Infiniti G37 Convertible

The Infiniti G37 Convertible launches in the UK

Infiniti, which is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota, is stepping up their European launch programme, and have released details of just what the new Infiniti G37 Convertible for the UK has to offer.

We’ve got used, particularly of late, to thinking of high-end, sporty Nissans as hard-edged machines, capable of taking on the best supercars on the planet. The Nissan GT-R has been an unmitigated success, astonishing all who’ve driven it not only with its performance but with its relatively bargain price.

But Infiniti is about comfort not performance. You need to remember that Infinit’s big market place is the US, where hard-edged performance and handling is not a pre-requisite for high-end ‘Sporty’ cars. And if you come at the Infiniti G37 Convertible from that angle you shouldn’t be disappointed.

The Infiniti G37 Convertible is not a bad-looking car, in a sort of Lexus SC430 way. But it’s better looking than the Lexus. With its 3-part folding tin-top it gets away with a much more refined rump; it doesn’t suffer from the ‘Jay-Lo’ arse most tin-top convertibles do. But despite the more compact stowage needs of a 3-part roof, you still don’t get particularly good back-seat legroom, or boot space.

The G37 comes in just two flavours – Infiniti G37 Convertible GT and GT Premium. And you do get a very big specification, even on the entry-level model. Goodies include 19″ alloy wheels, leather seats, active bi-xenons, climate control and heated/electric front seats. You also get Scratch Shield paintwork which is, to a degree, self-healing.

But you also get Infinit’s new Connectiviti info and entertainment system, which includes CD with iPod connection, 2GB music box, Bluetooth phone connection, parking sensors and a reversing camera. So you can’t argue the specification is mean.

Move up to the GT Premium and you get Connectiviti+, which throws in a 30GB hard disc SatNav, a 10GB Music Box, memory seats and a Bose sound system.

The 3.7 litre V6 in the G37 is a decent enough engine, delivering 320bhp and with a 0-60mph time of about 6.0 seconds. It hustles along pretty well, and Infiniti has done a decent job of keeping the shake, rattle and roll of your average convertible in check. But this isn’t a ‘Sports’ Convertible by any stretch of the imagination. Still, if you’re looking for a well-built, highly specced, decent-looking 4 (-ish) seat convertible, and you’re not too fussed about cutting-edge handling and capacious boot space, then you can do a lot worse than the stylish Infiniti G37 Convertible.

No word on UK prices yet, but you can expect it to come in at a similar price to an equivalent BMW 3-Series Convertible, although it will be much higher specced.