Infiniti G Line updates for 2010 – just 60 Infinitis sold in the UK so far

Infiniti as updated the G Line range for 2010

Infiniti – Nissan’s answer to Toyota’s Lexus – has been having a busy time in Europe this last six months launching their range and trying to convince European buyers that they offer a credible alternative to Lexus. And they do. Particularly if you’re not convinced by the inexorable push by Lexus down the Hybrid route.

Infiniti have told Cars UK that their sales are bang on target at present. We don’t know about the rest of Europe, but in the UK they’ve sold ‘approaching’ 60 cars, almost half of which are Infiniti FX models. Which probably explains why the UK is getting the biggest allocation of the Infiniti FX Limited Edition. Still, the sales numbers don’t seem to be exactly huge to us. But then Rome wasn’t built in a day and Nissan has deep enough pockets to sustain the Infiniti push until they get their message across.

Despite the recent launch in the UK, Infiniti are already revising the G Line range for 2010. They’ve recently upgraded the interior on the G Line saloon and have now done the same for the G Line Coupe and Convertible. The new interior is more in line with that on the EX and FX and centres on a re-designed centre console.

You get a new ‘Japanese Caligraphy’ pattern on the chrome highlights and optional high-gloss Maple wood trim. The dials and instrument display now use white as background colour. Also in the mix is the addition of Infiniti’s Connectiviti – a HDD based ‘Infotainment’ centre – which is now standard on the G Line. Opt for the Premium model and you get Connectiviti+ which adds 3D graphics and Michelin’s Green Guide tourist information and gastronomical Red Guide. It’s also a lot quicker than the old DVD system.

The G Line range also gets a new colour – a ‘Shade of Dark Grey’ – and has Infiniti’s Scratch-shield technology which ‘Heals’ small scratches. Apart from the paint job the exterior stays the same. There’s also the addition of a new ‘Top of the Range’ model – the G Line Premium. Infiniti say this is in response to European buyers opting to load up their G Line cars with a whole heap of options, so Infiniti has thrown all the toys at the Premium model to deliver an off-the-shelf ‘Goodie’ pack. Oh, and the 4WD option now becomes a stand-alone model as the Infiniti G37x.

We’d like to see Infiniti grab a credible part of the Lexus market. For drivers looking for a very well built and very well equipped ‘Luxury’ drive – and who don’t necessarily want ‘Bleeding-Edge’ driving dynamics – the Infiniti is credible. There’s a good range from the G Line saloon, coupe and convertible through to the EX and FX Crossovers and the yet to be launched high-end Infiniti M.

But it’s a bit of a catch-22 situation for Infiniti. You don’t see many Infiniti’s on the road (not a big surprise with less than 60 cars sold in the UK) so they’re not getting public interest in that way. There have been a few road tests around, but we’ve asked for test cars and had no response. Maybe Nissan are happy to take years to establish Infiniti in Europe, or perhaps they’re just not putting themselves about enough.

Which is a bit of a shame.

INFINITI G

G37 GT Premium MT (manual transmission) £35,380

G37 GT Premium AT (automatic transmission) £36,915

G37x GT Premium AT (automatic transmission) £38,550

G37S Premium MT (manual transmission) £37,320

G37S Premium AT (automatic transmission) £38,855

INFINITI G COUPE

G37 GT Premium (manual transmission) £37,070

G37 GT Premium (automatic transmission) £38,605

G37S Premium (manual transmission) £39,010

G37S Premium (automatic transmission) £40,545

INFINITI G CONVERTIBLE

G37 GT Premium (manual transmission) £41,865

By Cars UK