Product review: G37 Convertible Factory Accessories

Function, at a cost...

With the hype of the G37 drop top release slowly softening, it is now time to look at what add-ons Infiniti plans on offering for their first vert since the M30.

It doesn’t take much to realize that Infiniti, along with other manufactures, are spending much less time now-a-days thinking about what accessories to offer. The automotive accessory industry has been hit hard by the current economic climate. Mid-tier luxury brands like Audi, Acura and Infiniti were never big players in the factory accessory business to begin with, let alone now with decreased consumer spending. Models like the first generation G35 Coupe and Sedan offered a bright spot for Infiniti dealership Parts Departments, including many factory accessories and performance related items produced by the aftermarket sector.

Now, with the advent of the next generation G Coupes and Sedans this offering has become extremely slender. With Infiniti pre-loading most of these vehicles with satellite radio, spoilers and iPod integration, the window of opportunity for accessories is closing if not already sealed shut. However, to much of the surprise of Infiniti dealers across the US, Infiniti has offered some factory accessories for the new G37 Convertible. Here is our take:

Most wanted: The G37 Convertible Wind Screen-

Infiniti brings us their version of the iconic Mercedes SL500 accessory. This one does a nice job of folding into a quaint little 3’X2’ package that fits snugly into the trunk. Definitely a must have unless you’re looking for the “Donald-Trump-getting-off-a-helicopter” look. This add on will also help your dash from looking like the bottom of a Swiffer pad. MSRP: $530.00

Most Interesting: 19-inch 9-spoke Aluminum-alloy Wheels

What? Infiniti is offering a factory accessory wheel package? Not since the beautiful “diamond cut” alloy wheels for the M models (which were a disaster) has Infiniti offered an accessory wheel. We are surprised and happy to see the boys at the factory actually make a valiant effort with these wheels. The price isn’t too outrageous either, of course it still requires stacks more than what would cost you on the aftermarket arena. None the less, we’re proud (tear). MSRP: $530.00 Ea.

Most Celebrated: Midnight Black Grille

Already being sold for the M and G Sedans, the midnight grille has been a very popular accessory. It adds some differentiation and spunk to the look of the vehicle. With the factory quality being light years ahead of what is available in the aftermarket, the factory midnight grille is a refreshing and value added compliment to the vehicle. MSRP: $320.00

Most Questionable: R Spec™ High Friction Brake Pads

We’re still trying to figure this one out. Why offer a “high performance” brake pad for a convertible? We’re not sure if this counts as the official release of the R-Spec product line or Infiniti sees a problem with the softness of their assembly line brake pad. It is interesting to see this offered but the verdict will be out, most likely for quite a while. Unless you plan on a track event (like IOS Trackdays, which is free to anyone who purchases their G at Infiniti of Scottsdale) these will most likely not be a necessity. Since us parts guys have a skewed perspective of parts and demand, we could always be wrong. MSRP: $187.48 front set, $64.77 rear set

Most Over Priced: Premium Carpeted Floor Mats

An Infiniti design guy says to marketing, “Hey we need a special thick carpeted mat for the G convertible.” Infiniti marketing guy says, “Great idea design guy, let’s do it!” Infiniti design guy says “Here you go! All mats feature a non-slip backing with carpet locking nibs to help hold mats in place, the driver's mat features a grommet/hook retention system and they are available as a 4 piece set in graphite and wheat color.” Infiniti marketing guy says, “Great, so just like the standard ones but thicker. What should we sell them for? I mean, this is premium you know.” Infiniti design guy says, “$290.00 a set! Trust me I came up with the aero kit pricing!” MSRP: $290.00 set

Most Ambiguous: Short Rod Antenna

Are you tired of your 12 inch antenna? If so NOW is the time to buy the sleek 7 inch model! But hurry, dealers are being sent the 7 inch antennas as we speak in order to swap out the 12 inchers! Why this is happening is anyone’s guess, all we know is that there were a limited amount of verts that came with an extra long 12 inch antenna on the trunk lid. We’ll it turned out no one liked them so Infiniti is doing a mini-recall (shh, I didn’t say recall) and providing the dealers with the 7 inch model at no cost. The whole scenario is just weird, but exciting at the same time. Maybe there is something about the 12 inch antennas we don’t know about? MSRP: $106.17

Most Awaited: Rear Spoiler with Integrated Antenna

Once again we must wait for the spoiler to arrive as an accessory. Though they are available pre-installed on many Verts in showrooms across the country, it will be awhile before they are an add on item. It’s ok, we’ll wait, and we’re used to it. The spoiler does boast an integrated FM/AM antenna that is nicely concealed eliminated the need for any antenna on the trunk (excluding the XM antenna) thus creating well deserved karma for the 12 inch antenna against the 7 inch antenna. Take that shorty! MSRP: TBD

Items that remain unchanged from the hard top version of the G37 Coupe are:

Illuminated Kick Plates, Factory Carpet Floor Mats and Splash Guards

Thankfully, for those of you who own or about to own the captivating top-less Infiniti model and would like one of these items can visit: www.G35Parts.com.

If you are interested in purchasing a new or pre-owned Infiniti model please visit: www.InfinitiOfScottsdale.com.

In any event we were pleasantly surprised by the selection that is available. Effort is still better than no effort at all. Regardless of the economy and consumer budgets, it is still a very exciting time for Infiniti and their latest rendition of open-air driving.

G37 Convertible Lands In Dealers

“Own The Sky” Marketing Campaign Leverages New Customized Technologies to Introduce Consumers to the Style, Beauty and Performance of the G Convertible

The all-new Infiniti G Convertible, sporting a retractable hardtop, Bose® Open Air Sound System and an adaptive climate control system, is on sale at Infiniti dealers nationwide, just in time to allow consumers to “Own The Sky” during this weekend’s official start of Summer.

“The new G37 Convertible is a great addition to the Infiniti G line that has already earned such prestigious accolades as Car and Driver’s ’10 Best Cars’ in 2009,” said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti. “It adds all of the excitement of open-air motoring without compromising the G’s legendary performance and signature styling. This new G Convertible is one more compelling reason for buyers to put Infiniti at the top of their consideration lists.”

The G Convertible “Own the Sky” Campaign:
The “Own the Sky” marketing launch is an innovative multi-platform campaign featuring never-been-seen experiences in the digital space, content-rich interactive online creative and traditional media in print and TV.

“With its beautiful design, performance that inspires you to drive and an unbeatable open top experience, the Infiniti G Convertible allows you to “own the sky,” said Poore. “We bring that experience to life in our innovative marketing campaign by going beyond traditional advertising. By leveraging new, customized technologies that create unique and personalized Infiniti experiences, the “Own the Sky” campaign raises awareness among our core target audience in a very meaningful way.”

To launch the all-new Infiniti G Convertible in the digital space, Infiniti is partnering with sites like Yahoo, MSN, CNET, Hulu, NY Magazine, KBB.com and Edmunds.com to build interactive experiences that encourage users to “own the sky,” inspiring interaction in a variety of ways and creating awareness of the G Convertible’s unique features. For a full day on Yahoo, the sun from the homepage’s weather icon is inspired to literally move across the page as the G Convertible’s hardtop roof retracts. Another rich media experience enables users to be their own DJs, using stars in the sky to mash up a mix of their favorite jams, a hat tip to the G Convertible’s revolutionary sound system.

Beyond the online creative, Infiniti will be partnering with Cooliris, MoVoxx, Clearspring, 1Cast and Hulu to utilize a series of new technologies across multiple digital and mobile platforms that revolutionize how users engage with visual content and consume seamless entertainment experiences on their desktop and within the social media space. Infiniti will also be the exclusive sponsor of Technorati’s launch of Twittorati, a site featuring the mashup of Technorati’s functionalities with Twitter’s microblogging platform, which will feature prominent Infiniti branding and G Convertible creative elements.

Visit Infiniti's “Own The Sky” site at http://www.infinitiownthesky.com
Infiniti G Convertible Details:
The first-ever G Convertible features a three-piece power retractable hardtop engineered to deliver styling that looks as good with the top up as down. The exclusive convertible-focused interior offers standard leather-appointed seats and is available with a Bose® Open Air Sound System with Bose® front seat personal speakers, climate-controlled front seats with heating and cooling feature, and an Advanced Climate Control System that not only adjusts fan speed in accordance to top position and vehicle speed, but actively cleans the air when the top is closed.

The new G Convertible comes equipped with a standard 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, backed by a choice of a 7-speed automatic transmission with available magnesium paddle shifters or a responsive close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission – offering buyers the same high levels of performance as the G37 Sedan and G37 Coupe, along with the wide-open exhilaration of top-down driving.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is $43,850 for the G37 Convertible and $43,900 for the G37 Convertible Sport 6MT.

