G WIZARDRY; Infiniti beats the sophomore jinx.(News)

Byline: Kevin A. Wilson

The original G35 sedan, a 2003 model, was a big playmaker for Infiniti. Sharing the rear-wheel-drive FM platform and VQ35 V6 with the two-seat Nissan 350Z, it cloaked a sports car attitude in luxury sedan dress. This rwd addition to a segment where Infiniti previously had only the fwd Maxima-based I35 launched the struggling luxury division into contention and contributed to the overall Nissan turnaround.

G models now account for one-third of Infiniti sales. When the second-generation sedan launches in November, Infiniti says the car will carry the theme "Beyond Machine.'' We'll skip the "to Infiniti and beyond'' jokes to simply note the target vehicle for everyone in this market segment is still the one calling itself the "ultimate driving machine.'' With nowhere to go beyond "ultimate,'' what can it mean to go beyond machine? We're not sure it's much more than marketing mumbo jumbo, but we've now driven the car, so let's start with the machine.

The 2007 G is more of a redesign than it is an all-new car. The FM (front-mid-engine) platform runs on the same 112.2-inch wheelbase, and the fourth-generation VQ35 is revamped but in essence the same engine.

That the new G looks similar to the original is no great surprise-the proportions are pretty much locked in. But designers have done a good job distinguishing the new car.

A-pillars are pushed back for more rake to the windshield, helping to yield a Cd of 0.29 and lowering the roof 0.5 inch. There's another half-inch of overall length, while the track is up just less than one inch front and rear, and the car gains only 48 pounds despite many additional standard features.

Surfacing is reworked to more strongly emphasize the car is rwd, a message also conveyed by aggressive wheel flares-the new model is 0.9 inch wider, entirely attributable to the flares. Along with the front fenders, the hood, grille and headlights especially look fresh, with a wave form to the hood and tighter fits around the headlights. The grille elements are twisted in a manner meant to resemble Japanese swords.