Infiniti's G35 sedan and coupe, now available for the first time in the Middle East, has set monthly and yearly sales records in North America since it first hit the market close to three years ago, earning the ‘Best in Class’ award three years in a row by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
The 2005 model now on sale takes a leap forward from the already exacting G35 standards, featuring a redesigned exterior, a refined interior with new instrument panel and console area, and increased horsepower and torque from the standard 3.5-litre, 24-valve, DOHC V6 engine.
The front engine, rear-wheel drive now delivers 289 horsepower and 272 Nm of torque, linked to electronically controlled five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Engine speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering, vehicle dynamic control, four-wheel power-assisted vented disc brakes, standard four-wheel anti-lock braking, and electronic brake force distribution round off the impressive ride and handling characteristics. A special sport-tuned suspension package is available and is standard on G35 Coupe 6MT model.
The most visible changes to the G35 for 2005 can be seen in the vehicle’s redesigned exterior, which features a new hood and trunk, new front and rear bumpers, body-colored side sills, revised headlight lens and new dual circle taillights. Also featured are new 7-spoke 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels.
The refreshed styling continues to express the G35’s strong balance between sportiness and function. The low, aggressive hoodline, with restyled, lightweight aluminum hood, flows into the sharply angled windshield and contributes to the G35’s sporty, powerful silhouette. The front fascia features a revised grille, new front bumper design and new headlight lens with integrated fog lights and turn signals.
A smooth visual line flows from the new front end and front fenders through the side profile, while the C-pillar and rear fenders accentuate the spaciousness of the cabin. The large greenhouse provides good visibility from all seating positions. The new rear fascia is highlighted by the redesigned rear combination lamps with LED taillights. The LED lights provide maintenance-free operation and bright visual recognition for following drivers during braking.
The 2005 G35 sedan continues to utilize the racing technology-inspired FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, which mounts the engine behind the front axle in the “front mid-ship” position. The positioning of the engine is a key to the G35’s high level of driving performance, providing a nearly optimized 54:46 (55:45 G35x) percent front-to-rear-weight balance. This layout also features a long wheelbase (112.2 inches) and short front and rear overhangs, providing a large interior for its highly manageable overall length (186.5 inches) and excellent interior space utilization. A wide front and rear track adds to the G35’s overall handling stability and further enhances interior and trunk volume.
The G35 coupe shares the G35 sedan’s long 112.2-inch wheelbase but is several inches shorter in overall length (182.2 inches versus 186.9) and height (54.8 inches versus 57.7). With its performance-oriented chassis, wider wheel openings and fenders, the G35 coupe is also slightly wider than the sedan (71.5 inches versus 69.0).
The FM platform design also places a strong emphasis on aerodynamics. The G35 has a coefficient of drag measurement of just 0.27 (0.26 with optional rear spoiler) for reduced wind noise and optimized fuel economy. The design also emphasizes the control of airflow under the body. The extensive use of diffusers and deflectors helps the G35 achieve zero front lift, reducing drag and noise and contributing to vehicle stability. With the optional rear spoiler, zero rear lift is also achieved.
The G35 is offered in eight exterior colors, including two new colors, Serengeti Sand and Lakeshore Slate. The other available colors include Ivory Pearl, Brilliant Silver, Black Obsidian, Garnet Fire, Diamond Graphite and Twilight Blue.
For 2005, the G35’s interior offers a new, even higher quality look and feel, along with a redesigned instrument panel and console area. Materials and textures have been refined to provide a richer impression and the use of real aluminum and new wood-tone trim provides a degree of authenticity to the interior. Available wood accents (Wood Trim Package) have been revised from Bird’s Eye maple to a straight-grained Rosewood and the application of wood trim in the interior has been expanded. A new Stone (gray) and Wheat (beige) interior colors join the previously available Graphite (black) to allow more choice for customers. Every 2005 G35 comes with standard leather-appointed seating.
