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DRIVEN: Infiniti Focuses G37 IPL Edition
Infiniti Performance Line division enhances sports/luxury coupe with edgy styling and drivability, but skips the horsepower boost.
Bob Golfen  |  Posted February 08, 2012   Phoenix, AZ
The Infiniti G37 IPL coupe gets aggressive-looking body cladding and an awesome set of 19-inch alloy wheels. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
An Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) version of the already slick G37 Coupe sounded like a tantalizing prospect, adding a dose of fury for driving enthusiasts.

The IPL package is pretty solid, too, with a firmer suspension, enhancements to the brakes and steering, and aero body cladding that sets it apart from the standard coupe. The handling is nimble, the steering is highly responsive, the brakes are strong, the IPL interior looks great, and the gear-shift paddles are firmly attached to the steering column as they should be rather than moving with the steering wheel.

The extensive aero body cladding might be a bit too much for some people, considering the already handsome styling of the G37 coupe. (Photo: Bob Golfen(
Overall, a quick and refined luxury/performance car that begs to be thrown into the next curve in the road.

Still, the IPL coupe lacks the basic upgrade that makes such hot rods as the BMW M3 and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG so profoundly desirable: a significant boost in engine power.

Compared with the standard G37 coupe, the IPL gets a meager increase of 18 horsepower and six pound-feet of torque via a freer-flowing exhaust system. That comes out to 348 and 276, respectively, which is plenty of motivation for this compact coupe but still not as strong as one might expect.

For the price of around $50,000, or about $6,000 more than the regular G37 coupe, you’d just expect more differentiation under the hood. And for IPL to go up against the M and AMG divisions of the world, it needs more to make any sort of impact.

The rear view is punctuated by a huge pair of exhaust tips. (Photo: Bob Golfen)
Otherwise, the G37 IPL gilds the lily by making the standard coupe just that much more enjoyable to drive. Drivability is refined enough to put it in competition with the gold standard of compact performance cars, BMW 3-Series. The feel is firm but never harsh, a bit light to the touch compared with the European but highly responsive nonetheless. The coupe also compares well with its closest competitor, Lexus IS 350.

A key drivability bonus with the IPL package is a limited-slip differential that effectively puts the power to the pavement, especially noticeable when accelerating out of turns. The Infiniti was a great plaything for charging along some winding Arizona desert blacktop, always feeling right on the button with admirable poise and stability.

My only drivability concern is power steering that feels somewhat overboosted for this application, a tad too numb on center during highway cruising, more along the lines of a luxury cruiser than a sports coupe. Around town, that lightness is not too objectionable, especially since the steering is very precise. But on the highway or back road, it would be nice to have a bit more weight.
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Bob Golfen

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