Top Gear - European G37 test
05-20-2008, 09:02 PM
#1
Top Gear - European G37 test
In the May issue of "Top Gear", a fantastic British car magazine, there is a preview road test of the G37. The article is not posted on-line, it seems to be only in the hard copy issue of the magazine. If I can figure out how to scan and post the entire pages from the article I will. They test a U.S. spec version of the G37 vs. the Audi A5. They generally liked it, a lot, commenting that it is a more satisfying sports car than the A5.
But what is most interesting are the changes planned for the European version of the G37:
"But if you like the engine noise from the Infiniti, you'll get fed up with the contribution from elsewhere: the grinding sounds from the gearbox in low gears, the vibes through the floor at the front, the wind noise. These things will, we're promised, be fixed for the European version, which will have harmonic dampers in the front subframe, deadening material in the floor, work on the gearbox, triple-seals around the windows, and even a quieter exhaust at low speed. We're driving the American version of the G37 - the Euro versions are still prototypes and they'll be changed a lot".
"The software on the front steering, and the rear, will be remapped for Europe so the set-up will be less nervous. The dampers will be tweaked to find more traction. The springs will be more supple".
"Infiniti is also planning changes to the cabin. Currently for instance the heated-seat switches are simple three-way rockers that could have (probably did) come out of an Eighties Nissan pick-up. For Europe, we'll get pop-up, damped, chromed-edge rotaries. The gloss on the leather will be changed (inexplicably, Americans favour this vinylesque gloss, while we are more taken by a silky sheen). The door liners will be all-new."
I don't know about anyone else, but I would have preferred these changes in the car I bought here in the U.S. I wonder if these changes will also be implemented on U.S. cars (and the 2008 cars were just beta-test, incompletely developed versions), or if Nissan really sees the U.S. as a "lower end" market than Europe, undeserving of such enhancements.
But what is most interesting are the changes planned for the European version of the G37:
"But if you like the engine noise from the Infiniti, you'll get fed up with the contribution from elsewhere: the grinding sounds from the gearbox in low gears, the vibes through the floor at the front, the wind noise. These things will, we're promised, be fixed for the European version, which will have harmonic dampers in the front subframe, deadening material in the floor, work on the gearbox, triple-seals around the windows, and even a quieter exhaust at low speed. We're driving the American version of the G37 - the Euro versions are still prototypes and they'll be changed a lot".
"The software on the front steering, and the rear, will be remapped for Europe so the set-up will be less nervous. The dampers will be tweaked to find more traction. The springs will be more supple".
"Infiniti is also planning changes to the cabin. Currently for instance the heated-seat switches are simple three-way rockers that could have (probably did) come out of an Eighties Nissan pick-up. For Europe, we'll get pop-up, damped, chromed-edge rotaries. The gloss on the leather will be changed (inexplicably, Americans favour this vinylesque gloss, while we are more taken by a silky sheen). The door liners will be all-new."
I don't know about anyone else, but I would have preferred these changes in the car I bought here in the U.S. I wonder if these changes will also be implemented on U.S. cars (and the 2008 cars were just beta-test, incompletely developed versions), or if Nissan really sees the U.S. as a "lower end" market than Europe, undeserving of such enhancements.
05-20-2008, 09:24 PM
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I don't know about anyone else, but I would have preferred these changes in the car I bought here in the U.S. I wonder if these changes will also be implemented on U.S. cars (and the 2008 cars were just beta-test, incompletely developed versions), or if Nissan really sees the U.S. as a "lower end" market than Europe, undeserving of such enhancements.
This is one of the main reasons why I will NEVER buy a car in its first model year. I prefer to wait until they refresh/update the vehicle and work out all the little kinks that they missed the first time....
05-20-2008, 10:00 PM
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I'd be willing to bet that these changes will show up in 2010.
This is one of the main reasons why I will NEVER buy a car in its first model year. I prefer to wait until they refresh/update the vehicle and work out all the little kinks that they missed the first time....
This is one of the main reasons why I will NEVER buy a car in its first model year. I prefer to wait until they refresh/update the vehicle and work out all the little kinks that they missed the first time....
Hopefully the '09 will improve on some of the current quirks that exist. If not, I'll get an '08 at a better price. Although, it would be sweet if some of the Euro versions upgrades make it but I'm not holding my breath.
THE EURO VERSION sounds sick!!!!
05-21-2008, 05:49 PM
#8
The Euro version is going to be more of a true GT.
Can we say E-spec parts!!!
There is going to be a big market here in the US for E-spec parts.
And yes, the American market is generally looked at as a lower end market than Europe for some reason.
Can we say E-spec parts!!!
There is going to be a big market here in the US for E-spec parts.
And yes, the American market is generally looked at as a lower end market than Europe for some reason.
05-21-2008, 05:52 PM
#9
I believe the us (americans) are not big buyers in performance. I know many different people from other nations like china,euro,germany, japan, and they all say its silly to buy high performing vehicles here. Theres simply no place to go fast at all. But when they go back they have many tuned out cars.
05-21-2008, 06:17 PM
#10
I believe the us (americans) are not big buyers in performance. I know many different people from other nations like china,euro,germany, japan, and they all say its silly to buy high performing vehicles here. Theres simply no place to go fast at all. But when they go back they have many tuned out cars.
But it would seem that Europe would have more trouble finding places to go fast than here.
05-21-2008, 07:29 PM
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That's true... not many places to go fast here- especially in/ near metropolitan areas. Fortunately for me although I am in a metro area there is plenty of country side in just a 15 to 30 minute drive away.
But it would seem that Europe would have more trouble finding places to go fast than here.
But it would seem that Europe would have more trouble finding places to go fast than here.
05-22-2008, 01:07 AM
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They tested a 6mt.
The euro car will cost more than Infiniti thinks we'd like to pay. Just wait till the pricing comes out and do a conversion from euro to US dollars and see how much it could cost you to buy one of those and it'll be obvious why they are getting upgrades.
I wonder if we'd all choose to pay +$5k for our cars if we got these niceties? Maybe this is the sort of thing a true Premium package should be for.
The euro car will cost more than Infiniti thinks we'd like to pay. Just wait till the pricing comes out and do a conversion from euro to US dollars and see how much it could cost you to buy one of those and it'll be obvious why they are getting upgrades.
I wonder if we'd all choose to pay +$5k for our cars if we got these niceties? Maybe this is the sort of thing a true Premium package should be for.