In Detail: The G37 Coupe Convertible Top

The G37 Convertible maintains a coupe-like silhouette with the top up through use of a special three-piece "clamshell" retractable hardtop, which allows for use of a shorter rear overhang and low trunk lid. Compared to G Coupe, the G Convertible utilizes all-new body panels from the A-pillar back, along with a 1.1-inch wider overall width, wider rear track and modified rear suspension.

The automatic top opening/closing sequence takes approximately 30 seconds from start to finish. The open/close switch is located on center console, just behind the transmission shifter lever.



Along with its stunning G Coupe-like proportions, the G Convertible offers signature Infiniti styling cues such as flowing front fender curves, a wave-style aluminum hood, expressive front fascia with double-arch grille and L-shaped High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-functional xenon headlights with integrated fog lamps. The G37S Convertible Sport 6MT and G37 Convertible with Sport Package include a unique front fascia/bumper design. In the rear, the taillights are unique to the G Convertible, incorporating an inner "circle of light" for added style. The chrome rear trunk finisher incorporates both an integrated high-mount stoplight and the small camera for the standard RearView Monitor system.

The G37 Convertible is offered with Infiniti's advanced "self-healing" Scratch Shield paint in eight exterior colors: Vibrant Red, Athens Blue, Liquid Platinum, Platinum Graphite, Black Obsidian, Moonlight White and two G Convertible-exclusive colors, Midnight Garnet and Pacific Sky.

"With the top up, the G Convertible's seductive styling hides the fact that it's a convertible. With the top down, it takes on a personality all its own – revealing its beautiful, equally dramatic interior design. It's a car you can't stop looking at," said Poore.

The interior design combines sophistication, craftsmanship and thoughtfulness with unique, available systems created to enhance the open-air driving experience. The driver-oriented cockpit features an Infiniti signature "double wave" instrument panel design with Infiniti electroluminescent instrumentation with white-and-violet illumination, integrated multi-function information drive computer display and analog Infiniti clock. The double hand-stitched leather-covered steering wheel is designed for maximum comfort and usability, with standard wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls. Genuine magnesium paddle shifters are available for the 7-speed automatic transmission (G37 Convertible with Sport Package only).

Special aluminum interior trim, inspired by fine Japanese silk and unique to the G Convertible, is located across the instrument panel, on the center console and on the door panels. Also available is Genuine African Rosewood trim. Leather-appointed seating is standard and is offered in three colors – Graphite (black), Wheat and Stone.

Heated 8-way power driver/8-way front passenger seats are standard, with Climate-Controlled Seats (with heating and cooling functions) available as part of the Premium Package. The G37S Convertible Sport 6MT and G37 Convertible with Sport Package include special sport-styled front seats with manual thigh extension and driver's power thigh and torso support – along with sport stitching for the front seats and steering wheel, high-grip aluminum pedals and foot rest and, with the 7-speed automatic, magnesium paddle shifters. A power walk-in device with position memory provides easy access to the 2nd row seats (the front seats move forward automatically at the touch of a button to allow passengers into the rear seats). An available rear wind deflector helps reduce wind turbulence when the top is down.
The 2009 G37 Convertible's long list of comfort and convenience features includes standard Infiniti Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and an Adaptive Dual Zone Climate Control System includes an advanced air conditioning system that adjusts to provide optimal comfort with the top up or down.

Two audio systems are available, starting with a standard 6-speaker AM/FM/6CD system with MP3 playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS) and center console-mounted auxiliary input, 7-inch color display and XM® Satellite Radio.
A second system is also available– a 13-speaker Infiniti Bose® Open Air Sound system combining a 24-bit 96KHz Burr Brown® Digital Analog Converter (DAC) with an Audio Pilot 2? system with microphone that automatically optimizes EQ settings for open/closed top positions. The system's special Bose® Personal Headrest Speakers, mounted in the front seat headrests, enable superior front audio quality regardless of the top position. An Interface System for iPod® is also included with this system.
Other available G37 Convertible features include a Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System and the Infiniti Navigation System with available XM NavTraffic® with Real-Time Traffic information, Infiniti Voice Recognition for navigation, audio and climate control functions, and a 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive with Compact Flash® drive slot.

"The design of the G Convertible interior takes into consideration the typical distractions from fully enjoying open air driving, such as added interior noise and turbulence, added heating and cooling system demand and even the fact that the seating surfaces can get hot in the sun or cool at night," said Poore. "Its inspired design anticipates the needs of the user and presents solutions, enhancing the comfort and enjoyment of the driver and passengers."

Video of the New Infiniti G37 Convertible in Action

Here is some interesting footage of the new G37 convertible hardtop in action. This is a "lifted" video so don't blame us for the cheesy Cure track playing in the background!