Examples of the G35 sedan’s combination of sportiness and comfort can be found throughout the spacious (98.0 cubic feet) interior. The driver’s seat uses a special center mound shape with high damping urethane foam and special spring design to support the driver during sporty driving, while the front passenger’s seat has a flatter-shaped lower cushion and the seat is shaped to provide a relaxed posture. In the rear, the G35 offers a choice of wide bucket-shaped seats or optional rear reclining seats, both with ample knee room, and a pass-through armrest. The G35 sedan trunk measures a full 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space.
The sport-contoured front bucket seats in the coupe are 8-way power adjustable for the driver and 4-way power adjustable for the passenger. A power walk-in feature allows access to the rear seats. The rear seatback folds down for added cargo flexibility.
A three-spoke steering wheel provides a firm grip and sporty feel and the instrument panel features Infiniti’s Fine Vision electro-fluorescent illumination system and signature analog clock. The optional DVD-based Infiniti Navigation System includes a 7.0-inch retractable screen. Audio systems include a standard 6-speaker AM/FM with in-dash 6-disc CD changer with mp3 playback capability and an optional Bose® premium audio system with an AM/FM/ in-dash 6-disc CD changer with RDS, 7 speakers, speed-sensitive volume control and steering wheel audio controls.
Since its introduction, the G35 has been noted for its outstanding balance of acceleration and handling. The heart of G35’s performance is its standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6, derived from the VQ engine series, which has been recognized as one of the “Ten Best Engines” by Ward’s Auto World magazine for ten consecutive years.
For 2005, several modifications have been made including a new electronic exhaust valve timing, improved cooling and air flow and strengthening of several components, resulting in an increase of horsepower and torque to 289 horsepower and 272 lb-ft of torque. The VQ engine design includes a long list of advanced systems, including a continuously variable valve timing control system, a “noiseless” timing chain for quiet 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.
All 2005 G35s come with Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), enhancing vehicle stability under a variety of driving conditions.
The G35’s advanced braking system utilizes power-assisted 4-wheel vented disc brakes with larger rotors for 2005. The system also includes 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), which distributes brake force depending on load condition (passengers and cargo) and Brake Assist (BA), which senses hard or panic pedal application and helps provide maximum braking capacity and Active Brake Limited Slip (ABLS), which uses the ABS sensors to detect wheel spin and applies braking to the spinning wheel.
The 2005 G35’s high level of sporty handling is provided by a standard 4-wheel independent multi-link suspension design. The front suspension minimizes alignment changes through use of two separate lower links and a long upper link.
The rear design separates the shock absorbers and springs, locating the shock absorber inline with the wheel center to help reduce suspension friction and reduce the wind-up motion of the axle on acceleration.
Both front and rear suspension designs utilize aluminum components to reduce unsprung weight and incorporate “ripple control” shock absorbers with damping control lips for suppressing high-frequency, micro-amplitude vibrations. As a result, tiny ripples in the road surface are absorbed to deliver a smooth, comfortable ride.
The 2005 G35 sedan features standard 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P215/55R17 tires on automatic transmission models and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels and P235/45R18 tires on the 6-speed manual transmission model. The 18-inch wheels and tires and Viscous Limited-Slip Differential are optionally available on all models as part of the Sport-Tuned Suspension package. The G35 Coupe is equipped with standard 6-spoke, 17-inch cast aluminum wheels and P225/50VR17 tires up front with P235/50VR17 tires in the rear. Also offered are 7-spoke, 18-inch titanium-finish wheels and high-performance tires. A Tire Pressure Monitor System is standard on all 2005 G35.
Every 2005 G35 comes with standard dual-stage supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and RF occupant classification sensor, front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags for front- and rear-seat occupant head protection. Also standard are 3-point ALR/ELR seat belts (driver’s side ELR only) and front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors. It is also equipped with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system.
The G35 also features Zone Body Construction with front and rear crushable zones to help disperse crash energy around the passenger compartment.
The FM platform provides a number of innovative safety performance features, including a mechanism for releasing the engine downward in certain collisions, and a breakaway driveshaft helping prevent the intrusion of the engine into the passenger compartment and brake pedal construction that helps prevent rearward pedal movement and lower leg injuries.
