I remember modifying my 1966 Ford Mustang and rebuilding the engine to produce a screaming 300 horses, slapping on rumbling exhaust and working the suspension. The image I wanted and achieved was lo ud and powerful with the ability to handle tight curves and feel every bump in the road. In the 1980’s that was the general requirement to be classified as a sports car.
Well, the years have passed and so has my desire to be thrashed by unforgiving suspension and deafened by sound polluting mufflers. So what’s out there for us rehabilitated sports car junkies? How about the 2012 Infiniti IPL™ G37 Coupe?
Eager to deepen their gas pedals into the world of the performance game, Infiniti has launched a new line of premium performance vehicles; the Infiniti Performance Line or IPL. Smartly, Infiniti didn’t just focus on extra horsepower and acceleration. They also enhanced the total refined vehicle performance luxury with modifications to the exterior, interior, suspension and engine tuning. The limited production IPL G37 Coupe is the first Infiniti to come from this new line.
From a distance, the profile is quite similar to the current G37 Coupe. A more detailed examination exposes the IPL treatment including new front and rear fascias, sleek side sills and IPL-exclusive 19-inch split-spoke wheels. You have two exterior choices – Graphite Shadow and Malbec Black. The front fascia is aggressive and beautiful. From the rear you cannot help but notice the enormous 120mm dual exhaust tips.
The interior doesn’t vary much from the standard G Coupe. The leather seats are available in either black or red with red accent stitching, and the dash is trimmed in polished aluminum. I would have suggested that they be a little more creative and placed some IPL logos to customize the interior like they did with the exterior. With that said, the IPL edition is fully loaded and very comfortable-at least in the front seat.
As with the standard G Coupe, the rear seat was not truly designed for long trips or tall people or short people for that matter. I had to move the front passenger seat to nearly its most forward position to provide my son who was parked in his child seat, adequate room for his little three-year old legs. Of course, all he cared about was that the IPL looked like a super-fast car.
Standard features include power sliding/tinted glass moon roof, 12-way power/heated driver seat, 8-way power/heated front passenger seat, driver’s seat power lumbar support, dual zone automatic temperature controls, intelligent key with push button start, dual heated power outside mirrors, chrome front grille (black grille optional), aluminum kick plates, hard drive navigation system with XM NavTraffic® and XM NavWeather™, rear view monitor and sonar system, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, USB connection port and Infiniti voice recognition system.
The Infiniti IPL team invested their time and money in the development of the powertrain and chassis. Infiniti dropped the 348-hp version of the 3.7-liter V-6 under the hood. They opened up the exhaust allowing the back pressure to drop by 30 percent. Compared to the standard G37 Coupe, the IPL only has a mild increase of 18 horsepower. Mated to the 3.7-liter is the choice of a six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport mode and solid magnesium shift paddles.
The IPL-tuned performance suspension receives 20-percent tighter front springs and 10% tighter rear coils while the brakes and steering components are carryovers. A limited slip differential is standard. The power steering is sport-tuned, and vehicle speed-sensitive. Braking includes 4-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers. All of this translates into a very comfortable and quiet ride. If you have ever driven the G37 sister car – the Nissan 370Z, you know that you feel every bump in the road. The IPL G37 is a huge improvement and delivers a luxurious ride and sporty handling.
Room for improvement:
- Infiniti could have made the interior more distinctive
Cool Features:
- Aggressive front fascia
- Push button start
The standard safety equipment for the 2012 IPL G37 Coupe model includes two-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags for front passengers with front and rear side-curtain airbags, tire pressure monitoring system, lower anchors and tethers for Children (LATCH), front-seat active head restraints, 4-wheel anti-lock braking system, vehicle security system and electronic stability system.
In Summary – The 2012 Infiniti IPL G37 Coupe is a wonderful blend of performance and luxury in a sports car. It has great lines, a comfortable ride, and extreme performance. It’s not a family car, but a lot of fun when traveling either alone or with that someone special. At a price of
$51, 250 it comes loaded with features.
Specifications
2012 IPL G37 Coupe
Base price: $51,250 as driven: $52,345 (including destination)
Engine: 3.7-Liter 6 cylinder
Horsepower: 348 @ 7400
Torque: 276 foot pounds @ 5200
Transmission: 7-Speed Automatic
Drive: Rear Wheel-Drive
Seating: 5-passenger
Turning circle: 36.1feet
Cargo space: 7.4 cubic feet
Curb weight: 3769 pounds
Fuel capacity: 20 gallons
EPA mileage: City 19 / Highway 27
Wheel Base: 112.2 inches
Warranty: 4 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper
Also consider: Audi TT, BMW 3 Series, Porsche Cayman, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG
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