Looking like a smaller version of a Lexus GS 400, the G35 has looks, handling and serious go-power, all for under $30,000. Considering how well Acura has done in this near-luxury sport sedan category with the TL Type-S for around $31K, I have to believe the G35 will become a bestseller.

The competition
For some reason, there's a big psychological price break right at $30,000, so that¹s the number the car makers want to get under to give their product a shot at really big sales.
Look at all the cars squeezing under the door: the Lexus IS 300, BMW 325i, Audi A4, even a Jag X-Type. But all of these, nice as they are, only have around 200 horses at the under-30 price level. And they're not as big.
Of course, one could argue that those in the market for a European car know they're going to have to pay over 30 to get a car with good equipment, so they wouldn't be in the market for a G35.
A base Saab 9.3 will give you around 200 horses from a turbo-4 four for around $28K, and the Volvo base model S60 gives you 168 horses from a five-cylinder for $27K.
If you look at American cars, you have a couple of pretty good choices for under 30. How about a Chrysler 300M, which also has a 3.5-liter V6, producing 250 horses in the base version?
And, let¹s not forget the new Cadillac CTS, which comes in at $29K with a 3.2-liter V6 that produces 220 horses. Lotta choices in the high 20s, and yet, the G35 seems to top 'em all.

The size and weight factor
Here's how the G35 lays out. It¹s 186.2 inches long with a wheelbase of 112.2 inches. It weighs 3,336 pounds. Front legroom is 43.9 inches and front head room is 40.5 inches. Back seat leg room is 36.2 inches.
This is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car, my favorite configuration.
Let's look at a few of the competitors, beginning with the king of sport sedans, the Beemer 325i. It runs 176 inches with a wheelbase of 107.3. That length only delivers 41.4 inches of legroom in the front and 34.4 in the rear.
Curb weight on the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive 325i with manual trans- mission is only 3,200 pounds, and 3,300 for the automatic.
The Audi A4 is a little longer, at 179 inches, but it has a shorter wheelbase at 104. Leg room is 41.3 and 34.3, so the shorter wheelbase cuts back on the rear seat room. The interesting thing about the A4 is you get front-wheel drive, at 3,200 pounds or all-wheel at 3,500.
As you might imagine, the Americans are bigger than the Germans. CTS is 190 inches with a 113-inch wheelbase, delivering 42.4 and 37 inches of leg room front and back, respectively. The Caddy is front-engine, rear-wheel with a weight of 3,500 pounds. The 3000M is even bigger, at 197 inches with a 113-inch wheelbase and 3,581 pounds. Front legroom is 42 inches but it really shines in the rear, with 39 inches.
If you've got long legs and a heavy foot, the G35 is for you. And there's so much room in the front that you can scoot the seat up and seat an average size man in the rear comfortably.

Power and handling
We've already seen that only Acura¹s TL Type-S delivers the kind of horsepower that G35 offers, but since the TL is front-wheel drive, it won¹t handle as well if you stomp it because with FWD you get torque steer under a lot of power.
The G35¹s aluminum V6 engine is the same one that's in the 2003 Nissan 350Z, only in the Z it makes 27 more horsepower. What that says to me is that you put a K&N air filter on your G35, and you can crank it up by 15 or so horses.
Tweak the exhaust and you'll be up to the power level of the Z.
One thing the G35 doesn't have is manual transmission, although Infiniti is hinting that it will soon. It does have a five-speed sport shifter, but I didn¹t find it satisfying.
Thing is, when you have enough power, you don't need a sport shifter. You can just floor it when you want to go.
I was happy with the G's cornering, which is helped by the placement of the engine behind the front axle and the gas tank under the rear seat, which improves the car's balance.
We also have a new four-wheel independent multi-link suspension. In front there are two separate lower links and a long upper link. In the rear, the shock absorbers and springs are separated, with the shocks in line with the wheel center.
Both front and rear suspensions use aluminum components to reduce unsprung weight. All this means you have a good grip of the road but a smooth ride, too.
All G35s have computer skid control, too, plus power-assisted four-wheel vented disc brakes, four-channel, four-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist, which senses hard or panic pedal application and helps provide maximum braking capacity. With all these goodies, you¹d think a G35 could smoke a Beemer with only 184 horses from an inline six. I would think so, too, except that I've been surprised before by how much speed BMW gets out of its horsepower.
So, I would expect the G35 to get out in front of a 325i, but staying in front might depend upon the drivers.
The FM platform design, derived from racing technology, also places a strong emphasis on aerodynamics, especially on the control of airflow under the body. The extensive use of diffusers and deflectors helps the G35 achieve zero degrees of front lift (0.0 clf), reducing drag and noise at high speeds and contributing to vehicle stability. With the optional rear spoiler, zero degrees of rear lift is also achieved. The G35 has an exceptional coefficient of drag measurement of just 0.27 (0.26 with optional rear spoiler) for reduced wind noise and increased fuel economy. The new G35 also utilizes aluminum for the hood for reduced weight and further enhancement of fuel economy.
Attention to body and structural stiffness includes adoption of a dual bulkhead engine compartment construction that functions as a body stabilizer for damping vibrations (in addition to isolating noise and heat). The G35¹s roof panel and body side panels are laser-welded to enhance body rigidity and to enable the entire body to damp vibrations. The increased stiffness and solidity improve driving stability and ride comfort while reducing noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
The new G35 is offered in seven exterior colors: Desert Platinum, Emerald Mist, Ivory Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Black Obsidian, Garnet Fire and Twilight Blue.
The engine includes a long list of advanced systems, including a continuously variable valve timing control system, a ³noiseless² timing chain for silent operation, a structurally reinforced aluminum engine block and an electronically controlled "drive-by-wire" throttle system. It also features a modular engine design, microfinished crank journals and cam lobes, and molybdenum coated lightweight pistons.

G35 availability and equipment
The 2003 Infiniti G35 will be available in two models - Luxury and Leather - both fully equipped models complete with V6 and five-speed automatic transmission. A number of optional packages allow the buyer to custom-equip the G35 to further reflect his or her exact driving style and tastes.
Packages include the Premium Package, with Bose audio system, adjustable rear seats, sunroof and more; Sport-Tuned Suspension Package, which adds 17-inch alloy wheels with W-rated performance tires and upgraded suspension; and the Aero Package, which includes the Sport-Tuned Suspension Package and adds rear spoiler with rear underbody rear side fairing. Copyright 2002, Tom Tully