New cars: 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe

Automobile

The Infiniti Performance Line, or IPL, is “a new, high-performance sub-brand” designed to compete with other manufacturers’ motorsports-inspired vehicles. But this coupe represents “a considerably more modest effort” at vehicle enhancement than we’ve seen from Infiniti’s rivals. Based on the G37 Sport, it includes all of that model’s already impressive performance, navigation, and styling features—then adds “a bit more” horsepower.

Car and Driver

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Such small performance upgrades distinguish the IPL as “hands-down the best G coupe Infiniti has ever offered in the U.S.” Unique spring rates and shock tuning provide “light and athletic” steering and keep the chassis “as flat as Kansas when cornering.” Still, we were hoping for more, particularly under the hood. “Why develop a ‘tuner’ brand in the first place, if you’re not willing to deliver the goods?”

Motor Trend

Given Infiniti’s conservative approach, buyers really shouldn’t compare this “gentleman’s express” to a BMW M-series or Mercedes-Benz AMG. Despite a 3.7-liter V6 engine that’s been tweaked to 348 hp, it’s more like “Goldilocks’ choice of porridge—not too hot, not too cold.” But handsome styling and the all-in-one gathering of the G37’s optional performance features do make for “one well-equipped coupe.”