US: Infiniti's first convertible to have retractable hardtop
By: Glenn Brooks, Friday, May 16, 2008, AutomotiveWorld.com
Kyle Bazemore, a spokesman for Nissan North America's Infiniti Division, has reportedly told the Edmunds Inside Line portal that a forthcoming convertible version of the G37 Coupe will have a folding hardtop. Nissan's chief executive Carlos Ghosn revealed the G37 Convertible model name earlier this week but provided no other details.
It is believed that the new model will have its premiere at the Los Angeles show on 19 November. Edmunds states that it expects the 2009 G37 Convertible to go on sale in the US and Canada next February.
The second generation of Infiniti's G Coupe, a rear-wheel drive rival for the Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class and Audi A5, amongst others, premiered at the New York motor show in April 2007. The G37 Coupe will also be part of the launch line-up for Infiniti Europe.
As yet, it is not known if Nissan will build a version of the car for the Japanese market. There, a rebadged G Coupe is sold as the Nissan Skyline coupe, the latest generation model having been released in October 2007. As its monthly sales target was set at only 200 units, Nissan may not think a convertible version can be justified.
The Skyline Coupe shares its 3.7-litre V6 with the G37 but has more power - a claimed 333hp (248kW), compared to the 326hp (243kW) for the Infiniti in North American spec.
The Nissan Skyline sedan/Infiniti G Sedan and Skyline coupe/Infiniti G Coupe are built on the same line at Nissan's Tochigi plant in Japan. All use the FR-L architecture.
Published on Friday, May 16, 2008
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