BMW has its M. Mercedes-Benz has its AMG. Even Cadillac has its V. Now Infiniti steps up to the plate with its IPL.
“IPL” stands for “Infiniti Performance Line,” and 2011 represents its debut. Actually, the IPL G Coupe represents the entirety of the IPL lineup for the time being, though Infiniti promises that more vehicles will join the party in the near future.
The IPL G Coupe is based on the Infiniti G37 Coupe Journey (list prices starting at $38,600), which has been in the Infiniti lineup since 2008. The IPL treatment affects pretty much every aspect of the vehicle, from exterior modifications to interior enhancements to special engine, suspension and exhaust tuning. The price of this remodeled machine is $48,900 ($49,195 as tested), including Infiniti’s 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, 6-year/70,000 powertrain warranty and an EPA estimate of 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway (6MT)/19 city/27 highway (7AT).
I’m a pretty big fan of the G37 Coupe to begin with, so I approached the IPL with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. It’s very easy to bolt a few parts on a car and call it “performance,” and I was afraid that’s what I’d find. Giving the exterior a good examination, I discovered mild IPL tweaks, including aerodynamic front and rear fasciae, side sills and a tastefully integrated rear spoiler. Big, round chromed dual exhaust pipes poke out from beneath the rear skirt, promising delightful noise. My IPL wore a coat of Graphite Shadow paint. The only other available IPL color is Malbec Black. After poring over the IPL’s exterior, I breathed a sigh of relief. The IPL takes the G37 Coupe formula and kicks it up a notch, but without resorting to exaggeration. It’s a muscular, yet elegant design that evokes true sports car visions. You would be excused for mistaking the IPL for a Porsche 911 at a quick glance (a very quick glance, but still…).
Slide into the IPL’s cabin, and the car envelops you in a purpose-built environment. Both front seats have adjustable thigh extensions, and the driver’s seat gets power lumbar support and adjustable torso and thigh bolstering. The interior trim is machined aluminum instead of plastic or wood, which gives the IPL a very sporty feel. Infiniti is great at fit and finish, and every detail within the cabin is top notch.
The second row is for kids and briefcases only. I was able to crawl back there to test it out, but I wouldn’t want to get trapped.
So, the IPL looks like a sports car outside and in. But a sports car is about performance.
Under the hood lurks Infiniti’s 3.7-liter V6. Tuning and a freer-flowing exhaust system force an additional 18 hp and 6 lb-ft of torque out of the engine (which is the same powerplant you’ll find in a G37), for a total of 348 hp and 276 lb-ft of torque. Peak power comes on later, at 7,400 rpm vs. 7,000 rpm, unexpectedly high revolutions for a rather beefy engine. My test vehicle came with a six-speed manual transmission (a seven-speed automatic is also available). The combination of the free-revving V6, a feather-light clutch and precise gear feel makes the IPL a rocket to drive. The sensation of speed is nearly irresistible from a stop, and the transmission rewards good footwork with slick shifting. The IPL doesn’t require any heel/toe fancy stuff — it’s got great synchros, and power gets to the rear wheels through a limited-slip differential. All of which is to say, the IPL is a blast to drive in a straight line, and not too onerous in traffic — which is where most of your driving will take place.
When the road gets curvy, the IPL really shows its stuff. Infiniti isn’t too specific about the upgrades that went into suspension and steering, but the IPL feels sharper and sportier than the G37, which is already pretty sharp and sporty itself. Upsized brake rotors are standard on the IPL (an option on the G37), and cool 19″ staggered wheels (8.5″ front/9.0″ rear) give good footing.
The IPL includes just about every option that’s available for a G37 as standard equipment, including Bose audio, navigation, Bluetooth, keyless ignition and more, which makes the $10,000 premium over the G37’s price seem pretty reasonable. The only option that you can get on a G37 that you can’t get on the IPL is all-wheel drive, which is kind of a bummer. The IPL is fun to drive with its front engine/rear drive setup, but it would really be a monster in the curves with all-wheel drive. I suppose there would be some parasitic loss in the process of distributing power to all four wheels, which might make the IPL look like less of a sports car on paper.
Compared to the various competitors, the IPL looks like a bargain. The BMW M3 Coupe starts at $58,900 with 414 hp, but it doesn’t have nearly the feature list. The Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 Sedan starts at $58,200 with a 451 hp V8 (and an extra pair of doors). The Lexus IS-F Sedan starts at $60,660 with a 416 hp V8 (and those pesky extra doors, too). The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe starts at $63,660 with a 556 hp supercharged V8 — hey, wait a minute! That sounds like fun!
The absence of a V8 and all-wheel drive may put some drivers off, but the IPL packs plenty of punch for my taste and for most public driving. For the money, the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe delivers a great ride, beautiful design, and daily drivability in a sports car package.
Also Read
Indian legend Sourav Ganguly warned the world champions on Wednesday they would come away second-best from their tour of England unless they pulled out all the stops.
She says exasperatedly, “Yuvi’s always reminded me of my younger brother. But I guess others see the equation differently. He’s a sweet guy… Little different but a lot of fun.”