When I first laid eyes on the Graphite Shadow grey, aggressive-looking Infiniti waiting in the parking lot for me, I admit I was excited. Once I'd spotted the bright red leather interior and large steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, I had a feeling I'd be in for a good week.
At first glance, the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe looks like any other G37 Coupe on the road. And it's not until you pull up next to an Infiniti G37S coupe that you notice the real differences. It carries itself in the traditional Infiniti way; smooth, sweeping and slightly crouched as if poised and ready to explode. The beefy backend makes the G Coupe look powerful in a sophisticated sort of way, which is precisely the kind of look Infiniti wants, even for its in-house tuning division.
That's right, for any of you wondering what the elusive IPL stands for, it's Infiniti Performance Line (inventive, eh?). Despite this being Infiniti's tuner line, it is not in any way meant to compete with BMW's M line or Mercedes' AMG vehicles. The line is meant to offer those who want to drive something a step up from “sport” badged vehicles, particularly in the Infiniti lineup.
And a small step up it is.
Besides the angular, aggressive front lip, the second most notable feature on the IPL G Coupe are the double-barrel exhausts sticking out the rear. Oversized and looming, you know you're in for an aural treat the moment you press the start/stop engine button inside. And they deliver in form with a deep, resounding exhaust note that's sure to catch the attention of other motorists and passersby on the street. Outfitted with exclusive, 19” 7-spoke split IPL graphite-finish rims, this Infiniti truly is sitting pretty.
For all its good looks, does it follow through on the road?
Yes and no. Here's the deal: Because this tuner version of the G coupe isn't meant to compete with the likes of the M3, it's not that much more powerful than its “normal” brethren. With just 18 more horses under the hood (348 in total) and 6 more pounds of torque, the IPL isn't beating the G37 Sport into the pavement.
While the IPL is equipped with the 3.7-litre V6, thanks to an ECU recalibration, bigger dual pipes and a new crossover design, the horsepower peak has been raised to 7,400 rpm. Add to that 20 and 10% spring rate increases for the front and rear respectively, and the IPL truly is “sportier”. And yet I still felt like something was missing.
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| The beefy backend makes the G Coupe look powerful in a sophisticated sort of way, which is precisely the kind of look Infiniti wants, even for its in-house tuning division. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
At first glance, the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe looks like any other G37 Coupe on the road. And it's not until you pull up next to an Infiniti G37S coupe that you notice the real differences. It carries itself in the traditional Infiniti way; smooth, sweeping and slightly crouched as if poised and ready to explode. The beefy backend makes the G Coupe look powerful in a sophisticated sort of way, which is precisely the kind of look Infiniti wants, even for its in-house tuning division.
That's right, for any of you wondering what the elusive IPL stands for, it's Infiniti Performance Line (inventive, eh?). Despite this being Infiniti's tuner line, it is not in any way meant to compete with BMW's M line or Mercedes' AMG vehicles. The line is meant to offer those who want to drive something a step up from “sport” badged vehicles, particularly in the Infiniti lineup.
And a small step up it is.
Besides the angular, aggressive front lip, the second most notable feature on the IPL G Coupe are the double-barrel exhausts sticking out the rear. Oversized and looming, you know you're in for an aural treat the moment you press the start/stop engine button inside. And they deliver in form with a deep, resounding exhaust note that's sure to catch the attention of other motorists and passersby on the street. Outfitted with exclusive, 19” 7-spoke split IPL graphite-finish rims, this Infiniti truly is sitting pretty.
For all its good looks, does it follow through on the road?
Yes and no. Here's the deal: Because this tuner version of the G coupe isn't meant to compete with the likes of the M3, it's not that much more powerful than its “normal” brethren. With just 18 more horses under the hood (348 in total) and 6 more pounds of torque, the IPL isn't beating the G37 Sport into the pavement.
While the IPL is equipped with the 3.7-litre V6, thanks to an ECU recalibration, bigger dual pipes and a new crossover design, the horsepower peak has been raised to 7,400 rpm. Add to that 20 and 10% spring rate increases for the front and rear respectively, and the IPL truly is “sportier”. And yet I still felt like something was missing.
 |
| While the IPL is equipped with the 3.7-litre V6, thanks to an ECU recalibration, bigger dual pipes and a new crossover design, the horsepower peak has been raised to 7,400 rpm. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |