Straightline

We've been anticipating the day the Infiniti G35 sedan would become the G37 sedan to match the G37 coupe, and while it's not here yet, the cars' attendance at tonight's Infiniti party suggests it can't be far off. Same goes for the Infiniti EX37.



Because of the foothold BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have in Europe, Infiniti wanted to go in with its best V6 engine, the new 3.7-liter VQ, for the brand's launch here in October 2008, said Nicolas Tschann, director of product planning and product marketing for Infiniti of Europe. "We're not going to start with four-cylinder diesels," he offered.

All of these cars will have a seven-speed automatic transmission, though a six-speed manual will still be available on the G coupe and sedan.

Upgrades that we likely won't be seeing in the near future are the detail changes to the cars' interiors. Higher pricing in Europe means that a G37 sedan costs roughly the equivalent of $50,000, at which point buyers expect a better-quality interior. So, says Tschann, they'll get more matte finishes, softer leather, thicker carpeting, better door seals, even brushed aluminum door handles in place of the U.S. models' chrome-finish pieces.

Full-tilt party conditions precluded photography of the updated furnishings tonight, but if we run across the cars tomorrow, we'll take a few photos. --Erin Riches, Senior Editor, Inside Line