As its name suggests, 2009 G37 sedan gets the coupe’s larger six, tuned to 328 hp at 7000 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque at 5200, an ever-so-slight drop from the coupe’s 330 hp and 270 lb-ft. Arguably as notable as the bigger engine is the sedan’s new seven-speed automatic, which made its debut in the 2009 FX crossover and also finds its way into the 2009 G coupe.
Not surprising, the acceleration times for the brawnier G37 S are markedly improved over the less-powerful, five-speed G35 S. Zero to 60 now takes only 5.0 sec, with the quarter-mile obliterated in just 13.5 at 105.3 mph. Compared with numbers from our long-term G35 S — 5.3 and 13.9 at 99.9, respectively — it’s evident the additional 22 hp and two cogs make an appreciable difference. Further, the new powertrain pays dividends at the pump as well, thanks toEPA numbers (18 city/26 hwy) that are up one mpg for city and two for highway.
Utilizing the same Bridgestone tires and suspension setup as its G35 S predecessor, which put up 0.91 g lateral acceleration and 25.9 sec at 0.69 g in the figure-eight test, the G37 S delivers comparable, albeit negligibly inferior, handling performance, recording 0.90 g and 26.4 sec at 0.68 g — likely a byproduct of the G37 S’s extra 98 pounds of curb weight over the G35 S. READ MORE…