Bartek Sikorski

PEBBLE BEACH, California — The world got its first official look at the 2009 Infiniti G37 convertible on Saturday, as the automaker unveiled a photo of the car at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The G37 convertible, with a three-piece automatic retractable hardtop, will go on sale in the spring of 2009.

Infiniti is not known for a slow striptease of its products, including photo debuts. But it appears to have felt compelled to show something well in advance of the Los Angeles auto show.

"We've had a lot of bad photos out there," explained Infiniti spokesman Kyle Bazemore to Inside Line on Friday when asked about the G37 convertible. "We want consumers to see how beautiful the car is. So many people have tried to Photoshop it out on the Internet using a photo of the G coupe. We want to make sure there is an accurate representation of it."

The G37 convertible in the picture is noteworthy because it bears a unique ice blue paint job — actually silver with a blue tint. Bazemore confirmed that the new color will be available on the production G37 convertible.

Infiniti is being stingy with other details, however. Bazemore would not speculate on a price for the G37 convertible. Infiniti said the G37 convertible will be equipped with the same 3.7-liter V6 as the G coupe. But where the coupe churns out 330 horsepower, the G37 convertible is expected to deliver around "320 plus" hp, according to the automaker.

Bazemore also said that, despite rumors to the contrary, no G37 convertible is on the grounds at Pebble Beach this weekend.
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Bartek Sikorski

Update: Infiniti G37 Convertible will be wider and longer than Coupe


Infiniti’s parent company, Nissan, first hinted at the introduction of a convertible version of the new G37 Coupe when it released its GT 2012 company-wide strategy back in May. The company has now formally announced that the G37 Convertible will arrive in the first quarter of next year as a 2009 model following a world debut at November’s Los Angeles Auto Show.

Based on the current G37 Coupe, the convertible will feature a three-piece automatic folding hardtop and several unique interior appointments. Speaking with Automotive News, Nissan’s chief designer Shiro Nakamura was keen to point out that there will be a lot more differences between the Coupe and Convertible than just the roof.
To keep the proportions of the Coupe, designers needed to mask the relatively tall trunk, which needed to be extended to accommodate the folding roof system. “There were lots of discussions with engineers and suppliers. By slightly widening, slightly lengthening the car, it all balances fine,” he explained to reporters. “From the rear quarter view it looks different — its own car.”
Power will come from the same 328hp (245kW) 3.7L V6 engine used in the Coupe, giving the car more than enough oomph to take on the likes of BMW’s 335i drop-top. The convertible G37 should also get a new 7-speed automatic transmission that will eventually be available on all Infiniti G models (6-speed manual transmissions will also be available), as well as an optional uprated brake package and newly designed 18in alloys.
While Infiniti has only designated the G37 Convertible for the U.S. market at this point in time, the car is under study for launch in Europe possibly by the end of 2009.
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