Nissan Skyline V36 /
Infiniti
G-series
Debut: 2006 |
 4
years after launch, Nissan Skyline / Infiniti G35 has received a major
update and a new codename V36. This update concentrates on 3 areas: 1)
power, 2)
handling and 3) interior quality. The objective is to close the gap
from class-leader BMW 3-Series.Outside, the Skyline / G35 is not a big departure from the outgoing car. The facelifted nose and tail are more flowing and more dynamic, but its organic shape started looking tired. It lacks the elegance of Audi and Lexus. Even compare with the strange-looking 3-Series, it feels rather bulky. Size-wise, yes, the Nissan remains to be the largest in its class, thanks to the 2850mm wheelbase (3-Series: 2760mm; A4: 2648mm; IS350: 2730mm), but its interior volume is not used very efficiently. In fact, rear headroom has been reduced slightly owing to a faster roofline. Passengers over 6 feet won't fit there comfortably. Our biggest complaint for the old car was the horribly cheap interior packaging. In the new car, Nissan has partly sorted out the problem by redesigning the whole dashboard and console and by using higher grade plastics. Still, this is not a beautiful design, and there is still a feeling of built to costs. To match the aforementioned rivals, it should employ even higher quality plastics and switch gears, and fit them more solidly in place. Noise insulation and ride quality over small imperfections also need to be improved.  Okay,
refinement is not the strongest suit of Skyline / G35, old or new. Its
trump card is driver appeal instead. This must thanks to the strong
engine and strong chassis. Nissan has updated the VQ series engine to
the 4th generation. Now codenamed VQ35HR – in which the HR represents
High Revolution – it can spin to 7500 rpm, up from 6600 rpm. This is
contributed by the addition of exhaust VVT (continuous type and
actuated by electromagnetic like Lexus LS460), smoother exhaust and
higher 10.6:1 compression made possible by improved knock control and
water cooling. The result is 306 horsepower at 6800 rpm, same value as
Lexus IS350, and a max torque of 268 lbft available at 5200 rpm. The
latter is not as brilliant as Lexus though. Infiniti claims lower fuel
consumption than the outgoing car, but you won't expect much
improvement because this engine still comes without direct injection. However, the power and refinement of the VQ is already impressive enough. On the one hand it can propel the car from rest to 60 mph in a little more than 5 seconds. On the other hand it spins smoothly up to redline, even more so than the old VQ, thanks to a strengthened engine block. Mating with the V6 is either a 5-speed paddle-shift automatic or a 6-speed manual (for Infiniti G35 Sport only), both have satisfyingly smooth gearshift.  The
chassis has received 40 percent increase of rigidity thanks to more
spot welding and laser seam welding. The stiffer chassis allows firmer
spring and damper setting, especially in G35 Sport. Front and rear
tracks have been widened slightly. Front to rear balance remains 53:47,
but the engine is now mounted 15mm lower. New viscous coupling limited
slip differential helps hard cornering. Besides, the Skyline has 4WS
(4-wheel-steering) returned as optional equipment, which steer the rear
wheels by up to 1 degree according to steering input and speed.
However, the benefit of 4WS is not obvious according to road testers.In terms of handling, 3-Series is still safely at the top, but Skyline / G35 has become a close second. It can easily outgun Lexus and Audi. We won't have opportunity to see it testing against Alfa Romeo 159 until at least 2009, but it seems that will be a close fight. One thing might not favour the Nissan is: its speed-sensitive power steering continues to feel numb, and the change of weighting is slow and artificial. As a driver's car, Skyline / G35 has come very close to the top level. What a pity the tight cost control of Nissan prevents it from feeling like a really premium car. The update is successful, but it won't change the "second division" image of the car. |
| The above report was last updated on 4 Oct 2006. All Rights Reserved. |
When Nissan introduced the pre-production
G37 Coupe to the press in March 2007, it brought a BMW 335i Coupe for
them to compare side by side on a test track. Until then, 335i was the
benchmark of the class and nobody else could come close to its perfect
combination of performance, handling and refinement. Apparently, Nissan
was confident to beat the great BMW, otherwise it would not have
brought the car there. In the end of the day, none of the American
journalists came home without praising the G37 and declaring it beating
the 335i. 
On
paper, the Infiniti has everything to beat the BMW. Its chassis is
lower and wider, suggesting better handling. If that's not enough, it
has bigger brakes inside the larger 19-inch wheels, a limited slip
differential and optional electronic-controlled 4-wheel-steering
(4WAS). It has an advantage of 30 horsepower and, ridiculously, its
high-revving naturally aspirated V6 conforms to the traditional
philosophy of BMW more than the twin-turbo six of 335i. In other words,
more BMW than BMW.
Other
aspects are similar. While it matches 335i for body control and comes
very close in ride quality, most of its controls lack the fine
polishing of BMW – the steering feels numb, the gearshift is a little
notchy, the clutch
too heavy and abrupt, the brake feels vague and braking performance is
no where as good as the lighter BMW. These qualities separate a
fine car from a great car. Turn into corners, the G37
understeers a little more than the BMW as well as its predecessor
G35 Coupe. It becomes more civilized and, inevitably, delivers less fun.
Can
the optional 4WAS system save it from losing ? Sadly, Nissan's
engineers forgot how to make a 4-wheel-steering system work like the
old Skyline GT-R. In the G37, the system actually introduces even more
understeer and makes the steering more unpredictable. In other words,
it is a waste of money. 
Following
Infiniti G37 Coupe, the sedan
version has also been upgraded to 3.7-liter engine, hence a new
designation G37. This version also signals the first wave of Infiniti
invasion into European market. At the moment of writing, the Japaense
Skyline sedan has not been updated yet. However, there is no reasons to
offer two different engines to different markets, so we expect Skyline
will also get the 3.7 upgrade soon. 
| Specifications | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance tested by: *C&D, **R&T |
Copyright©
1997-2012
by Mark Wan @ AutoZine