuel economy and lowers emissions compared to standard valve lift systems.

Precise mapping of the ECU, meanwhile, helps the engine provide a progressive 'swell' of power and torque, providing a 'building wave' of acceleration rather than a peaky power delivery.

It delivers a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) with 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) taking 5.8 seconds (on M/T version). Fuel economy over the combined cycle is 10.5 l/100kms (26.9 mpg) while the Coupé has a CO2 figure of 249 g/km. The engine is fully compliant with Euro 5 emission level requirements.

In keeping with the performance profile of the Coupé, Infiniti engineers have developed a special aural soundtrack for the car. Equal length tubular exhaust manifolds and a symmetrical exhaust and silencer system have allowed the engineers to create a linear sound with a good balance between low and high frequency notes.

As well as a smooth shifting six-speed manual transmission, the Infiniti G37 Coupé is available with a new seven-speed automatic option with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and magnesium paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel.

Chassis and driving dynamics

Infiniti G37 Coupé uses the second-generation version of Infiniti's FM platform. The 'front midship' engine location sees the compact V6 mounted in the front of the car, but as low and as far back as possible, with most of the block behind the front axle line. The result lowers the centre of gravity and helps to deliver the optimum front to rear weight distribution.

The fully independent suspension uses lightweight aluminium components to reduce weight as much as possible. A double wishbone set up at the front and a subframe-mounted multi-link arrangement at the rear allied to an extremely rigid body shell, gives the Infiniti G37 Coupé agile handling perfectly in keeping with its performance potential.

All versions of Infiniti G37 Coupé come with Electronic Stability Program (ESP), while the power-assisted four-wheel vented disc brakes have a four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA) as standard.

To enhance the braking feel, the Infiniti G37 Coupé uses a 'link-design' pedal which becomes progressively firmer as g-forces and vehicle speed increases. As a result, the driver has a more direct sensation of the forces acting on the car as he brakes from high speed, as well as the benefit of increased assistance. At lower speeds the brake is easier to operate but with more travel relative to assistance.

The power steering system is a vehicle-speed-sensing type with a twin-orifice structure, which provides optimum steering effort at both high and low vehicle speeds.

The sports oriented G37S version has a number of chassis changes in keeping with its sharper profile. The principal enhancement is the addition of the 4-Wheel Active Steer (4WAS) system which helps improve handling performance still further by varying the front steering ratio and adjusting the geometry of the rear suspension according to steering input and vehicle speed.

Other standard features of the G37S include a Viscous Limited Slip Differential, recalibrated suspension settings and an enhanced braking system with four piston front brakes and two piston rears.

Standard and optional equipment

Infiniti G37 Coupé has a full complement of user friendly - and above all, useful - standard equipment, plus options for those who want to make even more of a statement.

Standard features include the intelligent I-key with smart access and push button starter, a six-disc, seven-speaker audio system with an RCA AUX-in jack socket for MP3 players. Bluetooth phone connectivity and cruise control with speed limiter can all be operated via switches on the leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel.

Other standard features include power seats (with eight way adjustment on the driver's side and four way for the passenger), aluminium pedals and footrest, auto-dimming rear view mirror, front and rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, 18-inch alloy wheels, six airbags and integrated fog lamps. For the perfect driving position, the binnacle is attached not to the dashboard but to the steering column itself, and moves with the wheel when the latter is adjusted for reach and rake.

The Adaptive Front-light System (AFS) and "Scratch Shield" paint are also standard. Bi-Xenon headlamps are linked to steering inputs and automatically follow the path of the front wheels to provide a wide spread of light around corners and on winding roads. "Scratch Shield" paint incorporates a special highly elastic resin within the conventional clearcoat to increase the paint's flexibility. A car painted with "Scratch Shield" paint can exhibit up to five times fewer scratches that a conventional clearcoat when exposed to the same conditions.

The G37 GT version adds extra comfort with leather upholstery, a 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar support and memory and an 8-way powered passenger front seat. Heated front seats are also standard and the I-key incorporates memory positions for driver's seat, steering wheel column and door mirrors.

In addition to its chassis and dynamic changes, the G37S adds a sports seat with manual thigh extension for the driver. The seats themselves are upholstered with leather as well as heated and have 14-way power adjustment (driver) and 8-way power adjustment (passenger). There's a tyre pressure monitoring system as standard, plus 19-inch alloy sports wheels.

The major option is the new seven-speed automatic transmission with manual mode and magnesium paddle shifters, enabling drivers to shift the transmission without releasing their hands from the steering wheel. With its additional forward gear, the new automatic transmission has a wider spread of ratios which benefits both fuel consumption and drivability. The seventh speed is effectively an overdrive ratio, returning improved fuel economy on a steady throttle without compromising in-gear flexibility for overtaking. Shift points are tuned to keep the engine in the largest part of the torque curve, ensuring there is always a healthy reserve when the driver wants to overtake. The linked Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) system switches between three different programs depending on input from the major control systems throughout the car.

Other options include Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) which uses brake, throttle and laser sensors to help maintain a set distance between the Infiniti G37 Coupé and the car in front. In automatic transmission versions, the software reduces driver's workload even more allowing ICC to work from 0km/h to 180 km/h thanks to the "Full Speed Range" feature. An integral part of the ICC option for A/T models, the Intelligent Brake Assist system analyses closing speeds to a vehicle ahead helping reduce damage caused by a rear-end collision. If the driver must take immediate action to avoid a collision, the system sounds a warning to prompt driver action or can even activate the brakes to decelerate the vehicle.

A custom-engineered Bose® sound system sets a new standard for stereo performance in a car. Its 11 high-performance speakers provide crisp musical detail, with impactful low notes bringing G Coupé owners closer to the power and emotion of a live concert performance. To achieve this, Bose® engineers used proprietary digital signal processing and multiple channels of custom equalization to help tune the sound specifically for the vehicle. The Bose® sound system is available as part of a Multimedia pack with also incorporates a DVD navigation system with voice recognition and a rear-view parking camera. Final options include an electric glass sunroof, metallic paint and a temporary spare wheel (replacing standard tyre repair kit), while a subtle African Rosewood trim interior is available on the G37 GT.

Safety

High levels of passive safety were a priority at the design stage. As a result, the Infiniti G37 Coupé has a full complement of six airbags, with dual-stage front airbags, seat belt sensors and passenger seat occupancy sensor. The front seats incorporate hip and thorax bags, while there are front-to-rear curtain airbags for protection in a side impact.

Also standard is a pop-up bonnet, designed to offer greater crash protection for pedestrians. In the event of a collision, a small pyrotechnic charge raises the trailing edge of the bonnet close the lower edge of the windscreen. This creates a larger buffer between the bonnet and the top of the engine, providing a more yielding surface which in turn helps to reduce potential injuries.

Quality

Infiniti is synonymous with vehicle quality, and that's something that doesn't happen by accident.

On the Tochigi production line in Japan every vehicle - not just every tenth - is laser scanned to ensure that panel gaps are within prescribed limits.

During the design and development phase, new models are exhaustively tested not just at Infiniti's Hokkaido proving ground but also at the Tochigi and Motegi test and race complexes in Japan. Infiniti also has a vast 12.34 million square metre hot weather testing base in Arizona.

Testing every Infiniti in the harshest of conditions and over thousands and thousands of kilometres ensures the durability and peace of mind that buyers can expect from the products.