{"id":28398,"date":"2010-08-16T18:42:33","date_gmt":"2010-08-16T18:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=28398"},"modified":"2010-08-16T20:32:59","modified_gmt":"2010-08-16T20:32:59","slug":"first-look-infiniti-performance-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2010\/08\/first-look-infiniti-performance-line\/","title":{"rendered":"First Look: Infiniti Performance Line"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Infiniti has finally come out with a performance lineup of its cars, starting with the IPL G-Coupe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Perhaps the most significant question asked during the news conference called to preview the new Infiniti Performance Line was, \u201cWhy so long?\u201d<\/p>\n

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That's fast!<\/figcaption><\/figure>These days, it\u2019s hard to think of a brand that doesn\u2019t have a uniquely branded line of performance models, from Chrysler\u2019s SRT to BMW\u2019s M-Series.\u00a0 But only now is Infiniti getting into the muscle car game with the debut of the first IPL model, based on its popular G-Series Coupe.<\/p>\n

The good news, said Ben Poore, the Nissan subsidiary\u2019s general manager, is \u201cMore to come.\u00a0 You\u2019ll see IPL (variants) across the Infiniti line-up\u2026where appropriate.\u201d
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\nThe 2011 Infiniti IPL G-Coupe starts out as a conventional G37 2-door, but it gets significant updates to both appearance and performance.<\/p>\n

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The 2011 Infiniti IPL G-Coupe comes in limited color combinations including black with an interior featuring red leather seats.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The changes includes a more aggressive front fascia with integrated fog lamps and sportier side sills, as well as a distinctive rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tips.\u00a0 The 2011 IPL also rides on 19-inch split 7-spoke graphite-finish wheels, shod with Bridgestone Potenza tires.<\/p>\n

A small and subtle red and purple IPL badge rides the left side of the trunklid, and there\u2019s a distinctive IPL engine cover.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, color combinations are kept to a minimum, including the black body with red interior shown here.<\/p>\n

Inside, there are red-stitched sport front seats and steering wheel.\u00a0 And the 2011 IPL uses aluminum pedals and footrest.\u00a0 The G-Coupe is loaded with features that include the Infiniti-Bose Studio on Wheels audio system, a large harddrive storage system and navigation with real-time traffic and weather.\u00a0 There are both a rear view sonar system and rear camera, and a moonroof also comes standard.<\/p>\n

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Changes to the G-Coupe's rear end include a distinctive spoiler and chrome exhaust tips.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the performance side, the 2011 Infiniti IPL G-Coupe\u2019s 3.7-liter VQ V6 makes 348 horsepower, 18 more than the stock 2-door, and 276 lb-ft of torque.\u00a0 The engine was tuned to deliver a linear acceleration curve \u2013 as well as a solid launch feel and more aggressive exhaust note, according to Infiniti.<\/p>\n

Among the steps taken to improve performance, the 2011 IPL gets a tuned, high-flow full dual exhaust system, with independent, large diameter pipes.\u00a0 The maker claims that yields a 30% improvement in exhaust pressure.<\/p>\n

The front suspension of the IPL G-Coupe was tuned to improve stiffness while minimizing vibration, according to Poore.\u00a0 Front spring rates are up 20%, rear by 10%.\u00a0 The first IPL model gets a sport-tuned steering gear, larger 4-wheel sport brakes and a viscous limited-slip differential.<\/p>\n

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The IPL logo - Infiniti Performance Line - will adorn the brand's high-performance models.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s next for the new Infiniti Performance Line?\u00a0 \u201cWe haven\u2019t decided,\u201d cautions Shiro Nakamura, the chief of design for both Infiniti and its parent, Nissan.\u00a0 But he hints the next step might be the G-Series convertible.\u00a0 And Poore suggests the IPL strategy will be a broad one, and could take in virtually all of the Japanese luxury maker\u2019s line-up, from its smallest coupe to even the big QX56 sport-utility vehicle.<\/p>\n

Significantly, Infiniti plans to hold down pricing, rather than try to position the IPL as far up as some competitive performance sub-brands, like Mercedes-Benz\u2019s AMG.\u00a0 \u201cIt gets us into the performance market,\u201d says Poore, \u201cwithout being so high up it\u2019s inaccessible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Think under $50,000 for the 2011 Infiniti IPL G-Coupe.<\/p>\n

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Infiniti also debuted its new G25 Sedan at Pebble Beach. The new model will come with a 2.5-liter V-6.<\/figcaption><\/figure>Company officials aren\u2019t talking volume for the new Performance Line, though it\u2019s likely to start out small.\u00a0 But \u201cIt has a lot of potential\u201d the Infiniti general manager argues.<\/p>\n

At the same time it launches the new Infiniti Performance Line, the Japanese marque is taking the wraps off yet another G-Series variant.\u00a0 The G25 introduces an all-new second engine to the line-up, which Poore says will \u201callow us to participate in a much larger segment\u201d of the entry-luxury market, where it will go up against the likes of the BMW 328 and Mercedes C300.<\/p>\n

Priced at $30,950, the Infiniti G25 will offer an otherwise identical body and content package to the larger G sedan.\u00a0 The new 2.5-liter V-6 is rated at 218 hp and 187 lb-ft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japanese luxury car maker Infiniti is making a belated entry into the high-line performance segment with the launch of its Infiniti Performance Line. The first offering, the 2011 Infiniti IPL G-Coupe. TheDetroitBureau.com has the details – and news of Infiniti’s new G25, as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28445,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[151],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28398"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28398\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28445"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28398"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=28398"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=28398"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=28398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}